AI &VR Technology in the Application of ASD Language Development--A Systematic Review

AI and VR Technology have been widely utilized in developing the language abilities of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) in recent studies. Nevertheless, this domain faces fragmented outcomes and various limitations. By highlighting the opportunities and challenges in recent studies, this review offers recommendations for future synthesized experimental models and interdisciplinary studies, aiming to foster a more unified and nuanced understanding of AI and VR in autistic language learning. This study examined and synthesized nine relevant empirical studies selected through a deductive thematic analysis framework aligned with PRISMA guidelines. These studies are analyzed in terms of experimental procedure details, outcomes, and challenges of AI and VR. The results showed the divergence of experimental procedures, a significant yet lacking generalized outcome, and the coexistence of opportunities and challenges in the applications. The limitations persist in inadequately unified intervention designs, generalizability of language use, technological and resource restrictions, and ethical risks. The conclusions highlight the requirements for model development, long-term experiment, multimodal affordances, and detailed outcomes. This research contributes to a focused and contemporary synthesis in the critical examination of applications of VR and AI technologies in language development for ASD.