Android Mobile Devices to Assist Routine Anticipation for Autistic Children

The objective of this work is to develop an application to run on a mobile device Android tablet that features visual routines for autistic children.

Study Overview

• Status: Unknown
• Conditions: Autism
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Using the app to assist routine anticipation

Detailed Description

Autism is a disorder characterized by social deficits, and among others by changes in communication. The diagnosis of this disorder remains accomplished by direct assessment the individual's behavior, according to specific clinical criteria present the classification systems of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition (DSM-IV). Therapists teach autistic to communicate with the help of symbols and auxiliary anticipation and communication routines, usually using the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS), or photos. However these are presented in transition PECS cards and do not follow the children in activities that develop outside the school environment. The objective of this work is to develop an application to run on a mobile device Android tablet that features the visual routines.

In this way the routines can be accessed outside the school environment. This technology is easy to use and facilitates data entry by touching the screen, was developed using the Unified Modeling Language (UML), Javascript, Apache Web server and Web browser Chrome. The application validation, will be held with 10 autistic and 2 teachers from the center of inclusion and support for autistic. Teachers should insert the activities programmed for each autistic student. Tablet in student performance in communicating with this tablet will be measured. Parents or guardians knowledge with the PECS system will be trained and will be evaluated on their autonomy inserting images, audio and subtitles. The application should aid communication, cause the autistic understand the sequence of events in daily life, decreasing their aggression because of not knowing what will be their next activity. Participation in this research poses no risk or harm the concerned person. If during the research participant decides not anymore have the freedom to do so without incurring any damage you. The technical validation proposal is necessary for it to be used by people with autism. If validated in a positive way, the technique could improve the quality of life of these people and their families.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Anticipated): 10
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Brazil
  • Sao Paulo
    • Guarulhos, Sao Paulo, Brazil
      • Centro de inclusão e Apoio ao Autista de Guarulhos (CIAAG)

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 3 years to 9 years (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Have a diagnosis of autism development by DSM-IV
• Have sufficient motor skills to perform operations on a tablet
• Be aware of PECS
• Children should be accustomed to the visual routines used in

Exclusion Criteria:

• Have visual impairment

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Other: Autism; Using the app to assist routine anticipation for autistic children in Android mobile devices	Other: Using the app to assist routine anticipation; Using the app to assist routine anticipation for autistic children in Android mobile devices

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Increase in verbal communication	Increased verbal communication in autistic individuals (as a percentage)	1 month

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Mogi das Cruzes
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Annie F Frere Slaets, PhD, University of Mogi Cruzes

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start: October 1, 2015
• Primary Completion (Actual): October 1, 2015
• Study Completion (Anticipated): December 1, 2015

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 28, 2015
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 28, 2015
• First Posted (Estimate): October 29, 2015

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimate): October 29, 2015
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 28, 2015
• Last Verified: October 1, 2015

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Autism
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurodevelopmental Disorders; Child Development Disorders, Pervasive; Autism Spectrum Disorder; Autistic Disorder
• Other Study ID Numbers: 49354415.0.0000.5497