Advertisement

Volunteers needed to test video game to help children with neurodevelopmental disabilities

Click to play video: 'B.C. and Alberta researchers developing video game for neuro-developmentally- challenged children'
B.C. and Alberta researchers developing video game for neuro-developmentally- challenged children
Researchers in B.C. And Alberta are developing a video game that they hope will help children with neuro-developmental disabilities like autism. Linda Aylesworth reports. More information:<http://uvicdinoisland.cogtrain.ca> – Mar 16, 2021

Researchers in B.C. and Alberta are working on a new video game to help children with neurodevelopmental disabilities like autism and are looking for volunteers.

Researchers from Victoria, Surrey and Calgary have developed Dino Island to help improve attention, memory and other mental functions.

Click to play video: 'Why just play a video game? Code Ninjas teaches kids to design their own'
Why just play a video game? Code Ninjas teaches kids to design their own

The program consists of five games designed to deliver therapeutic benefits.

Story continues below advertisement

The creators of Dino Island hope to leverage the popularity of video games to develop attention and executive functions in children. The game, according to principal investigator Sarah Macoun of the University of Victoria, is a treatment program that kids will stick with long enough to make it effective and doesn’t require a clinical expert to deliver it.

“It uses a hybrid approach that combines the appeal of tablet-based gaming with the effectiveness of an in-person interventionist child structure,” Macoun said.

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.

Get daily National news

Get the day's top news, political, economic, and current affairs headlines, delivered to your inbox once a day.
By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy.

“It also has a self-adjusting design that enables the intervention to automatically stay at the appropriate difficulty level for each child.”

Macoun said between seven and 14 per cent of children live with developmental disorders and cognitive challenges.

Families who want to take part in the video game study can register online. Those interested in taking part can register here.

Sponsored content

AdChoices