What is Auditory Working Memory

This chapter reviews the high-tech tools for language instruction in autism that are currently on the market, focusing mostly on standalone apps and software programs designed for independent use. It looks at apps and computer programs that teach vocabulary, word categories, receptive and productive syntax, pragmatics, and basic reading comprehension. It also looks at programs designed to boost underlying skills like auditory processing, auditory attention, and integrative thinking. It then reviews the limitations of these programs in eliciting appropriate practice, providing appropriate feedback and covering the full range of linguistic skills and topics. The chapter highlights, in particular, the limitations of receptive language training and the need for active practice. It concludes with a discussion of the dearth of efficacy data for nearly all of the high-tech tools.