Robots Help Children with Autism and Other Disorders

Robots are becoming more popular in our society, with more and more companies utilizing robots to automate certain tasks. Robots have been around for a long time, and now they are becoming more prominent in our society. In the future, robots could replace humans that work in certain jobs such as teachers and doctors. However, robots will only be able to accomplish these tasks when they can accurately read human emotions. There is no debate that technology has made our lives easier, but it also poses some risks. There are a number of benefits to robotic automation such as lower costs, less danger on the job, reliability, and accuracy, etc. In this article, we will discuss how robots can help special children develop and learn by providing them with learning software that adapts to their needs.

What is autism and how common is it?

Autism is considered a spectrum disorder and there is no known cure for it. The disorder can manifest in many ways, from social interaction to verbal communication. The cause of autism is unknown and the number of people diagnosed with the condition has been on the rise since the 1980s. Autism is a lifelong developmental disability that affects how a person communicates, and how they interact with others. It is the most common developmental disability, with about 1 in 68 children having been diagnosed with the disorder before their 18th birthday. Autism can be extremely challenging for the individual who has it, and that can make certain tasks difficult to do. That’s where robots and other assistive technologies come in. These tools allow people on the spectrum to communicate and interact with their families and friends more easily.

Robots to help children with autism

Children with autism or other disorders are often faced with challenges that rob them of a normal childhood. Robots have helped children like these to grow as they learn and interact with the real world. At present, robots are used in therapy and assessment for students of all ages, from toddlers to seniors, who struggle to remain engaged. Most children with autism have difficulties making eye contact, listening to others and connecting with people. A new company is using robots to help these children develop social skills. The company is called Movia Robotics and uses Kebbi, a robot that teaches children empathy by mimicking their facial expressions. The idea was initially based on a 2011 study that showed how the pupils of the children with disabilities had more synchronicities in their gaze while the robots were present.

Robots for other disorders

Robots can help children with autism or other disorders. They are designed to be therapeutic in that they help kids focus and build their skills. Kids who have a robot as a companion can strengthen their communication and social skills, many of which are considered difficult for these children to accomplish on their own. On the surface, a robot in the form of Autism Assistance Programming is doing what it was programmed to do and helping children with autism and other disorders. However, at a more profound level, this robot has been said to have a therapeutic effect on these children. This is because it gives them the opportunity not only to learn to read non-verbal cues but also to become active participants in their own treatment.

Alternative methods to robots for autistic children

A robot therapist may be the solution to the problem of autistic children who need to learn social skills. Robots have been used successfully in Russia and Japan, where therapists put a robotic head on a mannequin or a doll. The therapist can then teach the child how to act more naturally around others.

Conclusions

With the increase of autism, a need for those with special needs has emerged. A new study was conducted and found that children who were given robotic therapy had less anxiety and their stress levels decreased. Furthermore, their anxiety was reduced as they became more comfortable communicating. The added social support helped to facilitate the ability to better function in day-to-day life.

The greatest strength of this study is that the children who participated in the study were able to stay at home, away from large and impersonal institutions. They had a robot for the company and could continue doing their favorite activities. The study also shows that robots can help children learn social skills through play. Robots are also very educational tools by themselves as they teach children about cause-effect relationships, spatial reasoning, perceptual thinking, and language development.