Mobile application based early educational intervention for children with autism - a pilot trial.

Researchers created a tablet app to help autistic children aged 3-10 learn school readiness skills. After using the app for 8-10 weeks, 90% of the 31 children preferred touching the screen over traditional classroom methods. Most children (84%) who wouldn't use pencils learned pre-writing skills like tracing and scribbling through the app. Some children (25%) also got better at greeting teachers and classmates. The app tracked each child's progress to help create personalized learning plans.

This pilot study developed and tested a mobile application designed to provide early educational intervention for children with autism aged 3-10 years. The app focused on pre-school readiness skills and functional academics. Thirty-one children participated in three successive trials over 8-10 weeks, with supervision from educators and parents. Results showed 90% of participants preferred touch-based interactions over conventional classroom methods.

More than 84% of children who previously refused pencil and paper developed pre-writing skills through the app. Additionally, 25% demonstrated improved social greeting behaviors. The application generated individual learning progress profiles to inform personalized education plans.

Mobile applications may offer accessible early intervention options for autistic children, particularly for developing pre-academic skills. The preference for touch-based learning suggests digital platforms could complement traditional educational approaches. Individual progress tracking capabilities may enhance personalized intervention planning.

This is a pilot study with a small sample size (31 participants) and no control group. The study design and methodology details are limited. Long-term outcomes and generalization of skills beyond the app environment are not assessed.

To design and develop a mobile application for pre-school readiness of children with autism and also to identify their learning pattern. Based on strong foundation of functional academics, we have developed a mobile application for providing an early educational intervention program to the children with autism. Three successive software trials have been conducted among 31 children with autism of age group of three to 10 years. The mobile app has been provided to educators and parents and they have been allowed to supervise the children during their learning phase for eight to 10 weeks.

The imprint of learning pattern is recorded and learning progress profile is generated for individual child. Data analysis of learning progress profile shows that 90% of the participants preferred drag and drop or simple touch approach over conventional methods practised during classroom teachings. More than 84% of the children are found to adapt pre-requisite skills for writing like scribbling, tracing, dots joining, copying, etc. after using the app on their tablet who are reluctant to hold pencil and paper otherwise. Twenty-five percent of the participants are reported to reciprocate the greeting etiquettes in class such as greeting teachers and their peers.

The mobile application made a valuable contribution to early intervention program for children with autism by imparting appropriate learning opportunities readily available to them. Performance metrics underlying each activity form a strong base of identification of learning patterns and formulation of revised individualized education plan (IEP).Implications for RehabilitationChildren with autism need the mobile application as an educational intervention program for it is readily available and user friendly.Educators need the mobile application to quantify the performance parameters and there by monitor/evaluate the progress of the child.Overall, the present research has aimed to develop an easy reach app by which educating as well as handling challenging behaviour of the children with autism would be easier.