This study tested whether nonspeaking autistic teenagers and adults can learn to spell, a key skill for typed communication. Using a tapping game on an iPad, participants showed behaviors consistent with understanding spelling and word boundaries, such as faster tapping of meaningful letter sequences and pausing before new words. The findings suggest that many nonspeaking autistic individuals have the potential to learn to spell and communicate through typing if given proper support.
This study tested whether nonspeaking autistic teenagers and adults can learn to spell, a key skill for typed communication. Using a tapping game on an iPad, participants showed behaviors consistent with understanding spelling and word boundaries, such as faster tapping of meaningful letter sequences and pausing before new words. The findings suggest that many nonspeaking autistic individuals have the potential to learn to spell and communicate through typing if given proper support.
