Technological Evolvement in AAC Modalities to Foster Communications of Verbally Challenged ASD Children: A Systematic Review

Abstract

Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) emerged as a combination of methods or strategies that constitute any device, such as Speech Generating Device (SGD), Program (mobile applications), Procedure (PECS, Picture Exchange Communication System), which enhances individual’s communication ability. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a spectrum of comprehensive neurodevelopment disorder that leads to speech impairments, repetitive behavior, and social communication difficulties; therefore, it is imperative to underscore that at the core of all impediments are communication impairment. This article represents a systematic review of research initiatives that investigate multi-modal AAC strategies and functionality, features of mobile applications to reinforce communication and communal skills in verbally challenged ASD children because other researches are focused only on low or high-tech AAC or interventions to provide insights on ASD children respond to a particular approach. Following the PRISMA method, a total of 60 (January 2015 to October 2020) research articles were reviewed, indexed by Springer, Science Direct, Scopus, ACM, IEEE databases, and published in the AAC journal. The selected research articles are categorized into different themes where most of them focused on interactive mobile applications to improve emotional, social, learning, and overall communication skills in verbally challenged ASD children. This systematic review provides an outline of the paradigm shift in AAC modalities from PECS to Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and Augmented Reality (AR) based applications. It opens up underline future opportunities to integrate intelligent analytics features in mobile applications to strengthen communication skills in verbally undermined ASD children.