EXPERIENCE FROM USING SPEECH AND LANGUAGE THERAPY SOFTWARE IN THE ASSESSMENT AND SPEECH EDUCATION OF CHILDREN WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

Aim and objectives: The main aim of the contribution is to analyse speech (oral) motor abilities of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) using the technology of special speech and language therapy software programme. The relations to dyspraxia problems in children with ASD are mentioned, and the developmental and early educational correlations with the development of speech, and early speech vocalisation, and complex motor difficulties are stated. Methodology: We mapped the oral motor abilities of children with ASD in the initial and final stages of the examination with a special unit of the software programme FONO 2, which is a multimedia programme intended for individuals with impaired communication ability, and comprising of 5 basic partial domains. For observing the achievements made by the child, we used the observational numerical scale evaluation. We then progressed to comparing the difference between the stages within longitudinal observation that was implemented from March to June 2014. Conclusions: We can state that it is possible to achieve positive results through systematic speech and language technology-based therapy intervention focused on the development of mobility in the oral-motor area in children with ASD. Positive changes were recorded in 4.11 % of the activities. In this paper, we put forward a discussion on the possible exploitation of such positive results for the assessment and the consequent speech and language therapy intervention.