Towards an Integrated Approach to Diagnosis, Assessment and Treatment in Autism Spectrum Disorders via a Gamified TEL System

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are characterized by atypical patterns of behaviors and impairments in social communication and interactions. Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) have been recognized to have great potential in supporting ASD treatment: ICT-based tools are enjoyed since interaction with computers supports imagination of behaviors necessary for role-play in predictable environments. Differently from most proposals in the literature focused on treatment from the patient side, we are here interested in discussing how moving from paper-and-pencil measures to ICT tools may help psychologists and therapists in their diagnosis activities as well as in conceiving novel technology-enhanced interventions. In particular, we will present some features of a system under development aimed at pursuing an integrated approach including diagnosis and gamified learning.

[1]  S. Serret,et al.  Facing the challenge of teaching emotions to individuals with low- and high-functioning autism using a new Serious game: a pilot study , 2014, Molecular Autism.

[2]  Tonya N. Davis,et al.  Using iPods(®) and iPads(®) in teaching programs for individuals with developmental disabilities: a systematic review. , 2013, Research in Developmental Disabilities.

[3]  Hauke R. Heekeren,et al.  Neuronal correlates of altered empathy and social cognition in borderline personality disorder , 2011, NeuroImage.

[4]  Sarah Parsons,et al.  The Use and Understanding of Virtual Environments by Adolescents with Autistic Spectrum Disorders , 2004, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[5]  F. Happé An advanced test of theory of mind: Understanding of story characters' thoughts and feelings by able autistic, mentally handicapped, and normal children and adults , 1994, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[6]  P. J. Brooks,et al.  Use of Computer-Assisted Technologies (CAT) to Enhance Social, Communicative, and Language Development in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders , 2012, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

[7]  P. Mitchell,et al.  Using Virtual Environments for Teaching Social Understanding to 6 Adolescents with Autistic Spectrum Disorders , 2007, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[8]  Marc Fabri,et al.  Emotionally Expressive Avatars for Chatting, Learning and Therapeutic Intervention , 2007, HCI.

[9]  K. Ochsner,et al.  The neuroscience of empathy: progress, pitfalls and promise , 2012, Nature Neuroscience.

[10]  L Cipolotti,et al.  Impaired social response reversal. A case of 'acquired sociopathy'. , 2000, Brain : a journal of neurology.

[11]  O. Grynszpan,et al.  Innovative technology-based interventions for autism spectrum disorders: A meta-analysis , 2014, Autism : the international journal of research and practice.

[12]  C. Lord,et al.  Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule , 2016 .

[13]  S. Baron-Cohen,et al.  The "Reading the Mind in the Eyes" Test revised version: a study with normal adults, and adults with Asperger syndrome or high-functioning autism. , 2001, Journal of child psychology and psychiatry, and allied disciplines.

[14]  Panagiotis D. Bamidis,et al.  A proposed framework of an interactive semi-virtual environment for enhanced education of children with autism spectrum disorders , 2009, 2009 22nd IEEE International Symposium on Computer-Based Medical Systems.

[15]  M. Bellani,et al.  Virtual reality in autism: state of the art , 2011, Epidemiology and Psychiatric Sciences.

[16]  J. McComas,et al.  Current uses of virtual reality for children with disabilities. , 1998, Studies in health technology and informatics.

[17]  Uttama Lahiri,et al.  A Physiologically Informed Virtual Reality Based Social Communication System for Individuals with Autism , 2014, Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.

[18]  Helen McConachie,et al.  Interventions based on the Theory of Mind cognitive model for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). , 2014, The Cochrane database of systematic reviews.

[19]  Gerardo Herrera,et al.  Computer graphics applications in the education process of people with learning difficulties , 2007, Comput. Graph..

[20]  K. Quill,et al.  Instructional Considerations for Young Children with Autism: The Rationale for Visually Cued Instruction , 1997, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[21]  Sofiane Boucenna,et al.  Interactive Technologies for Autistic Children: A Review , 2014, Cognitive Computation.

[22]  F. Amthor,et al.  Avatar Assistant: Improving Social Skills in Students with an ASD Through a Computer-Based Intervention , 2011, Journal of autism and developmental disorders.

[23]  Y. Sarfati,et al.  Attribution of intentions to others in people with schizophrenia: a non-verbal exploration with comic strips , 1997, Schizophrenia Research.

[24]  S. Parsons,et al.  State-of-the-art of virtual reality technologies for children on the autism spectrum , 2011 .

[25]  G. Baird,et al.  Prevalence of disorders of the autism spectrum in a population cohort of children in South Thames: the Special Needs and Autism Project (SNAP) , 2006, The Lancet.

[26]  Y. S. Kim,et al.  Global Prevalence of Autism and Other Pervasive Developmental Disorders , 2012, Autism research : official journal of the International Society for Autism Research.

[27]  B. Garcia-Zapirain,et al.  Technologies as Support Tools for Persons with Autistic Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review , 2014, International journal of environmental research and public health.