TY - JOUR
T1 - Eye tracking measures reveal how changes in the design of displays for augmentative and alternative communication influence visual search in individuals with down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder
AU - Wilkinson, Krista M.
AU - Madel, Marissa
N1 - Funding Information:
This research was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development under Grant 1R01HD083381, awarded to Krista Wilkinson, and the Hintz Communicative Competence Fund. The project was partially completed as a master’s project by the second author under the supervision of the first author. The authors would like to thank the participants who offered their time as well as the families and staff at the Midland School, the Ivymount School, and the Centre Region Down Syndrome Society.
Funding Information:
This research was supported by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development under Grant 1R01HD083381, awarded to Krista Wilkinson, and the Hintz Communicative Competence Fund. The project was partially completed as a master?s project by the second author under the supervision of the first author. The authors would like to thank the participants who offered their time as well as the families and staff at the Midland School, the Ivymount School, and the Centre Region Down Syndrome Society.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 American Speech-Language-Hearing Association.
PY - 2019/11
Y1 - 2019/11
N2 - Purpose: This research note reports on how small changes to the organization of a simulated display for augmentative and alternative communication influence the visual search patterns of individuals with Down syndrome or autism, as measured through eye tracking technologies. Prior research had demonstrated that clustering symbols by their internal color facilitates search and reduces attention to distracters, in children with typical development. This research systematically replicated the procedures with individuals with Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder. Method: Participants engaged in a visual search task on a monitor with embedded automated eye tracking technology. Patterns of gaze during search were measured via this technology. Results: Participants were significantly faster to fixate on the target and to select it with the mouse when the like-colored symbols were clustered together. In addition, participants were significantly less likely to fixate on distracters in the clustered condition. No group differences were found. Conclusions: Small changes to the organization of the simulated augmentative and alternative communication display resulted in substantial differences in eye gaze and speed to find a target. Of greatest clinical import is the finding that clustering symbols reduced attention to distracters, given that individuals with disabilities may be prone to distraction.
AB - Purpose: This research note reports on how small changes to the organization of a simulated display for augmentative and alternative communication influence the visual search patterns of individuals with Down syndrome or autism, as measured through eye tracking technologies. Prior research had demonstrated that clustering symbols by their internal color facilitates search and reduces attention to distracters, in children with typical development. This research systematically replicated the procedures with individuals with Down syndrome or autism spectrum disorder. Method: Participants engaged in a visual search task on a monitor with embedded automated eye tracking technology. Patterns of gaze during search were measured via this technology. Results: Participants were significantly faster to fixate on the target and to select it with the mouse when the like-colored symbols were clustered together. In addition, participants were significantly less likely to fixate on distracters in the clustered condition. No group differences were found. Conclusions: Small changes to the organization of the simulated augmentative and alternative communication display resulted in substantial differences in eye gaze and speed to find a target. Of greatest clinical import is the finding that clustering symbols reduced attention to distracters, given that individuals with disabilities may be prone to distraction.
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U2 - 10.1044/2019_AJSLP-19-0006
DO - 10.1044/2019_AJSLP-19-0006
M3 - Article
C2 - 31398294
AN - SCOPUS:85075558612
SN - 1058-0360
VL - 28
SP - 1649
EP - 1658
JO - American journal of speech-language pathology
JF - American journal of speech-language pathology
IS - 4
ER -