University of Maryland and AutoMetrica SI™
Goal: To improve the lives of children suffering from abuse and neglect by providing assessment tools to study this vulnerable population.
The University of Maryland Center for Child Protection is using mdlogix’ AutoMetrica system as a self-report interface for children in two longitudinal assessments of child abuse and neglect.
Implementing ATT’s Natural Voices engine, the system reads assessment questions aloud to children. Because AutoMetrica provides text-to-speech presentation, no audio recording of these questions is required. With assistance from the mdlogix team, study staff customized AutoMetrica’s speech presentation at the phoneme level to provide the most natural pronunciation for the population of children in the studies. AutoMetrica’s simple touch-screen interface makes it easy for children to enter answers, repeat questions, and navigate to the next or previous item.
Results:
The combination of text-to-speech presentation and easy-to-use interface make AutoMetrica an ideal interface for children with poor literacy.
Study Descriptions:
Longitudinal Studies of Child Abuse and Neglect (LONGSCAN)
LONGSCAN is a multi-site study of the etiology and impact of child maltreatment. The Baltimore site study includes 322 children drawn from each of three Baltimore pediatric clinics serving children with non-organic failure to thrive, children of drug-abusing HIV-positive mothers, and low-income, inner-city children. AutoMetrica SI is used for site-specific objectives including assessment of the developmental impact of chronic neglect, the mediating influence of home interventions, and the importance of fathers in children’s adaptive, academic and social development. Visit the LONGSCAN web site.
Safe Environment for Every Kid (SEEK)
SEEK, a project of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Maryland Department of Human Resources, works with clinics in Baltimore City to improve the health care response to abused and neglected children, and those exposed to domestic violence. SEEK uses AutoMetrica SI to assist clinics with systematic screening for child abuse and domestic violence.
SEEK also provides training for providers, consultation and interventions.