Visual-perceptual features of augmentative and alternative communication displays affect efficiency of motor reaching by individuals with Down syndrome: a pilot study.

Individuals with Down syndrome often have speech and language impairments that interfere with their ability to use speech to meet their full range of communication needs. Visual communication supports in the form of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are often a solution for individual...

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Published in:AAC: Augmentative & Alternative Communication Vol. 42; no. 1; pp. 42 - 56
Main Authors: Wilkinson, Krista M., Sowers, Dawn J., Sainburg, Robert
Format: pictorial research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: Taylor & Francis Ltd Mar2026
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
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      dt: Mar2026
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      pub: Taylor & Francis Ltd
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        10.1080/07434618.2025.2495904
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        atl: Visual-perceptual features of augmentative and alternative communication displays affect efficiency of motor reaching by individuals with Down syndrome: a pilot study.
      aug:
        au:
          Wilkinson, Krista M.
          Sowers, Dawn J.
          Sainburg, Robert
        affil: Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA, USA
      sug:
        subj:
          Visual Perception Evaluation
          Motor Skills Evaluation
          Reaching
          Alternative and Augmentative Communication
          Down Syndrome Rehabilitation
          Funding Source
          Human
          Pilot Studies
          Language Tests
          Vocabulary
          Male
          Female
          Adolescence
          Adult
          Self Report
          Matched Case Control
          Repeated Measures
          Analysis of Variance
          Post Hoc Analysis
          Descriptive Statistics
          Mann-Whitney U Test
          Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test
          Reaction Time
          Comparative Studies
          Randomized Controlled Trials
          Random Assignment
          Adolescent: 13-18 years
          Adult: 19-44 years
          Male
          Female
      ab: Individuals with Down syndrome often have speech and language impairments that interfere with their ability to use speech to meet their full range of communication needs. Visual communication supports in the form of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) are often a solution for individuals who require support to their own natural speech, including those with Down syndrome. Messages are produced via touch or reach to communication symbols presented on these AAC displays. While a line of past research has detailed the influence of AAC display design on the efficiency with which individuals with and without disabilities can find target symbols within an array, few studies have examined how different AAC displays might influence touch/reaching. Yet critical clinical implications arise if display design is resulting in inefficient (and fatiguing) motor/reaching behavior. This pilot study evaluated how visual-perceptual characteristics of AAC displays affected the efficiency and quality of reaches by six individuals with Down syndrome and six individuals without disabilities matched on age, gender, and hand preference.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        pictorial
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
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