Judicious Arrangement of Symbols on a Simulated Augmentative and Alternative Communication Display Optimizes Visual Attention by Individuals with Down Syndrome

Autor/inn/en	Wilkinson, Krista M.; Gilmore, Rick; Qian, Yiming
Titel	Judicious Arrangement of Symbols on a Simulated Augmentative and Alternative Communication Display Optimizes Visual Attention by Individuals with Down Syndrome
Quelle	In: Journal of Speech, Language, and Hearing Research, 65 (2022) 2, S.710-726 (17 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	1092-4388
Schlagwörter	Augmentative and Alternative Communication; Attention; Down Syndrome; Adolescents; Adults; Eye Movements; Cues; Color; Visual Aids; Visual Perception + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Aufmerksamkeit; 'Downs Syndrome; Down''s Syndrome'; Down-Syndrom; Adolescent; Adolescence; Adoleszenz; Jugend; Jugendalter; Jugendlicher; Augenbewegung; Stichwort; Colour; Farbbezeichnung; Farbe; Anschauungsmaterial; Visuelle Wahrnehmung
Abstract	Purpose: Aided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) displays are often designed as symmetrical row--column grids, with each square in the grid containing a symbol. To maximize vocabulary on displays, symbols are often placed close to one another, and background color cuing is used to signal/differentiate symbols across different grammatical categories. However, from a visual and developmental standpoint, these display features (close-set symbols and use of background color cues) may not be optimal. In particular, placing symbols quite close together may result in visual crowding, in which individual symbols cannot be distinguished due to the presence of many neighbors, or flankers. This research sought to examine the role of display arrangement and background color cuing on the efficiency of visual attention during search. Method: Ten adolescents and adults with Down syndrome underwent a visual search task while a research-based eye tracking system recorded their patterns of visual attention. Participants searched for symbol targets on displays with varying levels of visual crowding and background color cuing. Results: Spatial arrangements that reduced visual crowding and that used the spatial organization to cue the grammatical category of symbols resulted in significantly fewer fixations to nonrelevant distracters during search and reduced the likelihood of fixations away from the target once it was located. Background color was helpful in reducing the latency to find the target. Discussion: Spatial cues may offer a powerful means to maximize the efficiency of search within AAC displays. Background color cuing may facilitate speed to locate targets in these older individuals. Implications for AAC design, as well as future avenues for maximizing (growing) vocabulary, are discussed. (As Provided).
Anmerkungen	American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. 2200 Research Blvd #250, Rockville, MD 20850. Tel: 301-296-5700; Fax: 301-296-8580; e-mail: slhr@asha.org; Web site: http://jslhr.pubs.asha.org
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2024/1/01