Smartphone app helps children with autism communicate better

Developed by Keith Allen, Ph.D., professor of pediatrics at the University of Nebraska Medical Center and a child psychologist at UNMC's Munroe-Meyer Institute, the app uses evidence-based naturalistic teaching procedures to foster communication.

"We wanted to help parents do more to help their children learn basic communication skills. We wanted to develop something that could assist parents right in their homes, and we wanted something that was supported by research," Dr. Allen said. "Naturalistic teaching that provides pictures of objects and prompts for parents fit all of these requirements."

"We" is Dr. Allen and BehaviorApp, LLC -- a Lincoln, Neb.-based smartphone app development company.

"This will allow us to put the experience of a professional like Dr. Allen into the hands of many families of children with autism," said Evelyn Bartlett, BehaviorApp CEO.

Dr. Allen emphasized that the app is designed to supplement, not be a substitute for trained professionals who specialize in treating speech and communication problems in children with autism.

The MySocius app is available on Apple's iTunes App Store at: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/mysocius-model/id572554727?ls=1&mt=8