Newswise — A smartphone application that has potential to help children with autism communicate more effectively is now available for download.
Developed by Keith Allen, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a child psychologist at UNMC's Munroe-Meyer Institute, the app uses evidence-based naturalistic teaching procedures to foster communication.
“We wanted to help parents do more to help their children learn basic communication skills. We wanted to develop something that could assist parents right in their homes, and we wanted something that was supported by research,” Dr. Allen said. “Naturalistic teaching that provides pictures of objects and prompts for parents fit all of these requirements.”
“We” is Dr. Allen and BehaviorApp, LLC -- a Lincoln, Neb.-based smartphone app development company.
“This will allow us to put the experience of a professional like Dr. Allen into the hands of many families of children with autism,” said Evelyn Bartlett, BehaviorApp CEO.
Dr. Allen emphasized that the app is designed to supplement, not be a substitute for trained professionals who specialize in treating speech and communication problems in children with autism.
A limited number of apps, which retail for $24.99, are being offered free of charge to families of children with autism. For more information, contact Craig Lutz-Priefert at BehaviorApp, LLC at [email protected] or 402-423-2444.
The CDC’s most recent figures reported that 1 in 88 children are diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder.
Through world-class research and patient care, UNMC generates breakthroughs that make life better for people throughout Nebraska and beyond. Its education programs train more health professionals than any other institution in the state. Learn more at unmc.edu.
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