Encouraging Speech and Vocalization in Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder

Technology can improve the life of those with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Specifically, some children with ASD are not fortunate enough to acquire the ability to communicate with language on their own. With language being an important method of communication, socialization, and interacting with the world, these children need researchers to develop new solutions to help teach vocalization and speech. Without speech, these children will have difficulty communicating their needs, wants, and emotions, as well as being able to function within society at large. This paper examines the existing HCI research on ASD, as well as proposes a new direction for investigation.