Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

July 29, 2008

Although controversial radio host Michael Savage may believe that autism is a product of poor parenting, well-informed people know better.

Now, a Maryland firm, Vision Audio, has created EASe Off-Road, game software designed to help autistic children deal with hypersensitivity to sound.

As reported by the Bucks County Courier-Times:

Some children with the brain disorder react to sound in a hypersensitive manner, and others become defensive and appear deaf.

 

[The game uses] sound-based therapy by training the child to develop visual systems responsible for organizing balance and body awareness.

 

The game includes driving, jumping over hills, crashing into trees, and flying off cliffs. Tracking moving targets challenges a child's eye movement and encourages the child to concentrate.

 

Comments

Re: Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

As a father of an autistic boy i can only see games that help him to be a very good idea.  I have seen his sensitivity to loud noises (most commonly whilst drilling or hovering) he performs the slapping of the ears movement.
If these games help children with autism cope better with the world around them then that is excellent.

Re: Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

I think its great, anything that helps is a good thing

But it sounds to me like this is just another off road game

"The game includes driving, jumping over hills, crashing into trees, and flying off cliffs. "

I wonder if any game that includes moving targets and sounds, would have the same advantages, like what specifically is different... i'm just affraid they'll sell the game at higher price if just any ol'game works

Re: Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

I can certainly say that games have helped my wee lad ( who is 4 ).   They have helped with his communication (managing to express his wants and desires via video game terminology).  Allowed us to bond a bit better by not only sharing a common interest but also helping him when he gets stuck etc.

As for these games they are probably designed around the principles of Noise Hypersensitivity but who knows maybe it is just a company trying to shovel out drivel for a quick buck.

I see videogames as a positive step in helping my son and i cope better with his Autistic Spectrum Disorder and although it works for us it probably doesnt work for everyone.

Re: Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

Most Autistic children I have worked with are very adept at software in general. My nephew was using leapfrog pads to spell words most college kids couldn't spell by the time he was four.

 

Although I still maintain that ABA (Applied Behaviour Analysis) therapy should be more widespread. My nephew at eight was diagnosed as no longer Autistic because of it. Problem is, it takes a long time to be trained in ABA.

Re: Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

My family asked me what I hoped to do with a degree in video game research over dinner this weekend. Like the parents of any good liberal arts major, they worry that there aren't any "real jobs" I can do.



I'm sending them this article.



My mother teaches special needs children, specifically those with Autism. It's a hard thing for both the children and the parents to deal with, and any tool that helps is worth it's weight in gold. Ihope this turns out to be a solid means of helping children with Autism.



The idea of using video games to help people, especially children for whom tedious therapies such as the aforementioned ABA can be challenging, is a wonderfully exciting notion. I hope to see more and more news like this future.




Black Vatican Comic. Updating 7 days a week! www.blackvatican.com

Re: Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

Although my evidence is all pretty much just observation of my own child.  I am pleased with the progress my son has made whilst playing videogames.  My son also recieves speach therapy and is in a special nursery.

Good luck with your degree and i hope it is the right choice for you.

Re: Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

 Good for them. My friend's nephew is autistic (and so is he, mildly), and we've watched as his parents have employed games for years to help him battle his disability. I'm ADHD, which is related to autism, and I can tell you it has nothing to do with parenting. My gaming has helped me overcome it almost completely.

Re: Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

This is a great idea, shame those game-hatin critics never mention games that help people like this.

Re: Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

Their only focus is on excessively violent video games that they think are marketed to kids.

A game designed specifically for combatting a mental sickness (or whatever you call it) such as autism doesn't prove that games solely meant to be entertaining do anything.

Now if it turns out a realistically violent game would help them I'm sure those guys would add that onto a secret 'Do not Complain About' list and not mention it.

Re: Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

I have a severely autistic son and it was recommended that I take him to a therapist who "plays games to help them get over auditory sensitivity"...now I know what program she's using! =D Thank you for saving me a lot of money. Therapists can be very expensive.

Re: Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

Being the mother of a 3 yr. old autistic son, I can see where this may be helpful for his sensitive hearing.  He is frequently disturbed by sudden change in volumes whether it be loud music, vacuuming, or simply every day common loud sounds, fire trucks, etc.  He responds by screaming, followed by a tear or two.  This is the first I've seen anything using this style techinque, but if the science is there and it's proven successful, then why not?  If the video software is tailored to meet the need of the child based on age and/or gender, without the usual violence we see in children's video games, then this could be very useful.

Re: Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

I'm all for freedom of ttnet vitamin speech and allowing rent a car game makers to put whatever they want in games, but there's one thing about this app that has me scratching my head.  Correct me if I'm wrong, but from araç kiralama the previous article araba kiralama on this I gathered that players can use Google maps in-game to find the other (real-life?) dealers in their area.  If this is the case, has travesti anyone considered what's stopping someone from using this app to actually move drugs between hands for reals?

But majority araba kiralama of their outrage araç kiralama stems from what it could DO TO children, not the content itself.  Talk to one of these people and you'll find they don't think any books kiralık araba should be banned from children.  Mention American Psycho and they talk about kiralık araç the redeeming value of using imagination to construct a story.  Reading, no matter what the content, is largely viewed as a consequenceless activity for people of any age.  The reason why I mention American Psycho is because of the content itself.  Gaming never has and likely never will have any scenes where someone has sex with a severed head.  Not gonna happen.  Yet despite this, they'll fight tooth and nail to protect their children from two boys kissing in Bully but whatever they read is harmless... yeah.

The entire arguement is kiralık oto based upon a social normality inflicted by luddites who can't figure out the controls for Halo so it's frightening and terrifying and obviously the cause of youth violence on the rise even though, in reality, it's in decline (which is actually a HUGE suprise given minibüs kiralama the economies status).  In  a perfect world, we would have parents that actually parent.  The idea of sales restrictions on media on oto kiralama any form to accomidate parental unwillingness to get involved with their child's life is the real problem to me.  Here I am, 32 years old, and being held up at a self-scan rent a car needing to show ID before I can buy a $10 M rated game all because Soccer Momthra can't be bothered to look at the crap Billy Genericallystupidson does in his free time.  It's too hard for her, so I have to suffer?

Re: Autistic Children Aided by Specialized Video Game Software

Thanks good job;

Btw, I think Atari and Midway will drop out too, but mostly travesti because  these guys have done nothing travesti or little and need to start saving costs. and dizi izle

YES.

Now I don't have to get off my ass for the important shit anymore!

Whats next, ordering pizza from Xbox live?

Wait... I think that sounds like a good idea.

But I think voting should MAKE you get off your ass, and see outside or a second while you go vote. I mean, your picking the president of the United States of America for God's Sake... least you can do is drive down there and punch out a card.

GamePolitics ShoutBox

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Posted 11/07/09 at 10:51am
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Posted 11/07/09 at 10:07am
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