The impact of EC+ as a multimodal support in intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: a technological alternative.
Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Enhancing Communication Plus (EC+), an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technological support system, in improving communication, social interaction, and behavior in children with Level 3 autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and com...
| Publicado en: | Disability & Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology Vol. 20; no. 8; pp. 3027 - 3044 |
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| Autores principales: | , |
| Formato: | pictorial research tables/charts randomized controlled trial Journal Article |
| Publicado: |
Taylor & Francis Ltd
Nov2025
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| Acceso en línea: | Ver este registro en EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=189411295&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 189411295 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 17483107 1X04 jtl: Disability & Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology issn: 17483107 maglogo: Y pubinfo: dt: Nov2025 vid: 20 iid: 8 pid: 377 pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania artinfo: ui: 189411295 185984402 189411295 189411295 10.1080/17483107.2025.2520881 189411295 ppf: 3027 ppct: 17 formats: fmt: – @attributes: type: T – @attributes: type: P tig: atl: The impact of EC+ as a multimodal support in intervention for children with autism spectrum disorder: a technological alternative. aug: au: Zurita Díaz, Antonio Javier Calleja Reina, Marina affil: Facultad de Psicología y Logopedia, Universidad de Málaga, Málaga, España sug: subj: Alternative and Augmentative Communication Methods Mobile Applications Autism Spectrum Disorder Rehabilitation Interpersonal Relations Child Behavior Treatment Outcomes Funding Source Spain Human Quasi-Experimental Studies Randomized Controlled Trials Random Assignment Child Adult Male Female Communication Skills Social Skills Data Analysis Software Repeated Measures Analysis of Variance Scales Disruptive Behavior Purposive Sample DSM Descriptive Statistics Intelligence Tests Comparative Studies Confidence Intervals Child: 6-12 years Adult: 19-44 years Male Female ab: Purpose: This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of Enhancing Communication Plus (EC+), an augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technological support system, in improving communication, social interaction, and behavior in children with Level 3 autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and complex communication needs. The intervention combines EC+ with aided augmented input to enhance expressive and receptive communication. Methods: A quasi-experimental design was conducted over 16 weeks with 18 children aged 6 to 12 diagnosed with Level 3 ASD. Participants engaged in therapy sessions using EC+ within a structured intervention framework. Communication, social skills, and behavioral outcomes were assessed at three evaluation moments using the Vineland-3 scale. Data analysis was performed using SPSS, with statistical tests including repeated-measures ANOVA. Results: Significant improvements were observed across all measured domains. Participants demonstrated enhanced communicative abilities, increased social interaction, and a reduction in disruptive behaviors. The multimodal features of EC+ contributed to engagement and learning, making communication more accessible and intuitive. Conclusion: The findings highlight the potential of EC+ as an effective AAC tool for children with Level 3 ASD. Its multimodal features offer a structured and engaging approach that enhances communication, socialization, and behavior. Future research should explore its comparative effectiveness with other AAC supports and ICT-based tools. IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION: EC+ is an innovative AAC technological support developed at the University of Málaga, offering multimodal functions for the entire vocabulary, making it highly beneficial for intervention. The integration of EC+ with aided augmented input provides an effective strategy for improving expressive and receptive communication in children with Level 3 ASD and complex communication needs. The multimodal features of EC+ facilitate greater engagement and interaction, supporting the development of social skills in therapeutic settings. By offering structured and intuitive communication support, EC+ helps decrease disruptive behaviors-related behaviors, promoting more adaptive responses. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: pictorial research tables/charts randomized controlled trial Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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