Estimulação de habilidades cognitivas por meio da prática sistemática do aplicativo JADE Autism

Abstract

The digital games can help to improve development, increase knowledge, and thus develop cognitive skills. Its use in the therapy of children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder (ASD) has been consolidated as a way to reduce the gap between the recommended weekly hours of therapy and the amount they actually perform. Thus, studying the effects of the use of digital game technology in TEA constitutes an important theoretical and methodological support for the field of psychology, computing and cognitive studies. Thus, this research aims to investigate the possible effects of the systematic practice of an electronic game in a mobile application format designed to stimulate cognitive skills in children with ASD. Sixteen children aged between five and nine years diagnosed with ASD who participated in online workshops with the JADE Autism app twice a week for approximately 10 weeks, totaling 12 sessions, participated in the research. At the end, there were possible differences in performance of the game, depending on age, were verified, the results of cognitive stimulation of the functions of sustained attention, mental flexibility and inhibitory control were discussed, in addition to the usability, feasibility and promise of results from the JADE Autism app. The results indicated that JADE seems to be an efficient instrument for the stimulation of sustained attention, as it gradually increases the time requirement and adapted to the performance of each participant, in addition to being effective in measuring reaction time, an important component for evaluation of attention. Regarding the discussed data related to cognitive flexibility there was a difficulty in joining by the participants, the participants who joined, the tasks indicate gains in the alternation ability, an important component of cognitive flexibility, and in relation to the perseverative behavior, the results did not demonstrate a tendency to persevere in wrong answers. Regarding inhibitory control, JADE proved to be sensitive in measuring out-of-context touches, even in children who do not tend to present these behaviors frequently. It was noted a good principle of usability and feasibility of the application for children with ASD, in addition to a methodology that meets the needs and deficits related to the disorder, with tasks that stimulate cognitive functions in a gradual and non-verbal way. The results obtained contribute to the development of cognitive stimulation strategies and electronic therapeutic games in the intervention of ASD.