Construindo caminhos para comunicar: o uso do dispositivo gerador de fala para crianças com autismo

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental condition that can appear in the first years of a child's life. Its presentation can vary in levels of support and manifest itself in different ways, thus composing different clinical pictures. People with ASD may present changes related to the deficit or absence of language and social communication and repetitive and/or stereotyped behavior patterns. This investigation considered communication as a non-linear process that involves, in addition to biological conditions, social, historical, interaction and intersubjectivity conditions of the person. Our survey showed us that a Speech Generative Device (SGD) can be seen as a very promising technological resource when it comes to stimulating, supplementing, contributing and/or enabling the development of language and communication for children with Complex Communication Needs (CCN). The main objective of this research was to verify the effects of DGF on the communicative skills of children diagnosed with ASD and who presented NCC, based on playful-pedagogical activities. The three participants were aged between 5 and 10 years old and each was monitored exclusively in their school, family or therapeutic environment. Initially, we selected an application to be used in the intervention sessions: LetMe Talk: Free AAC Application; We then carried out a narrative review on the topic. The methodology used was quasi-experimental intra-subject research with an AB design (baseline and intervention). To collect data, we used video recordings, semi-structured interviews and field diaries; and for data analysis we used the frequency record of behaviors based on the analysis of two observers. Naturalistic teaching strategies and the development of cultural tools that could favor the acquisition of language from a Vygotskian perspective comprised our reflections and supported our actions. The results pointed to positive impacts of using the SGD on the participants' language and communication development. We believe that the use of naturalistic strategies, with an emphasis on environmental arrangement and modeling, were differentiating factors for participants to use more concrete symbols to communicate. Furthermore, we consider that the SGD as a cultural tool opens up new possibilities for children who need to use an alternative resource to communicate and interact with their communicative partners.