Modern Technology helps Autistic Children for the Modern World.

Video games have become a popular source of entertainment for children, teens, and adults.  Like all technology, computer games have improved over time.  Now days you see games that are as complex as real life, some games even mimic real life situations. Some new computer software programs and games have even been developed to address the core feature of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). In this blog you will learn about what video games are currently being used for ASD individuals along with pros and cons of using video games to teach social skills. 

Games that have been directly made for autistic children are:

•        Mind Reading: The interactive guide to emotions
•         Fun with Feelings
•         Face Say (Youtube video below talks more about Face Say)
•      EASe Funhouse Treasure Hunt

Individuals with ASD enjoy playing computer games like any other kid. ASD individuals have been known to excel in technological areas (mathematics and computing), because often times ASD individuals are more comfortable with computers than people.  They are respond better to actually seeing social situations played out.

There is no current evidence that says playing video games alone will increase ASD individual’s social skills. However there are several arguments that support and oppose using video games for social training.

Autism News Wire

PROS:

•        Video games provide children with a safe environment-since social situations are stressful for individuals with ASD, video games provide an environment where they can practice social skills without any fear of negative repercussions.
•  Video games are consistent and patient-you can practice the same situation over on the computer, as many times as you want, and the computer won’t get frustrated or bored.

CONS:

·      Video games cause repetitive behavior-video games have been known to cause a restricted interest where individuals have no interest in anything other than the video game itself.

·      Individuals could become reliant on technology and not get real world interaction-individuals wouldn’t get that real world interaction that they need to obtain social skills.

According to a March 1 article in Herald, Western Kentucky University's Student Newspaper, Carrie Pritchard who is an assistant psychology professor at Western Kentucky University has been working on designing a computer game to teach social skills to autistic children.

“The player is going to have choices about more skilled and less skilled behaviors they could enact after a character invites them or engages them,” Pritchard said, according to a March 1, article in Herald (Western Kentucky University’s Student Newspaper).

(Example of a game made just for children with Autism)

Current commercially sold video games that are known to be socially themed games have been used in research to help adults with ASD.  One of the games would consist of The Sims. The Sims has been used as a social and vocational rehabilitation tool for adults with ASD, to help them gain self-awareness and practice social skills.  While using The Sims players create characters and then makes you navigate through a bunch of real life activities.  The Sims has a strong potential to help individuals with self-awareness and exploration of social issues. 

In conclusion games such as The Sims have potential for helping individuals with ASD improve social skills.  As technology has been improving the games become more life-like, detailed, and easier for researchers to find better ways of using video game technology to help individuals with ASD to obtain social skills that is fun, effective, and less stressful on them.