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Biomedical subjects

V Bernard-Opitz

Publications and source records attributed to V Bernard-Opitz.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

Computer assisted instruction for autistic children.

Since the beginning of 1980, Computer-Assisted-Instruction (CAI) has been used systematically in special education. The use of computers in the treatment of autistic children is highly controversial and emotional among parents and professionals. Fears of reinforcing autistic withdrawal are often mixed with insecurity and dislike of new technologies. On the other hand, positive effects of CAI on learning and behaviour are reported by parents and published as single case studies. The following paper relates perception, motivation, communication and behaviour--characteristics of autistic children to features of computer-assisted learning. Preliminary findings support the benefit of the use of computer-technology for the management of behaviour and learning of autistic children. In 12 autistics, video-taped evaluations showed higher enthusiasm ratings in computer-sessions than personal instruction sessions. Single case-studies demonstrated a positive influence of CAI on autistic children's behaviour-problems (e.g. avoidance of eye contact, echolalia) as well as improved spontaneous communication and better learning of academics.

Adolescent

[Using computers with autistic handicapped children].

Since the beginning of 1980 computer assisted instruction ( = CAI) has been used systematically in special education. While England, the USA and Japan are experienced in this field, comparable attempts in Germany are rare. The possibility to use the computer for autistic children is discussed highly controversial and emotional among parents and professionals. Criticism and fears to "reinforce autistic withdrawal" are often mixed with insecurity or dislike of new technologies. On the other hand positive effects of CAI on learning and behavior are reported by parents or published as single case studies. The following paper summarizes theoretical issues, findings of the literature and experimental results. Perceptual, motivational, communication and behavior problems of autistic children are discussed under the aspect of computer assisted instruction.

Adolescent

Pragmatic analysis of the communicative behavior of an autistic child.

Differential responsiveness by social stimuli was demonstrated in the communicative performance of an 8-year-old autistic boy. The pragmatic behavior of the subject varied with different communicative settings (waiting vs. interaction conditions) as well as with different communicative partners (mother, stranger, clinician). Communicative intentions, relational communication, topic strategies and differential responding to adults to communicative and non-communicative utterances were analyzed. Results indicated that the adults' communicative performance was a function of their relationships with the subject (mother, stranger, clinician) as well as the different experimental conditions (waiting, interacting). The child's communicative behavior showed greater consistency in conditions with the same interlocutor than over comparable experimental settings. Conclusions were drawn on how to facilitate communicative behavior and how to enhance generalization of remedial effects to the subject's natural environment.

Autistic Disorder