Abstract:

Aim and objectives:
The research was focused on the analysis of orofacial motor skills of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). We used a special speech and language therapy software programme to evaluate the quality of orofacial movements in children with ASD. The research strategy was based on the relations between motor dyspraxia problems and disturbed nonverbal communication patterns generally, which could be influenced even more in children with ASD. The main focus of the research emerged from our wider focus to the assessment of pragmatic language level, which represents one of the most deficit area in persons with ASD. We believe that the ability of production of facial expression gestures represents one of the most important part of pragmatic, nonverbal communication activities.

Methodology:
We assessed the orofacial motor abilities of children with ASD in the initial and final phase of the examination. We used a selected part of the software programme FONO 2, a multimedia programme for therapy of clients with impaired communication ability. For the evaluation of the progress, stagnation or regress of the child, we used the observational numerical scale evaluation. Subsequently we compared the difference between the phases after longitudinal observation.

Conclusions:
The results proved the possibility of achieving at least some partial positive results based on application systematic speech and language therapeutic approach based on using speech and language software in the intervention of the orofacial motor skills in children with ASD. We propose a discussion of the future possibilities and relations of the orofacial motor skills quality and pragmatic language level output, which could be positively influenced via properly focused speech and language therapy based on special software.

Keywords:

orofacial motor skills, autism spectrum disorder, dyspraxia, speech and language therapy, assessment, technology.