Title

The potential influence of stimulus overselectivity in AAC: information from eye tracking and behavioral studies of attention with individuals with intellectual disabilities

UMMS Affiliation

Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Center; Shriver Center

Publication Date

2014-06-01

Document Type

Article

Disciplines

Behavior and Behavior Mechanisms | Communication Sciences and Disorders | Experimental Analysis of Behavior | Mental Disorders

Abstract

This paper examines the phenomenon of stimulus overselectivity, or overselective attention, as it may impact AAC training and use in individuals with intellectual disabilities. Stimulus overselectivity is defined as an atypical limitation in the number of stimuli or stimulus features within an image that are attended to and subsequently learned. Within AAC, the term stimulus could refer to symbols or line drawings on speech-generating devices, drawings or pictures on low-technology systems, and/or the elements within visual scene displays. In this context, overselective attention may result in unusual or uneven error patterns such as confusion between two symbols that share a single feature, or difficulties with transitioning between different types of hardware. We review some of the ways that overselective attention has been studied behaviorally. We then examine how eye tracking technology allows a glimpse into some of the behavioral characteristics of overselective attention. We describe an intervention approach, differential observing responses, that may reduce or eliminate overselectivity, and we consider this type of intervention as it relates to issues of relevance for AAC.

DOI of Published Version

10.3109/07434618.2014.904924

Source

Dube WV, Wilkinson KM. The potential influence of stimulus overselectivity in AAC: information from eye tracking and behavioral studies of attention with individuals with intellectual disabilities. Augment Altern Commun. 2014 Jun;30(2):172-85. doi: 10.3109/07434618.2014.904924. Epub 2014 Apr 29. PubMed PMID: 24773053; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC4047139. Link to article on publisher's site

Journal/Book/Conference Title

Augmentative and alternative communication (Baltimore, Md. : 1985)

Related Resources

Link to Article in PubMed

PubMed ID

24773053

Link to Full Text

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