Comprehensive Web-based Digital Interactive Scene Program for Language in Autism

描述（由申请人提供）：自闭症谱系障碍（ASD）是一种复杂的，持久的神经生物学状况，影响沟通和社会交往。ASD现在是一种流行病，每150人中就有1人受到影响。目前还没有已知的治愈方法，主要的治疗方法是教育。在公立学校，ASD儿童的特殊教育费用平均每年近20，000美元，几乎是普通教育学生支出的三倍。专业学校的结构化课程通常每年花费8万至10万美元，通常由家庭学区承担。一般来说，语言不需要明确地教给孩子，而是通过暴露在语言丰富的环境中获得的。然而，自闭症谱系的个体通常无法以这种方式获得语言。向ASD患者教授语言的一个关键和具有挑战性的方面是需要传达基本知识，使学习者能够从符号中获得意义，并发展交叉识别，促进概念的概括，以便能够有效地说，读，写和一般交流。临床和研究经验表明，以视觉场景显示（VSD）的形式呈现符号作为视觉线索是解决这些缺陷的有效方法。一个有效的教学过程已经出现了这些概念的教学。目前的技术，这种教学过程是耗时和昂贵的，需要教师开发各种独立的教学媒体，包括视频，静态图像和符号，并提出这些材料的学生在一个协调的方式。现有的软件工具不允许语音语言病理学家容易和快速地创建和使用坚持这一过程的基于多媒体的交互式课程。在这个第一阶段的应用中，Monarch Teaching Technologies，Inc. (MTT)提出创建一个独特的基于Web的交互式计算机程序，自闭症语言的数字交互式场景程序（DISPL-A），它将多个基本功能集成到一个交互式计算机屏幕中。其特点是：1）用于动态场景提示（视频+音频）和/或静态场景提示（照片+音频）的屏幕播放区域; 2）用于组合场景的视觉语言元素的消息窗口;以及3）从中进行选择的视觉元素的网格显示。这些功能目前仅作为单独的辅助和替代通信系统（AAC）上的单独功能提供。在第一阶段，我们将设计模板（目标1），创建交互式视觉架构和内容（目标2和3），并与临床和讲师语言/语音专家测试DISPL-A（目标4）。在设计中，我们将创建一套特定的内容，用于教学选定的介词，这是ASD学习者最难获得的语音元素之一。在第二阶段，我们将在一所私立学校和三所公立学校的教师和学生中测试VLLS DISPL-A计划，并将选定的动词元素纳入内容，为第三阶段的市场引入做好准备。这种特殊的视觉语言系统的市场机会每年可能达到3600万美元。公共卫生相关性：目前已有25万学龄儿童被确诊，在过去12年中增长率为782%，因此需要有效和实用的自闭症治疗方法。目前没有治疗，除了教育发展的沟通能力。基于视觉的语言工具被认为是发展语言理解和表达技能的最有效手段之一。一个基于网络的系统，所有护理人员都可以轻松访问，可以提供一个有价值的和廉价的手段，帮助个人与ASD。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a complex, enduring neurobiological condition that affects communication and social interaction. ASD is now an epidemic, affecting 1 in 150 individuals. There is currently no known cure and the primary treatment is education. Special education costs for a child with ASD in public schools average almost $20,000 per year, nearly three times the expenditure for the typical regular education student. Structured programs in specialty schools often cost $80,000 - $100,000 per year usually borne by the home school district. Typically language need not be explicitly taught to children, but is acquired through exposure to a language-rich environment. However, individuals on the autism spectrum are often unable to acquire language in this fashion. A critical and challenging aspect of teaching language to individuals with ASD is the need to convey fundamentals that enable learners to derive meaning from symbols and develop cross recognition promoting generalization of concepts in order to be able to effectively speak, read, and write and generally communicate. Clinical and research experience indicates that presenting symbols as visual cues in the format of visual scene displays (VSD) is effective in addressing these deficits. An effective instructional process has emerged for teaching these concepts. Current techniques for this instructional process are time consuming and costly requiring instructors to develop a variety of independent instructional media, including videos, static images, and symbols and present these materials to students in a coordinated fashion. Existing software tools do not allow speech language pathologists to easily and quickly create and use multimedia- based interactive lessons that adhere to this process. In this Phase I application Monarch Teaching Technologies, Inc. (MTT) is proposing the creation of a unique Web based interactive computer program, Digital Interactive Scene Program for Language in Autism (DISPL-A) that incorporates multiple essential features into a single interactive computer screen. The features are: 1) screen play area for a dynamic scene cue (video + audio); and/or a static scene cue (photo + audio); 2) a message window to assemble the visual language elements of the scene; and 3) a grid display of the visual elements from which to choose. These features are currently available only as individual functions on separate Augmentative and Alternative Communication systems (AAC). In Phase I we will design the template (Aim 1), create the interactive visual architecture and content (Aim 2 & 3), and test DISPL-A with clinical and instructor language/speech experts (Aim 4). Within the design, we will create a specific set of content for teaching of selected prepositions that are one of the most difficult of the speech elements for ASD learners to acquire. In Phase II, we will test the VLLS DISPL-A Program with teachers and students at one private and three public schools and incorporate content for selected verb elements to ready the basic system for market introduction in Phase III. The market opportunity for this special visual language system is potentially $36M annually. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE: With 250,000 school-age children already diagnosed, and a 782% growth rate over the last 12 yrs, effective and practical autism treatments are needed. There is currently no treatment except educational development of communication capabilities. Visually based language tools are considered one of the most effective means of developing language comprehension and delivery skills. A web based system easily accessible by all caregivers could provide a valuable and inexpensive means of assisting individuals with ASD.