Robots And Children With Autism: How Can They Help?

What is the connection between robots and children with autism? We will explore that today.

Robots are becoming so advanced  that some have taken the step to become a normal part of our everyday lives (cooking robots, robot vacuum cleaners, etc.). Some even begin to look like humans.

It can actually be a bit “scary” to see how fast these programmed machines develop. But we can not ignore their fantastic potential for the present and the future.

One thing that stands out is their special ability to  help children with autism spectrum disorders. Many children with autism experience social isolation and communication difficulties, which makes it difficult to support them.

Sometimes it’s like trying to get through a brick wall. But there is good news: it seems that robots can make a big difference for children with autism.

Robots and children with autism: how they interact

It’s a strange paradox: many children with autism who have communication difficulties with humans have no problem communicating with a robot. We are talking specifically about small, simple, emotional robots with eyes and limbs.

These robots have led to a new concept that we could call “robot therapy”. In this case, the people they help are children with autism, but how can they succeed in something that not even we ourselves can do?

To try to find answers, let’s look at Juan’s story. He is a 6-year-old boy who was diagnosed with autism at the age of two. He stopped talking, interacting with others and disappeared further and further into himself.

As a result  , he became aggressive, which was very difficult for his relatives.

Juan’s mother did not know where to turn. They tried all the recommended treatments, but nothing worked for Juan. It just seemed like he was getting worse, not better.

So his mother did not hesitate when she heard someone mention the possibility of  trying therapy with robots. It was not long before the results were obvious.

For some reason, Juan began to leave the bubble he was sitting in. He began to  interact with the robot  he had been assigned. His mother could not believe her eyes! Her son touched the robot, laughing and repeating even its words.

It was a giant step forward.

Interacting with robots helps children in their daily lives

You might think that since Juan only interacted with the robot during his therapy and not humans, he would only interact with this particular robot.

But that was not the case. Every step forward Juan took with the robot helped him interact with the rest of his surroundings.

Because he locked himself in, stopped talking and did not interact with people, Juan had not developed his communication skills. Thanks to robot therapy, his vocabulary began to develop.

It also stimulated his emotions and made him laugh, and in the end Juan was able to express what he felt.

Without the robot therapy, Juan might never have come out of the box he was trapped in.  Maybe he just needs more time. However, we know that this new type of therapy has shown incredible results.

It helped Juan and many other children interact with their surroundings and develop social skills.

Many children with autism spectrum disorders have demonstrated incredible abilities in music or art. They invest all their energy in these things, and sometimes it is the only form of interaction they are capable of.

It does not matter if it is with a brush, an instrument or something completely different.

Now, however, they can begin to interact in a more “human” way. Robots help children with autism take a step forward and then shift that progress into their daily lives.

There is still no way to “cure” autism, but new ways of stimulating children are constantly being researched so that they can develop the tools they need to interact with the environment. Thanks robots!