Mapping ICT-Based Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Global Bibliometric and Scientometric Analysis

Information and communication technology (ICT) is increasingly integrated into autism spectrum disorder (ASD) interventions to improve accessibility and personalized service delivery. However, the fast-growing literature remains conceptually fragmented, underscoring the need for a systematic mapping of research trends. This study examined the global research landscape, technological evolution, and thematic domains of ICT-based ASD interventions using bibliometric methods. A bibliometric analysis of peer-reviewed English-language journal articles was conducted using the Web of Science (WoS) Core Collection (1971-January 2026). To ensure high thematic precision, the search strategy was restricted to the title field. Performance analysis and science mapping, including bibliographic coupling and keyword co-occurrence networks, were conducted using Harzing’s Publish or Perish and VOSviewer. A total of 398 publications from 57 countries published between 1971 and January 2026 were identified, with research output increasing markedly after 2015 and peaking in 2024. Publications were heavily concentrated in high-income regions, particularly the United States (45.98%). Six major thematic clusters emerged: (1) family-centered early intervention and telehealth, (2) robot-assisted social communication, (3) technology-supported applied behavior analysis (ABA) instruction, (4) lifespan-oriented cognitive support, (5) immersive virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR) and serious games, and (6) artificial intelligence (AI)-driven emotion recognition. While ICT-based ASD interventions have rapidly diversified technologically, the field remains geographically concentrated and dominated by exploratory, device-centric studies. Advancing the field requires a paradigm shift toward system-centric implementation, participatory co-design, and large-scale effectiveness trials to ensure equitable, contextually grounded, and sustainable support models.