Mobile Apps for Teaching Preschool Children with Autism: Evaluation and Quality
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.65598/rps.6258Keywords:
Autism, Preschool, Educational mobile apps MARS, Inclusive educationAbstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects communication, social interaction, and behavior from an early age, making timely educational and therapeutic intervention necessary, especially during the preschool years. In this context, mobile applications have established themselves as complementary tools with great potential to support the development of cognitive, communicative, and socio-emotional skills. Various studies highlight their usefulness in structured teaching and in motivating children; however, they also reveal considerable variability in their technical, aesthetic, and pedagogical quality. The present study conducted a systematic review of apps available on Google Play® (a registered trademark of Google LLC), selecting ten free educational apps designed for children with ASD. The quality of these apps was evaluated using the Mobile App Rating Scale (MARS), a widely used instrument for assessing digital health and educational resources. The results show that the analyzed sample falls into the “good” quality category, with an average score of 4.0 out of 5, with the functionality and aesthetics dimensions standing out in particular. Among the highest-rated apps are Smile & Learn, PictoDroid Lite, SymboTalk – AAC Talker, and AutiSpark, all of which incorporate adaptive features, pictograms, Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) systems, and customization options. The study concludes that these tools can be an effective support when integrated into individualized programs under the supervision of specialized professionals.
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