"Pokémon Go" is not just a fun experience. The immensely popular augmented reality game also helps children with autism get out of the limitations established by their disorder.
Stephanie Barnhill of Fuquay-Varina, North Carolina has a 12-year-old son, Ian Thayer, with Asperger's Syndrome and Sensory Processing Disorder, ABC7 reported. These developmental disorders make Ian experience difficulties in social interaction and non-verbal communication, as well as processing sensory information.
Barnhill, who works at a company named Game Truck, described Ian as "a really bright, funny, great kid" who's into video games. The child, however, usually prefers to be alone playing video games and watching tutorials on YouTube, making it very challenging to coax him to venture outside and be social.
Enter 'Pokémon Go'
That changed when Ian was introduced to "Pokémon Go." According to Barnhill, her son was hesitant at first to play the game, which requires users to go outside to catch the virtual Pokémons via their smartphones.
When Ian started playing "Pokémon Go," Barnhill saw the child change his demeanor and "started laughing and getting really competitive," ABC7 further reported. Now, Ian frequently asks Barnhill for permission to go outside and get PokéBalls to catch Pokémons.
To get PokéBalls, players must visit real-world locations or PokéStops. The game also assigns landmarks as PokéGyms, where players can meet to put their Pokémons to battle.
Barnhill is happy to see Ian opening up and taking the initiative to go to parks and other landmarks. There were other "Pokémon Go" players in those locations too and Ian interacts and talks to them, a feat that was uncomfortable and unusual for the child before. Ian is also excited to meet his fellow players in upcoming "Pokémon Go" meet-ups.
Experts Speak Up
Autism educator Craig Smith has conducted studies in the past about how computer games can help autistic children. According to Smith, autistic people are drawn and are more likely to learn through visual stimuli, which "Pokémon Go" offers, ABC News reported.
Dr. Ricky Bloomfield, an assistant professor in Internal Medicine-Pediatrics, said it's good that "Pokémon Go" encourages autistic people to go outside and interact with the real world. As long as there are adult supervision and a safe environment involved, this shouldn't be a problem.
Another family in Hacienda Heights, California is praising "Pokémon Go" for revealing another side to 14-year-old Matthew Blake, who's a high-functioning autistic, ABC7 added. Other mothers with an autistic child also took to social media to praise "Pokémon Go's" ability to change the kids' lives.
