This research intends to be certain that the effectiveness of a special mobile messaging software entitled MAAN, which means together within the Arabic, for grownups that have ASD, using pre-blog post studies data. The goal of MAAN is to offer an available, secure, and easy-to-explore messaging app to own people with ASD so because of this service the inclusion inside neighborhood. Within this studies, i hypothesized the following: (1) The new access to attributes of mobile apps (text-to-address [TTS], speech-to-text message [STT], and you can communications signs [CS]), that are put on MAAN, can enhance the personal and you will communication knowledge off adults that have ASD; and you may (2) Employing the brand new application can aid in reducing public loneliness inside the people that have ASD.
Study Structure
A combined methods approach is actually used within this research. Seven people having ASD were asked to make use of MAAN employing caregivers to possess sixteen months. Ahead of the design and growth of MAAN, semistructured interview was indeed used that have positives to go over the preliminary suggested application construction. The fresh new software design ended up being changed with respect to the received viewpoints. Following, grownups which have ASD and their moms and dads otherwise caregivers was basically asked so you’re able to explore MAAN getting a time period of 16 months. That it course are accompanied in the data of the Laugeson et al , and that ideal if finding public and you may telecommunications experiences interventions, upgrade is only obvious within 16 months. The analysis been from the contacting people happy to engage. Due to COVID-19, the initial group meetings towards the users was basically conducted on line. All of the users received a message to possess describing the analysis guidance, such as date and time, and you will a great weblink to possess event informed agree having an online conference to the members, people they know, as well as their moms and dads. Immediately after researching the fresh participants’ concur, they were requested to help you fill an on-line prestudy questionnaire managed to collect demographical guidance. Mom and dad otherwise caregivers of your own users was in fact in addition to asked so you can over a short style of the new Personal and you can Psychological Loneliness Measure having Adults (SELSA-S) questionnaire . The goal of it survey would be to determine new social and you will relatives loneliness of your people. Within the a virtual conference, the principal researcher said new app has in more detail and replied then questions relating to the analysis. The participants were plus available lebanese girls for marriage with a beneficial hotline so you’re able to statement any topic they could face during this study. To ensure the continuity of information collection, the participants had been questioned with the intention that the fresh new software is always running regarding record.
At the end of the study, all the players that have ASD as well as their caregivers or mothers complete new Mobile App Rating Level: affiliate version (uMARS) survey. Brand new uMARS is a simple and you will reliable tool which may be used by stop-profiles to assess the caliber of mobile health applications. It provides an excellent 20-product scale complete with cuatro purpose top quality subscales (involvement, effectiveness, esthetics, and you will information quality) and you will 1 personal top quality subscale. The reason for so it questionnaire would be to assess the app’s quality with respect to efficiency. Brand new participants’ mothers otherwise caregivers also accomplished the new SELSA-S survey once again to find the participants’ personal and loved ones loneliness rates following research. Lastly, a great semistructured interview which have moms and dads otherwise caregivers was held to collect information regarding the fresh new framework off app usage. The interviews incorporated questions regarding the overall app knowledge of terms and conditions out of usability, features, and pressures found when using the application, as well as tricks for subsequent improvement.
MAAN App Build and you may Invention
This new app contained next step three chief enjoys: TTS, STT, and you can CS. One of many well-known enjoys that also be considered as a variety of assistive technologies are the newest TTS element, enabling profiles to hear authored text on the a pc, tablet, or tune someone troubled in the discovering and you can decryption terms . Similarly, STT is actually an enthusiastic assistive tech function utilized by those who strive which have composing. This kind of assistive technology lets address to-be changed into text message using the measuring tool. Each other provides have become aren’t employed to help introduction knowledge setup . The new software and additionally included the brand new CS function, which is an essential part off AAC-offered innovation, and its no. 1 mission should be to assist people with ASD inside the design sentences. We’re not familiar with any chatting application you to supporting the use of the CS function. TAWASOL symbols was in fact utilized for the brand new CS function. These people were developed in 2013 by Mada Cardio, a keen assistive technology heart during the Qatar. These types of icons show the modern Practical Arabic code and are usually tailored to be culturally, socially, consistently, and you will linguistically acceptable. TAWASOL is dependant on the fresh AAC Signs Range that is led so you can nonverbal otherwise minimally verbal those who wanted solution correspondence selection .