Preliminary Exploration of the Effect of Background Color on the Speed and Accuracy of Search for an Aided Symbol Target by Typically Developing Preschoolers.

Aided augmentative and alternative communication can be used successfully with individuals with communication disabilities. Recent studies suggest that where possible, arranging symbols based on internal color (placing red fruits together) facilitates search for a target symbol by children with and without Down Syndrome (Wilkinson, Carlin, & Thistle, 2008). We explored whether color cuing of symbol background might offer similar benefits for symbols that cannot be readily arranged by internal color. Ten nondisabled preschoolers engaged in computer search tasks for line-drawings representing common animals when the line drawings appeared on white backgrounds compared to color-saturated backgrounds that cued the subcategory to which the target belonged (land mammal, sea creature, bird, insect). Older children showed no consistent enhancement across conditions. Younger children responded significantly more slowly when the color cue was present. Background color cuing may function differently than symbol-internal color cues, impeding responses in younger children rather than facilitating them.