Using Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs): Preliminary Evidence on Memory and Comprehension Skills in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, as well as memory and language comprehension difficulties. This study investigated the effects of a storytelling paradigm on language comprehension and memory skills in...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Mariagiovanna De Luca, Ciro Rosario Ilardi, Pasquale Dolce, Angelo Rega, Raffaele Di Fuccio, Franco Rubinacci, Maria Gallucci, Paola Marangolo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Behavioral Sciences
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-328X/15/3/267
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Summary:Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a complex neurodevelopmental condition involving persistent challenges with social communication, as well as memory and language comprehension difficulties. This study investigated the effects of a storytelling paradigm on language comprehension and memory skills in children with ASD. A traditional approach, using an illustrated book to deliver the narrative, was compared to a novel paradigm based on Tangible User Interfaces (TUIs) combined with multisensory stimulation. A group of 28 children (ages between 6 and 10 years old) was asked to listen to a story over four weeks, two times a week, in two different experimental conditions. The experimental group (<i>n </i>=<i> </i>14) engaged with the story using TUIs, while the control group (<i>n </i>=<i> </i>14) interacted with a corresponding illustrated book. Pre- and post-intervention assessments were conducted using NEPSY-II subtests on language comprehension and memory. At the end of the intervention, a trend of improved performance was found. In particular, a greater number of subjects benefited from the intervention in the experimental group compared with the control group in instruction comprehension and narrative memory-cued recall. These preliminary findings suggest that TUIs may enhance learning outcomes for children with ASD, warranting further investigation into their potential benefits.
ISSN:2076-328X