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Education

Educational Apps Show Promise in Enhancing Literacy and Numeracy Skills in Children with ASD

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

Recent research published in the Journal of Special Education Technology has shown that educational apps, specifically AppL+, can be effective in developing early literacy and numeracy skills in children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). The study, conducted by a multidisciplinary team at the University of Lorraine, involved 36 children aged 4-6 years who were divided into three experimental groups. Those in groups 1 and 2 used AppL+ during lessons, while the control group did not use the app. The results showed that children in groups 1 and 2 performed better than those in the control group after 12 weeks, with significant improvements in literacy and numeracy skills.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study highlights the potential of educational apps, such as AppL+, in enhancing literacy and numeracy skills in children with ASD.
  • AppL+ incorporates specific pedagogical features that cater to the needs of children with ASD, such as slowed-down auditory stimuli.
  • The study found no significant differences in performance between children who used AppL+ with or without slowed-down auditory stimuli.
  • The research concluded that possible reasons for the result include the need for further improvements in the app to optimize its effectiveness.
  • The study contributes to the growing body of research on the use of technology in education, particularly in supporting children with special needs.
  • The findings of this study have implications for the development of future educational apps and programs that cater to the needs of children with ASD.

Statistics:

  • 36 children aged 4-6 years participated in the study.
  • The experiment lasted for 12 weeks.
  • Children in experimental groups 1 and 2 performed better than those in the control group, with significant improvements in literacy and numeracy skills.
  • No significant differences were found between children who used AppL+ with or without slowed-down auditory stimuli.

Sources:

  • Contribution of an Educational Classroom App To Enhancing the Early Literacy and Numeracy of French Preschoolers With Asd. Journal of Special Education Technology, 2025.
  • University of Lorraine. Journal of Special Education Technology can be contacted at: Sage Publications Inc, 2455 Teller Rd, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA.
  • Additional information may be obtained by contacting Youssef Tazouti, University of Lorraine, 2LPN, Rue Paul Richard, Bp 90003 Maxeville, Nancy, 54528, France.
  • NewsRx. Investigators at University of Lorraine Report Findings in Education Technology (Contribution of an Educational Classroom App To Enhancing the Early Literacy and Numeracy of French Preschoolers With Asd). Education Letter. October 15, 2025; p 330.

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