Basic Principles Rightfully Governing the Design of Tools in Autism: A Physicians`s Perspective

Background: Effective therapy of autism does not exist. So, it is urgency for tools that could contribute to functional autonomy of autistics.

Objective: Formulation of principles that govern the design of tools in autism.

Methods: Literature review

Results: Individualization: There are autistics who get easily bored, so the stimulation must be high in order to maintain their attention, and others who are disturbed by the simultaneous presence of different stimuli. Therefore, tools must be dynamic in order to compensate for changing patterns of autistics. Complexity: Autistics have lost their complexity and behave in a uniform, predictable, stereotypic manner. The aim is to learn the concept of accepting the unpredictable governing the real world. Gradation: The complexity that will be provided for learning should be gradually enriched, so that it can be accepted by the autistics. Controlled Flexibility: The tool should give the complexity of the situation to be learned the possibility either to increase (if the procedure learning progresses) or decrease (if it does not progress). Familiarity: Autistics have excellent resistance to unfamiliar experiences. So, tools must include activities familiar to them. Repeatability: The tool must provide the possibility of repetition (autistics learn better in a ritually stereotyped manner). Generalization: Generalization (in autism lacks-deficit in theory of mind) is the capacity to enable the newly-acquired abilities in the real world. Self-control: The tool must enable individuals to watch themselves performing tasks in which they have been trained (activation of mirror neurons, whose defectiveness in autism is significant). Human Factor: The human factor when using tools to acquire skills (trainer’s voice, gestures, presence of peers) is necessary so that the “autistic individual does not become more autistic”.

Conclusions: Maintenance of these principles could contribute to the effectiveness of tools for autistics and to the achievement of functional autonomy of the latter.