Exploring the impact of the image exchange communication system on the development of communication skills in children with autism in Morocco

Abstract

Autism manifests through limitations in communication, social interaction, and stereotypic repetitive behaviors.

There are many ways to help people with autism develop their communication skills.

Our study is based in an integrated class in a school in casablanca, and includes directive interviews with autism specialists, direct observation of 6 autistic children, verbal and non-verbal autistic children with mental retardation and without mental retardation, and filmed videos of these children before and after the application of the PECS to measure changes in the development of communication and language skills in autistic children to ensure its effectiveness.

We aim to understand how learning technologies can enhance the effectiveness of the PECS as a communication system to maximize outcomes in children with autism, with the aim of offering new perspectives for improving communication skills in these children in our country.

After the application of the PECS, we observed a significant progression in the communicative skills in autistic children without mental retardation and with mental retardation.

The PECS system is an important tool for improving the communication skills of children with autism. The integration of learning technologies can be a complementary means of optimizing the effectiveness of this approach, notably by stimulating engagement and accelerating the learning process.

These results could offer important avenues for optimizing the use of this alternative communication system, as well as the implementation of future interventions and educational programs for the continuous improvement of the quality of life of children with autism spectrum disorders.