Improving Joint Attention in Children with Autism: A VR-AR Enabled Game Approach

Abstract

Autism Spectrum Disease (ASD) can be referred to as one type of neurodevelopmental disorder, causing communication or behavioral disabilities in multiple severity levels. These challenges cause difficulties in communication, interaction, problem-solving, etc. Though having no persistent cure for ASD, several treatments and intervention strategies prevail for their behavioral development. These treatments include social skill training, sensory integration, and occasional therapy, etc. Many of these researches highly emphasize joint attention, which is the common issue of most autism cases. Joint or shared attention is highly essential for language and communication skill development. In this work, we proposed a game-based approach to improving the joint attention of children with autism. This approach focuses on the efficiency of skilling up their shared attention by interacting with digital models through problem-solving. We integrate AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) technologies for solving this issue. Using these technologies, we have designed an interactive multi-staged game module, including several types of real-life alike problems. Problem-solving and interacting with these mascots can help children build up learning and communication skills, which sometimes real-life interaction may find challenging. Again, eye screening and health can be issues in the device-centric scheme. An analytical survey has been presented in this work, confirming that all these health issues have been carefully considered. Implementation and outperforming results of this work will give a clear stand about the effectiveness of this module. Besides, we present sufficient analytics confirming that this module can also be efficient for normal children.

Teaching High Functioning Children with Autism: Considerations for Vocabulary Course Design Using Technology

“…The study focused on using AR-VR-enabled game approach as a means to enhance Arab World English Journal www.awej.org ISSN: 2229-9327 494 joint engagement. From their findings, Sarker et al (2021) confirmed that several treatments and intervention strategies could facilitate behavioral development of children with autism. They proposed a game-based approach using VR-AR to enable the children to interact with digital models through problem-solving activities.…”

“…They proposed a game-based approach using VR-AR to enable the children to interact with digital models through problem-solving activities. Sarker et al (2021) confirmed that "all the strategies or therapy that has been used for leveraging autistic people are mainly focused on strengthening their joint attention" (p.3) where in their study, the inclusion of interactive multi-staged game module, which included real-life situations was able to facilitate the targeted behavior development such as joint attention Besides these past studies, the last decade has seen various researches on technology use and children with autism. The researches have confirmed technology could facilitate the children's development and improvement in i) employment skills (Smith et al, 2014;Walker, Vasquez & Wienke, 2016), ii) academic skills, namely Mathematic skills (Kellems, Eichelberger, Cacciatore, Jensen, Frazier, Simons & Zaru, 2020) and Science vocabulary (McMahon, Cihak, Wright & Bell, 2016), and iii) behavioral skills (Escobedo, Tentori, Quintana, Favela & Garcia-Rosas, 2014).…”

“…In addition, children with ASD can be extensively distinctive in their communication impairments (Sarker et al, 2021). Lucas et al (2017) state that "we also examined indeterminable and inaccurate response rates, but on this measure there were no group differences" (p.8).…”

“…Expressly, their results indicated that immersive VR could be more satisfactory and motivational than desktop for children with ASD. Sarker et al (2021) also conducted another exciting research on using technology in teaching children with autism. They were interested to discover how to improve joint attention in children with autism.…”

“…The children with autism have particular issues that require attention when it comes to including technology in their education. One area that needs further exploration is technology in teaching language and communication to children with autism (Sarker, Linkon, Bappy, Rabbi & Nahid, 2021). This paper will explore relevant theories underpinning the design of an English language vocabulary course for children with autism using technology such as Virtual Reality (VR).…”