![]() Such devices enable AAC users to communicate with others via prestored symbols, pictures, and texts as an alternative communication modality. For example, children with complex communication needs benefit from using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) apps installed on mobile tablets (eg, iPad ). Different genres of mobile apps may be used for assistive, educational, and recreational purposes within the context of speech-language therapy depending on the communication abilities of children with communication disorders. ![]() Many of these apps are designed for children with communication disorders many are also used by their speech-language pathologists (SLPs) during assessments and interventions. In recent decades, the Apple App Store has experienced a drastic increase in the number of mobile apps across multiple genres (eg, education, games, and health and fitness) for children. The findings contribute to the understanding of apps for children with communication disorders regarding content and features, app usability and accessibility issues, and influential factors that impact both AAC apps and speech-language apps for children with communication disorders who need speech therapy. Reviews for speech-language apps were primarily written by SLPs and educators who requested and recommended specific app features (eg, customization of visuals, recorded feedback within the app, and culturally diverse character roles) based on their experiences working with a diverse group of pediatric clients with a variety of communication disorders.Ĭonclusions: To our knowledge, this is the first study to compile and analyze publicly available App Store reviews to identify areas for improvement within mobile apps for pediatric speech-language therapy apps from children with communication disorders and different stakeholders (eg, clinicians, parents, and educators). User reviews for AAC apps were primarily written by parents who indicated that AAC apps consistently exhibited more usability issues owing to violations of design guidelines in areas of aesthetics, user errors, controls, and customization. Results: Our analyses revealed that key stakeholders such as family members, educators, and individuals with communication disorders have used App Store reviews as a platform to share their experiences with AAC and speech-language apps. Using qualitative coding to identify emerging themes, we conducted a content analysis of 57.9% (418/721) reviews and synthesized user feedback related to app features and content, usability issues, recommendations for improvement, and multiple influential factors related to app design and use. Using an automatic Python (Python Software Foundation) crawler developed by our research team and a Really Simple Syndication feed generator provided by Apple, we extracted a total of 721 app reviews from 2009 to 2020. Methods: We selected 16 apps from a prior interview study with SLPs that covered multiple American Speech-Language-Hearing Association Big Nine competencies, including articulation, receptive and expressive language, fluency, voice, social communication, and communication modalities. Objective: This study examines the Apple App Store reviews from multiple key stakeholders (eg, parents, educators, and SLPs) to identify and understand user needs and challenges of using speech-language therapy apps (including augmentative and alternative communication apps) for pediatric clients who receive speech-language therapy services. ![]() App Store reviews are publicly available data sources that can not only create avenues for communication between technology developers and consumers but also enable stakeholders such as parents and clinicians to share their opinions and view opinions about the app content and quality based on user experiences. JMIR Bioinformatics and Biotechnology 27 articlesĮmail: With the plethora of mobile apps available on the Apple App Store, more speech-language pathologists (SLPs) have adopted apps for speech-language therapy services, especially for pediatric clients.JMIR Biomedical Engineering 65 articles.JMIR Perioperative Medicine 75 articles. ![]() Journal of Participatory Medicine 75 articles.JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies 184 articles.JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting 251 articles.Interactive Journal of Medical Research 274 articles.JMIR Public Health and Surveillance 998 articles.Journal of Medical Internet Research 7021 articles. ![]()
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