Bridging the Perceptual-Academic Gap: How Infographics Enhance Basic Academic Skills by Improving Auditory and Visual Perception in Children with ASD

Objective Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often face significant academic challenges linked to underlying perceptual processing deficits. However, interventions that specifically leverage their unique perceptual profiles to foster academic growth remain underexplored. This study investigated the effectiveness of a novel, infographic-based training program designed to enhance visual and auditory perception skills and, consequently, improve basic academic skills (reading and mathematics) in children with ASD. Method A quasi-experimental one-group pretest-posttest-follow-up design was employed. The sample consisted of six children (4 males, 2 females) diagnosed with ASD, aged 6–8 years, enrolled in inclusive school settings. The intervention comprised a 16-week, researcher-developed program utilizing educational infographics. Participants were assessed using researcher-developed scales for visual perception, auditory perception, and a test of basic academic skills at three time points: before the intervention (pre-test), immediately after its completion (post-test), and one month later (follow-up). Data were analyzed using non-parametric Wilcoxon signed-rank and Friedman's tests. Results The analysis revealed statistically significant improvements from pre-test to post-test across all primary outcome measures: visual perception, auditory perception, and basic academic skills ( p  < .05). The gains were substantial, indicating a strong and positive intervention effect. Furthermore, no statistically significant decline in performance was observed between the post-test and the one-month follow-up assessments, demonstrating the successful maintenance and sustained impact of the skills acquired. Conclusion The findings provide robust evidence that a targeted, infographic-based intervention is an effective tool for enhancing both foundational perceptual abilities and essential academic skills in children with ASD. By presenting information in a visually structured and perceptually aligned format, infographics can successfully bridge the critical gap between perceptual processing and academic learning. This study offers a practical, theoretically grounded approach for educators and clinicians to support the academic development of this population within inclusive environments.