Speech development delay in autism spectrum disorder – the perspective of using the “Talk To Me” speech therapy application

Abstract

Introduction and aim. The paper aims to present the prospects of using the „Talk To Me” application in the case of a child with this neurodevelopmental disorder. Description of the case. The subject of the study was a 53-month-old boy who did not communicate verbally, but behaved forcefully. A child underwent a speech therapy using the „Talk To Me” application for a period of 12 weeks. The scale of acquiring language skills in the field of communication competence was used to monitor the progress of therapy. In the analyzed period, a decrease in the score on the scale from 23 to 15 points was observed, which means a result indicating an improvement in the communication sphere. The use of a newly developed therapeutic tool was an important motivational factor and, in the opinion of the boy’s mother, significantly influenced the progress in therapy, which had not been observed before using a conventional approach. Conclusion. The „Talk To Me” application is a therapeutic tool with potential effectiveness in the case of speech delays in children with autism spectrum disorder, and it is also compatible with behavioral therapy, a widely used therapeutic method with proven effectiveness in autism spectrum disorder.