Virtual games as a therapeutic intervention for children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorder
an integrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.37497/colloquium.v4i1.66Keywords:
Autism Spectrum Disorder, Virtual Games, Evidence-Based Practice, Literature ReviewAbstract
Introduction: Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) involves neurodevelopmental alterations with limitations in conventional pharmacological treatments. Virtual games emerge as a promising complementary therapy. Objectives: To analyze the therapeutic effects and evidence of virtual games as an intervention for individuals with ASD. Methods: An integrative review was conducted using PubMed, Cochrane Library, and SciELO databases. Studies addressing the use of virtual games as an intervention for individuals with ASD were included. Initially, studies were identified and screened in the databases, followed by full-text evaluation for eligibility. A qualitative synthesis was chosen, providing a comprehensive overview of the main findings from the included studies. Results: Out of 1,941 studies, only five were included. The studies highlighted benefits such as increased attention, social interaction, and engagement, using tools like Minecraft® and avatars for emotional teaching. Personalized adaptive technologies, combined with in-person approaches, can maximize gains in controlled and stimulating contexts. These tools demonstrate the ability to overcome typical ASD barriers, offering innovative strategies to develop essential skills, expanding learning opportunities and social interaction. Despite promising results, evidence remains limited due to small sample sizes and insufficient reporting of ASD severity levels in the studies. Conclusion: Virtual games represent a promising therapeutic intervention for children and adolescents with ASD, as they can enhance cognitive, motor, attention, and interaction parameters. However, studies with larger and more homogeneous samples are needed.
Downloads
References
Abirached, B., Zhang, Y., & Park, J. H. (2012). Understanding User Needs for Serious Games for Teaching Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders Emotions. Proceedings of EdMedia 2012--World Conference on Educational Media and Technology, 1054–1063.
Baldassarri, S., Passerino, L., Ramis, S., Riquelme, I., & Perales, F. J. (2021). Toward emotional interactive videogames for children with autism spectrum disorder. Universal Access in the Information Society, 20(2), 239–254. https://doi.org/10.1007/S10209-020-00725-8
Barros Neto, S. G. de, Brunoni, D., & Cysneiros, R. M. (2019). Abordagem psicofarmacológica no transtorno do espectro autista: uma revisão narrativa. Cadernos de Pós-Graduação Em Distúrbios Do Desenvolvimento, 19(2), 38–60. https://doi.org/10.5935/CADERNOSDISTURBIOS.V19N2P38-60
Eissa, N., Al-Houqani, M., Sadeq, A., Ojha, S. K., Sasse, A., & Sadek, B. (2018). Current enlightenment about etiology and pharmacological treatment of autism spectrum disorder. Frontiers in Neuroscience, 12(MAY), 304. https://doi.org/10.3389/FNINS.2018.00304
Fernandes, M., & Nohama, P. (2020). Jogos Digitais para Pessoas com Transtornos do Espectro do Autismo (TEA): Uma Revisão Sistemática. Revista Iberoamericana de Tecnología En Educación y Educación En Tecnología, 26, e8–e8. https://doi.org/10.24215/18509959.26.E8
Genovese, A., & Butler, M. G. (2020). Clinical Assessment, Genetics, and Treatment Approaches in Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 21(13), 1–18. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJMS21134726
Hirvikoski, T., Mittendorfer-Rutz, E., Boman, M., Larsson, H., Lichtenstein, P., & Bölte, S. (2016). Premature mortality in autism spectrum disorder. The British Journal of Psychiatry: The Journal of Mental Science, 208(3), 232–238. https://doi.org/10.1192/BJP.BP.114.160192
Hocking, D. R., Ardalan, A., Abu-Rayya, H. M., Farhat, H., Andoni, A., Lenroot, R., & Kachnowski, S. (2022). Feasibility of a virtual reality-based exercise intervention and low-cost motion tracking method for estimation of motor proficiency in youth with autism spectrum disorder. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation, 19(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12984-021-00978-1
Ji, C., & Yang, J. (2021). Effects of Physical Exercise and Virtual Training on Visual Attention Levels in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Brain Sciences, 12(1), 41. https://doi.org/10.3390/BRAINSCI12010041
Lamanna, J., & Meldolesi, J. (2024). Autism Spectrum Disorder: Brain Areas Involved, Neurobiological Mechanisms, Diagnoses and Therapies. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 25(4), 2423. https://doi.org/10.3390/IJMS25042423
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., ... & Moher, D. (2021). The PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. bmj, 372.
Salloum-Asfar, S., Zawia, N., & Abdulla, S. A. (2024). Retracing our steps: A review on autism research in children, its limitation and impending pharmacological interventions. Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 253, 108564. https://doi.org/10.1016/J.PHARMTHERA.2023.108564
Stone, B. G., Mills, K. A., & Saggers, B. (2018). Online multiplayer games for the social interactions of children with autism spectrum disorder: a resource for inclusive education. International Journal of Inclusive Education, 23(2), 209–228. https://doi.org/10.1080/13603116.2018.1426051.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Thais Miriã da Silva Santos, Leonardo Ribeiro Miedes, José Ricardo Auricchio, Érico Chagas Caperuto, Iris Callado Sanches, Kátia Bilhar Scapini, Nathalia Bernardes
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
O(s) autor declara(m) que o trabalho é original e inédito, não tendo sido submetido à publicação em qualquer meio de divulgação, especialmente em outro periódico, nacional ou internacional, quer seja em parte ou na íntegra;
Caso aprovada e selecionada, fica autorizada a publicação da produção na Revista, a qual não se responsabiliza pelas opiniões, ideias e conceitos emitidos nos textos, por serem de inteira responsabilidade de seu(s) autor(es);
A publicação do artigo implica transferência gratuita dos direitos autorais à Revista, nas versões eletrônica e impressa, conforme permissivo constante do artigo 49 da Lei de Proteção de Direitos Autorais (Lei 9.610, de 19/02/98), e que a não observância desse compromisso submeterá o infrator a sanções e penas previstas no mesmo diploma legal;
Todos os artigos publicados são licenciados sob a Licença Creative Commons Attribution, que permite o compartilhamento do trabalho com reconhecimento da autoria e publicação inicial nesta revista.
