Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsAbout Autism AppsApps for CommunicationGoal-Tracking AppsApps for Teaching Social SkillsSensory Apps
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
About Autism Apps
Apps for Communication
Goal-Tracking Apps
Apps for Teaching Social Skills
Sensory Apps
Apps for autism, available for smartphones and pads (and, in some cases, desktop computers) are fast becoming key tools for success. There are many different categories of “autism apps,” and they serve a wide range of needs and situations.
Some of the most popular types of apps for autism include:
Some of these are apps intended for the general public which just happen to also be effective for autistic people. Many are specifically designed for autistic children (or, much more rarely, autistic teens or adults). Still others support specific types ofautism therapy.
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Before leaping into the world of autism apps, it helps to be aware of some of the pros, cons, and limitations of what’s available. While some apps are well worth the money and time required to get started, others are surprisingly limited in what they offer. What’s more, some autistic people are better served through interaction with human beings (or paper and pencil) than through interaction with apps.
With these caveats in mind, here are some key issues to consider:
Not too long ago, augmentative communication devices for nonverbal or low-verbal people were outrageously expensive, heavy, and difficult to use. High-quality touchscreen communication apps have radically lowered the cost and availability of such tools while also making them much easier to use.
Because these apps are so valuable to anyone with speech/language difficulties, they are well worth the price—which can be as high as $250. It’s important to note that, in some cases, health insurance will cover the cost of these apps.
Apps for Tracking Goals and Outcomes
It’s tough enough keeping tabs on what your child is actually doing, but tracking the outcomes of different therapies can be almost impossible without a system that can be shared between parents, teachers, and therapists.
Tracking is one of the most important keys to ensuring that your child’s therapies and medications are effective.
And, of course, it’s also an important way to gather information when you go into your Individualized Education Plan (IEP) meetings or progress meetings with therapists.
While many autistic children can benefit from apps that teach skills and academics, few need specially designed “autism-only” apps. The exception to this may be in the area of social skills: many autistic children need direct instruction to recognize others’ facial expressions and other forms of social communication.This type of app, of course, is only useful for children who can engage with them—which means they must be verbal and able to follow instructions.
Some social stories provide children with previews of potentially anxiety-provoking experience (haircuts, visits to the dentist). Other social stories help children understand what their options are in a given situation.
Many autistic people of all ages have sensory challenges. For some, squeezing a therapy ball or jumping on a trampoline can make the difference between extreme anxiety and focused calm.
When physical activity isn’t an option, an app is a great alternative. Most sensory apps are intended for a broad range of users—not just autistic people.
Summary
There is no doubt that different apps can serve an important role for autistic people. It’s important to remember, however, that no app can substitute for meaningful connection and engagement with other people.
Because so many autistic people are more comfortable with technology than with people, it is easy to allow technology to take over. Caregivers (and autistic people themselves) should work hard to carefully select the apps that are appropriate to their particular needs, and to supplement their use with plenty of real-world interactions.
Assistive Technology for Autism
3 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Liu X, Zhao W, Qi Q, Luo X.A Survey on Autism Care, Diagnosis, and Intervention Based on Mobile Apps Focusing on Usability and Software Design.Sensors (Basel). 2023 Jul 9;23(14):6260. doi:10.3390/s23146260Monz BU, Houghton R, Law K, Loss G.Treatment patterns in children with autism in the United States.Autism Res. 2019;12(3):517-526. doi:10.1002/aur.2070Baron-Cohen S, Golan O, Ashwin E.Can emotion recognition be taught to children with autism spectrum conditions?Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2009;364(1535):3567-3574. doi:10.1098/rstb.2009.0191
Liu X, Zhao W, Qi Q, Luo X.A Survey on Autism Care, Diagnosis, and Intervention Based on Mobile Apps Focusing on Usability and Software Design.Sensors (Basel). 2023 Jul 9;23(14):6260. doi:10.3390/s23146260
Monz BU, Houghton R, Law K, Loss G.Treatment patterns in children with autism in the United States.Autism Res. 2019;12(3):517-526. doi:10.1002/aur.2070
Baron-Cohen S, Golan O, Ashwin E.Can emotion recognition be taught to children with autism spectrum conditions?Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci. 2009;364(1535):3567-3574. doi:10.1098/rstb.2009.0191
Iacono T, Trembath D, Erickson S.The role of augmentative and alternative communication for children with autism: current status and future trends.Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment.2016;12:2349–2361. doi:10.2147/NDT.S95967
Kim JW, Nguyen TQ, Gipson SYMT, et al.Smartphone apps for autism spectrum disorder—Understanding the evidence.J Technol Behav Sci.2018;3:1. doi:10.1007/s41347-017-0040-4
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