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Second Life Offers Aid for Asperger's

Online virtual world helps socially awkward patients pick up, practice skills

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Jan 16, 2008 2:18 PM CST
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(Newser) – Sufferers from Asperger’s syndrome, characterized by an inability to pick up social cues, are getting an unlikely assist from the virtual world Second Life, ABC News reports. Researchers have found that the site, in which users communicate through online avatars, is more effective than other therapies for guiding patients through social exercises such as asking another avatar out on a date or asking a “boss” avatar for a raise.

Proponents believe such exercises feel more real in the virtual world than in role-playing with a therapist, and are therefore more useful. But critics wonder if notoriously inflexible sufferers will be able to transition the skills they learn in SL to the real world: "Asperger's kids love computers anyway,” said an autism researcher—what if they find they just feel more comfortable there?

Asperger's usually affects people who have high-functioning learning skills but have a deficit interacting with people, one researcher said. This provides a forum for that.
"Asperger's usually affects people who have high-functioning learning skills but have a deficit interacting with people," one researcher said. "This provides a forum for that."   ((c) Ka Rasmuson)
Within the virtual world, they say they feel the emotion as they would in the real world, which role-play doesn't do. It's too artificial, said one researcher employing the treatment. Once they begin to gain confidence in the virtual world, they can interact in the real world.
"Within the virtual world, they say they feel the emotion as they would in the real world, which role-play doesn't do. It's too artificial," said one researcher employing the treatment. "Once they begin...   ((c) kjarrett)
Ryan Massey, 11, plays with some action figures while in his bedroom, Monday, Oct. 8, 2007, in Dacula, Ga. Ryan is the youngest of three brothers in his family, all of whom have aspergers syndrome, which is a milder variant of autistic disorder. (AP Photo/John Amis)
Ryan Massey, 11, plays with some action figures while in his bedroom, Monday, Oct. 8, 2007, in Dacula, Ga. Ryan is the youngest of three brothers in his family, all of whom have aspergers syndrome, which...   (Associated Press)
Despite being highly functional, Asperger's patients can have difficulty detecting emotional subtleties and social cues that average people take for granted.
Despite being highly functional, Asperger's patients can have difficulty detecting emotional subtleties and social cues that average people take for granted.   (Shutterstock.com)
The online virtual world of Second Life has become an unexpected tool in the treatment of Asperger's.
The online virtual world of Second Life has become an unexpected tool in the treatment of Asperger's.   ((c) valle giulia)
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One Asperger's patient tells of success with the Second Life therapy
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autism • research • Second Life • Asperger's Syndrome

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