Speech-generating devices: effectiveness of interface design—a comparative study of autism spectrum disorders

BACKGROUND: We analyzed the efficacy of the interface design of speech generating devices on three non-verbal adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), in hopes of improving their on-campus communication and cognitive disability. The intervention program was created based on their social and communication needs in school. Two operating interfaces were designed and compared: the Hierarchical Relating Menu and the Pie Abbreviation-Expansion Menu. METHODS: The experiment used the ABCACB multiple-treatment reversal design. The test items included: (1) accuracy of operating identification; (2) interface operation in response to questions; (3) degree of independent completion. Each of these three items improved with both intervention interfaces. RESULTS: The children were able to operate the interfaces skillfully and respond to questions accurately, which evidenced the effectiveness of the interfaces. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that both interfaces are efficacious enough to help nonverbal children with ASD at different levels.