Effective Strategies for Developing Attention Span in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Abstract

This study examines the effect of the Picture Exchange Communication System (PECS) on a child's attention span, communication skills, and behavioral changes in children with ASD at the Abu Dhabi Autism Centre. The research employed a mixed-method approach by observing six children quantitatively for four months and then qualitatively interviewing the children’s parents and teachers. Results showed that PECS significantly shrunk task completion time and lowered variability in performance related to higher attention and more task engagement. Qualitative results showed participants' responses with improved communication skills, decreased negative behavior, and increased attention spans, mainly using visual stimuli. However, consistent usage of PECS at home and individual variable responses were noted. This study emphasizes the necessity of using suitably tailored interventions, delivery across environments, and use of highly preferred reinforcers when implementing PECS. These findings add to the growing body of research on autism interventions in non-Western contexts to help educators and families in the UAE. Research into ways of overcoming implementation challenges and increasing the sample to include children with differing ASD severity and co-occurring conditions is suggested for future research.