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Jul 9, 2008 9:43 pm US/Central
UTD Docs Use Online World To Treat Form Of Autism
University Of Texas At Dallas Researchers Using 'Second Life' As Therapy
DALLAS (CBS 11 News) ―
Imagine walking into a room constantly thinking that people are talking about you and making fun of you. Social skills like starting a conversation come naturally to most people. For people with a certain form of autism, though, those skills are often not developed. Now, a North Texas doctor is hoping to change that by merging real life and virtual reality.
10-year-old Mary Caroline is a bright young girl who loves to make art. Her mother describes her as very outgoing and funny. But she's dealing with something most can't see. She has a form of autism known as Asperger's Syndrome.
"It just makes me feel different from other people," Mary Caroline explains. "And when people make fun of it, it just hurts my feelings."
People with Asperger's often have trouble reacting in social situations. As a result, they can act inappropriately or even violently.
"You look at somebody who has Asperger's, and you compare them to Swiss cheese," her dad, David Lethe says. "There's holes in empathy and not being able to deal with sarcasm."
In the Lethe family, Mary Caroline is not alone. Both her father and brother have Asperger's.
"It was kind of like being color blind," brother Daniel says. "I couldn't really see certain things although some people could."
So when mother, Ellen, heard about a new program aimed at teaching children with Asperger's to better handle social situations, she jumped at the chance to take part.
"We live in a social world and you have to get along with all kinds of people," says Mrs. Lethe.
Dr. Sandi Chapman with the University of Texas at Dallas Brain Health Center created the program.
"As we've met hundreds of individuals with autism, almost everyone said the thing they long for the most is one good friend, or one lasting relationship," Dr. Chapman said.
She says in her research, they're learning that the social brain may not be wired correctly, and they've found evidence that that part of the brain could be rebuilt. To do that, Dr. Chapman has taken things into a different world - The virtual world - using the popular online program "Second Life."
"The way the brain changes is actually by giving it practice and rehearsal and intensive intervention," she explains.
In this virtual world - complete with the everyday places like a mall, school, and playground - the child is put into different social situations and actually interacts with other people in this controlled setting.
"The beauty of the virtual world is the real people are removed," Ellen Lethe explains. "You can mess up, and a therapist is there to debrief you, and you can go and try again.
Cassandra Adams is the research clinician who works with Mary Caroline. Adams sets up a social scenario that works on specific areas that each patient finds difficult.
"It really allows them to immerse themselves in the moment," she says. "If you're working on this one on one in kind of a role-playing, or just talking about it, you don't get as much of the real world simulation."
Adams says Mary Caroline has problems with impatience, and is working on her compromising skills. Her task this time is to work with a fellow student, played by another clinician, to plan a party for their teacher.
"She also has a tendancy to disappear in social situations, where if things aren't going very smoothly, she'll just pull herself out of it," Adams said during the session.
These sessions can run from 30 minutes to one hour, and they're completely unscripted to give a more real-life feel. Dr. Chapman says the program isn't just for Asperger's patients, and can be used for those who suffer traumatic brain injuries. However, she says at this point in the research, she's seen the greatest improvement in her patients with autism.
"My first research career started 30 years ago in autism, and not much has changed in this 30 years," Dr. Chapman said. "But for the first time, I think there's some new possibilities of things that can be done."
Mary Caroline's mother agrees and says she's already seeing a difference in her daughter.
"I think she feels more confident in a group. I think she feels like she doesn't just have to stand at the edge. She's more confident to go in and give it a try."
More Resources
If you have questions for Dr. Chapman about her research using Second Life, click here.
Click here to learn more about Second Life.
If you would like more information on Asperger's and other autism spectrum disorders, visit the following links:
Autism Research Network
Mayo Clinic
Autism Society of America
Autism Research Institute
New York University Child Study Center
Yale University Child Study Center
National Institute of Mental Health
Autism Speaks
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