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A Mobile Game Platform for Improving Social Communication in Children with Autism: A Feasibility Study
Yordan Penev1,2,3, Kaitlyn Dunlap1,2,3, Arman Husic1,2,3
1Department of Pediatrics (Systems Medicine), Stanford University, Stanford, California, United States.
Applied Clinical Informatics
|November 17, 2021
Summary
This study shows that the mobile game GuessWhat effectively improves social responsiveness and adaptive behavior in children with autism. This accessible game-based therapy offers a viable solution for autism treatment, especially when in-person care is limited.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Clinical Psychology
- Human-Computer Interaction
Background:
- Limited access to timely autism diagnosis and therapy due to geographical, socioeconomic, or global health factors.
- Mobile solutions can bridge gaps in care by operating outside traditional clinical settings.
- The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the need for accessible remote healthcare solutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the engagement level of a mobile game platform for children with autism.
- To assess the therapeutic feasibility of a mobile game for autism treatment.
- To determine if a mobile game can improve social interaction in children with autism.
Main Methods:
- A mobile application, GuessWhat, was developed to deliver game-based therapy in home settings.
- The game involves a caregiver holding a smartphone and a child mimicking prompts displayed on the screen.
- 72 children with autism (aged 3-12) participated in a 4-week study, playing three 90-second sessions daily, 3 days per week.
Main Results:
- Participants showed significant improvements in Social Responsiveness Score-2 (SRS-2) total scores.
- Significant enhancements were observed in Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II (VABS-II) socialization standard scores.
- The game demonstrated therapeutic feasibility and efficacy in a home-based setting.
Conclusions:
- The GuessWhat mobile game is a viable and efficacious approach for autism treatment.
- This game-based therapy can increase access to autism treatment in natural settings.
- Mobile solutions offer a promising avenue to overcome barriers to care for children with autism.
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