PixTalk

Description:

PixTalk is a smart-phone application and accompanying website designed to help children with autism spectrum disorder to communicate. It is based on a Picture Exchange Communication System in which children use visual symbols as a form of communication. Children can browse and select images using the touch screen application to express their intentions, desires and emotions. Individual images that represent single words are stored in groups - and children select from these images to form sentences. Teachers or caregivers can access the website and select images from an online library (or their own library) for use on the smart-phone. PixTalk can be downloaded for free and be used on any Microsoft Windows smart-phone or PDA.

Service URL:

http://www.communicationautism.com/

Agency Responsible:

Claremont Graduate University & Old Dominion University .

Mobile Platform:

Other.

Details

Format:

Smartphone Application.

Intervention Type:

Educational (primarily educational material or psychoeducation). Using a digital picture-based communication system.

Course Structure:

No Set Course.

Course Length:

Other. The mobile app contains images that are stored in groups to be used by children to form sentences and communicate.

Support Option:

No support.

Target Audience

Primary Category:

Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Target Audience:

Child. Child with autism spectrum disorder with communcation difficulties

Language:

English.

Access

Mobile platforms:

Other:

You can register and download Windows operated PixTalk here: http://www.communicationautism.com/index.php?pag=downloads

Fee:

Free.

Access:

Open: With registration.

Contact Details:

Gondy.leroy@cgu.edu and gdeleo@odu.edu

Research evidence

Research Trials:

1

Research RCTs:

0

Outcome Summary:

The potential effectiveness of PixTalk has only been examined in one initial case study. In this study three children with autism spectrum disorder and their teachers who were already familiar with a traditional Picture Exchange Communication System, trialled the PixTalk mobile application. When asked to compare the two communication systems, teachers rated the PixTalk as a better communication tool. Furthermore, examination of the frequency and types of images selected by the children in the study suggested the mobile app facilitated a level of communication predicted by a baseline measurement of their communication skills - and indeed the children showed some preference for the mobile app over the traditional method. Therefore, although further controlled studies involving larger samples are clearly needed - this initial study suggests PixTalk holds some promise as a communication tool for children with autism spectrum disorder.

Recommended rating, reviewer 1:

Recommended rating, reviewer 2:

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Research paper citations

De Leo, G.,Gonzales, C.H., Battagiri, P., Leroy, G. (2011). A smart-phone application and a companion website for the improvement of the communication skills of children with autism: clinical rationale, technical development and preliminary results. Journal of Medical Systems, 35, 703-711.