Between the Lines (Level 2)

Speech therapy app for autistic kids ages 8-16 to learn social pragmatic skills

This app from Hamaguchi Apps, created by a speech-language pathologist, is perfect for autistic elementary through high school age students who need practice interpreting social-pragmatic cues, vocal intonation, facial expressions, auditory processing, perspective-taking, body language, and understanding idiomatic or slang expressions. A great way to get speech-language therapy with a professional or at home for extra practice.

The app uses real photographs and short mini-video clips of a variety of social situations and expressions, providing children with autism a dynamic way to help learn and practice interpreting messages that are “between the lines” and simply can’t be replicated with worksheets and static flashcards. Scenes in the videos feature interactions that take place in the following settings: restaurant, school, park, bedroom, birthday party, in front of a school, mall, family room, kitchen, dining room, and fitness center.

This speech therapy app uses American expressions and body language. It is a companion app to our Between the Lines (Level 1) containing the same 3 activities, with different content for continued learning. Most of the activities are about the same level of difficulty, but some are slightly more challenging.

There are three activities in this app, with a total of 199 tasks:

1. Listening/Auditory Processing: ("Who said it?") The user hears a voice speak a sentence, e.g., “I got an A on my Spelling test! ” A question is then asked, “Who said it?” The user is shown several faces and chooses the correct response. This is a great way to practice auditory processing and interpreting facial expressions.

2. Body Language: ("What is she thinking?") A very short video-clip is shown that depicts an interaction or situation. For example, a teenager asks her mother, “Mom—so is it ok if I sleepover Briana’s tonight?” Her mother responds with, “Is her mother going to be home?” The teen looks away and hesitates, “Uh..yeah…yeah.” The camera closes in and we can see she is most likely lying. The narrator asks, “What is she thinking?” The user’s task is to look at the choices of responses and select the one that matches the facial expression/body language. This is a great way for autistic children to learn how to make social inferences and perspective-taking.

3. Expressions: ("What does that mean?") A very short video-clip is shown that depicts someone using an idiomatic expression, e.g., “They caught the burglar red-handed.’” The user is then asked, “What does that mean?”

The game can be played by up to 75 users or as a group. The percentage correct is reported for each user’s performance on each of the three activities. Settings include: Selection of the activities, order of the activities (or random), praise phrases and correct sound effect bell on/off; answer choices (group of 2, 3 or 4), how to display choices (automatically or manually) and whether to move forward automatically or by touching an arrow. Progress can be tracked, and displayed or not displayed. Missed items can be replayed with a button at the bottom of the Session Results page.

Reward animations are provided at selected intervals for a welcome fun and break including Dunk Tank, Bull’s Eye (darts), and Knock ‘Em Down. These are not games of skill, but a fun diversion.

*Please contact our tech support if you are experiencing any technical issues with our apps. We will always help you troubleshoot it and get back to you generally within one business day. info@hamaguchiapps.com

PRIVACY POLICY: We do NOT collect personal data from our users and have no ads. Personal data regarding user performance on the tasks on this app are self-contained and not transmitted in any way, unless the user chooses to email them to someone else. There are no in-app purchases in this app.

Developed by licensed speech-language pathologist, Patti Hamaguchi, M.A., CCC-SLP. Visit our website: www.hamaguchiapps.com