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Facilitated Communication

Statement

Facilitated communication is a procedure intended to enable autistic individuals to communicate with other people. The autistic typically are unable to speak, write, or sign, and have poor motor coordination. In facilitated communication the autistic person is set before a large word processor with a therapist. The therapist lifts the arm of the patient, guides it toward the keyboard, and the patient appears by his or her own volition to type out, letter by letter, messages that appear on the computer screen. Advocates claims the patients are speaking to others in this way.

Unfortunately for the autistic, their families and the therapists who work with them, research indicates otherwise. When the therapist lifting the patient's arm cannot see the keyboard and what is being typed out, the result is a meaningless jumble of letters. What appears to be happening is similar to a Ouija board. The therapist is sub-consciously, without realizing it, guiding the patient's arm to create a meaningful statement. It is a valiant endeavor on behalf of patients and sadly, it doesn't work.

Sources

Facilitated Communication - Skeptic's Dictionary
Kathleen M. Dillon. "Facilitated Communication, Autism, and Ouija." Skeptical Inquirer 17.3 (1993) 281-287.
Gina Green. "Facilitated Communication: Mental Miracle or Slight of Hand?" Skeptic 2.3 (1994) 68-76.
J. A. Mulick, J. W. Jacobson, and F. H. Kabe. "Anguished Silence and Helping Hands: Autism and Facilitated Communication." Skeptical Inquirer 17.3 (1993) 270-280.