The Effect of Naturalistic Developmental Behavioral Interventions and Aided AAC on the Language Development of Children on the Autism Spectrum with Minimal Speech: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Both naturalistic developmental behavioral interventions (NDBIs) and augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) have been shown to support the language development of children with a diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder and minimal speech. However, little research has addressed the impact of incorporating AAC systems within NDBIs. This systematic review was conducted to assess the relative impact of NDBI procedures with and without AAC on the language development of children on the autism spectrum with minimal speech.

Accurate single-molecule spot detection for image-based spatial transcriptomics with weakly supervised deep learning.

Image-based spatial transcriptomics methods enable transcriptome-scale gene expression measurements with spatial information but require complex, manually tuned analysis pipelines. We present Polaris, an analysis pipeline for image-based spatial transcriptomics that combines deep-learning models for cell segmentation and spot detection with a probabilistic gene decoder to quantify single-cell gene expression accurately. Polaris offers a unifying, turnkey solution for analyzing spatial transcriptomics data from multiplexed error-robust FISH (MERFISH), sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization (seqFISH), or in situ RNA sequencing (ISS) experiments.

"You Just Want to Be Able to Communicate With Your Child": Parents' Perspectives on Communication and AAC Use for Beginning Communicators on the Autism Spectrum.

Purpose: For young children on the autism spectrum who are beginning communicators, augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) can support language development and participation in meaningful interactions. AAC is more likely to be effective when services align with the needs and priorities of the child's family. To better understand family perspectives, this study investigated the communication and AAC experiences of parents of young beginning communicators on the autism spectrum.

A Foundation Model for Cell Segmentation.

Cells are a fundamental unit of biological organization, and identifying them in imaging data - cell segmentation - is a critical task for various cellular imaging experiments. While deep learning methods have led to substantial progress on this problem, most models in use are specialist models that work well for specific domains. Methods that have learned the general notion of "what is a cell" and can identify them across different domains of cellular imaging data have proven elusive.

Effects of an AAC feature on decoding and encoding skills of adults with Down syndrome.

Literacy skills can assist in the navigation and enjoyment of adult life. For individuals who have reached adulthood without strong literacy skills, opportunities for continued literacy learning are few. Redesigning AAC technologies to support literacy skill development could extend literacy learning opportunities for adults with developmental disabilities who have limited speech.

Accurate single-molecule spot detection for image-based spatial transcriptomics with weakly supervised deep learning.

Image-based spatial transcriptomics methods enable transcriptome-scale gene expression measurements with spatial information but require complex, manually-tuned analysis pipelines. We present Polaris, an analysis pipeline for image-based spatial transcriptomics that combines deep learning models for cell segmentation and spot detection with a probabilistic gene decoder to quantify single-cell gene expression accurately. Polaris offers a unifying, turnkey solution for analyzing spatial transcriptomics data from MERFSIH, seqFISH, or ISS experiments.

Effects of an Augmentative and Alternative Communication Technology Decoding Feature on Single-Word Reading by Individuals With Down Syndrome and Limited Functional Speech.

Purpose: Literacy skills are foundational to participation in adolescent and adult life, and decoding skills (i.e., sounding out to read words) are critical to literacy learning.

Effect of Video Augmentative and Alternative Communication Technology on Communication During Play With Peers for Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder.

Purpose: Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are at risk for exclusion from play with their peers due to difficulty with communication skills. Video augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology has the potential to support communication within the context of play using videos with integrated visual scene displays. This study investigated the effect of a video AAC intervention on the number of turns in which children with ASD demonstrated symbolic communication during interactions with a peer without disabilities.

Core vocabulary lists for young children and considerations for early language development: a narrative review.

For early symbolic communicators, acquisition of an initial vocabulary is a critically important achievement that sets the stage for future language development. Children who require augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) rely on others to select and provide these important first words for them. One resource to help guide this process includes published lists of words that may contribute to a core vocabulary for individuals who require AAC.

Effect of an application with video visual scene displays on communication during play: pilot study of a child with autism spectrum disorder and a peer.

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and limited speech are at risk for exclusion from pretend play with their peers due in part to communication difficulties. The purpose of this pilot study was to examine the effect of an intervention package, consisting of tablet-based augmentative and alternative communication technology with video visual scene displays (video VSDs) and instruction, on communication between a child with ASD and a peer with typical development across three play activities. One dyad, consisting of the child with ASD and the peer, participated in this study.

Implementing directives that involve prepositions with children with autism: a comparison of spoken cues with two types of augmented input.

Some children with autism face considerable challenges with comprehension, including difficulties following spoken directives involving prepositional relations. The use of augmented input through visual modalities might be an effective means for supplementing spoken language. The purpose of this preliminary study was to compare spoken input with two augmented input modalities (i.

Applying technology to visually support language and communication in individuals with autism spectrum disorders.

The burgeoning role of technology in society has provided opportunities for the development of new means of communication for individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD). This paper offers an organizational framework for describing traditional and emerging augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) technology, and highlights how tools within this framework can support a visual approach to everyday communication and improve language instruction. The growing adoption of handheld media devices along with applications acquired via a consumer-oriented delivery model suggests a potential paradigm shift in AAC for people with ASD.