Investigating the role of graphic pressure and temporal measures in influencing graphic skills of individuals with autism using a digital platform

Abstract

An ability to create good graphic output requires effective transitive movements related to the use of a tool, e.g., a pen. There is evidence that individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and neurotypicals show differences in graphic skill. Such differences can be due to anomalies in one's transitive movements. One needs to quantify such differences through indices e.g., those related to pen-tip pressure and temporal aspects. To study such indices, researchers are shifting their focus to use of digital medium, e.g., pressure tablets from the pen-and-paper based settings for which acquiring these indices might be a challenge. Though pressure tablets have been used by various research groups for graphic execution by individuals with ASD, none have explored these indices for a spiral drawing task that needs precision of performance and is more difficult than drawing of simple shapes. In our present work, we have designed a digitized dot-guided spiral (DDoS) drawing platform offering clockwise spiral drawing task. We chose the clockwise spiral since individuals with ASD may demonstrate torque i.e., a tendency to draw shapes in the clockwise direction. Results of our study with 20 individuals with ASD and 17 typically developing individuals using DDoS platform indicated that for a clockwise spiral drawing, the pen-tip pressure and temporal indices were differentiated among the two participant groups. The indices offered by DDoS platform can provide information to the caregivers and therapists while assisting in identifying deficits and designing individualized intervention, that can benefit the children.