Autism Facts

The primarily intended users of the Voice4u [1] app are individuals with autism, their families, care givers, and educators. Autism is a disorder of neural development that is characterized by impaired social interaction and communication, and by restricted and repetitive behavior. [2] These signs all begin before a child is about three years old or even younger. Autism affects information processing in the brain by altering how nerve cells and their synapses connect and organize. Autism may have a strong genetic basis, although the genetics of autism are complex and it is still unclear whether autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is explained more by rare mutations, or by rare combinations of common genetic variants.

One of the characteristics of ASD is the development disorder of person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. However, because children with ASD could recognize, analyze and comprehend visualized information sufficiently, various icons or visual images are encouraged to be utilized for communication. The importance of visual aids for interpersonal communication would be equivalent to that of wheel chairs for people who cannot walk [3, 4].

Here are some findings of ASD:

(1) About 1 in 68 (or 1.5%) of 8-year-olds were identified with ASD. This is based on tracking in 11 communities across the United States in 2012. Back in 2000, the prevalence was 1 in 150 [5].

(2) The median age of first diagnosis is 3 years and 10 months [5].

(3) Individuals with an ASD had average medical expenditures $4,110 to $6,200 per year higher than those without an ASD. On average, medical expenditures for individuals with an ASD were 4.1 to 6.2 times greater than for those without an ASD [6].

(4) Supporting an individual with an ASD costs $1.4 million to $2.4 million during his or her lifespan. “The largest components for children were special education services and parental productivity loss. During adulthood, residential care or supportive living accommodation and individual productivity loss contributed the higher costs. Medical costs were much higher for adults than for children” by a factor of 1.5 to 2.0. [7]

Therefore, we are committed to contribute to improve quality of lives of people with ASD and other types of special needs, and will continue to benefit the society that is anticipating increase of needs for technology to assist communications.

[1] Voice4u is a revolutionary AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) application. It helps individuals to express their feelings, thoughts, actions and things they need, as a solution for learning and communication for autistic individuals, children and other adults with developmental disabilities, stroke and/or traumatic brain injuries, and people around them. Unlike conventional communication-aid devices, Voice4u is (1) Small and light, (2) Easy user interface, (3) Portable: no specialized device to carry around, (4) Easy to personalize for each individual user, (5) Affordable, (6) Easy to learn without incurring additional cost. Voice4u can also be utilized by people suffering from other types of developmental disorders, such as PDD (Pervasive developmental disorder), Down syndrome, or Asperger’s syndrome; people with other communication disorders, such as deaf, stroke, brain injury; or seniors those who have difficulties with verbal communication. For more information: https://voice4uaac.com/products/ .
[2] Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) Diagnostic Criteria” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) at http://cdc.gov/ncbddd/autism/hcp-dsm.html.
[3] Jennifer Krumins, “Educational Planning for a Student with Autism: Bring on the Visuals!” (Selfgrowth.com) at: http://www.selfgrowth.com/articles/educational_planning_for_a_student_with_autism_bring_on_the_visuals.html, (“We would never expect a person that requires a wheelchair to ‘fade’ their use of it! A wheelchair gives an individual independence and freedom. Visual supports do the same thing for an individual with autism. We need to do everything we can to improve the quality of life and develop the potential of every person with autism.”).
[4] “The 5 W’s of Visual Support” (Kidaccess, inc.) at http://www.kidaccess.com/html/products/specialtopics/equine/fivews.htm, (“when the child no longer looks at them in order to organize him or herself for the task, relying instead on the verbal prompt or memorized routine. This may not ever happen for some children. It might help to think of the issue as being like the difference between a child with a broken leg in a cast and a child with cerebral palsy in a wheelchair. The child with the cast will eventually walk without it, in his or her own time and at his or her own rate of recovery. The child in the wheelchair, however, needs the wheelchair, and always will. Some of your children need visual supports in the same way; it makes no more sense to ask them to get along without them than it does to ask the child in the wheelchair to get up and walk.”).
[5] D. L. Christensen et. al. “Prevalence and Characteristics of Autism Spectrum Disorder Among Children Aged 8 Years — Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network, 11 Sites, United States, 2012”, Surveillance Summaries / April 1, 2016 / 65(3);1–23, https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/65/ss/ss6503a1.htm
[6] Shimabukuro TT, Grosse SD, Rice C., “Medical expenditures for children with an autism spectrum disorder in a privately insured population.”, J Autism Dev Disord. 2008 Mar;38(3):546-52. Epub 2007 Aug 10., https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17690969
[7] Ariane V. S. Buescher, MSc; Zuleyha Cidav, PhD; Martin Knapp, PhD; David S. Mandell, ScD, “Costs of Autism Spectrum Disorders in the United Kingdom and the United States”, doi:10.1001/jamapediatrics.2014.210.