Shared social-emotional difficulties of children with different neurodevelopmental disorders and intervention outcomes with the Emotion Detectives game
Thesis event information
Date and time of the thesis defence
Place of the thesis defence
Linnanmaa, L10
Topic of the dissertation
Shared social-emotional difficulties of children with different neurodevelopmental disorders and intervention outcomes with the Emotion Detectives game
Doctoral candidate
Master of Philosophy Joanna Kaski
Faculty and unit
University of Oulu Graduate School, Faculty of Humanities, Logopedics
Subject of study
Logopedics
Opponent
Docent Pirkko Rautakoski, Åbo Akademi University
Custos
Professor Kerttu Huttunen, University of Oulu
Digital Emotion Detectives game helps children with ASD, ADHD or DLD to recognize emotions
FM Joanna Kaski's doctoral thesis demonstrates that the Emotion Detectives game can be a useful tool in learning emotion recognition skills. Kaski's dissertation is one of the first studies to address autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or developmental language disorder (DLD) as one group when studying children’s emotion recognition difficulties. The study found that children with ASD, ADHD, or DLD have similar challenges in emotion recognition and behaviour.
Children with neurodevelopmental disorders often encounter challenges in recognizing emotions. Difficulties in these skills can often lead to loneliness, mental health challenges, or social exclusion. Strengthening emotion recognition skills is therefore paramount. The Emotion Detectives game is developed for children aged 6 to12 years and is freely available on the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education.
The doctoral study involved children aged 6-10 years with a neurodevelopmental disorder (n = 50) and a control group of typically developing peers (n = 106). The intervention group (30 children) played the Emotion Detectives game for two months, while 20 children served as the control group. Children were tested on emotion discrimination skills as well as language and cognitive skills before and after the two-month intervention period, with the intervention group also tested one month after the intervention period ended.
The results showed children with neurodevelopmental disorders had similar cognitive, linguistic, and emotion discrimination difficulties, as well as behavioural problems. The skills of the children who played the Emotion Detectives game improved more than those of the control group who did not play the game during the two-month observation period. The skills were also maintained one month after the intervention period.
The study also surveyed the views of parents and professionals regarding the emotion recognition skills of the children in their daily lives. Based on the parents’ observations, for example, it was found that approximately one-third of the children did not have any friends to play with.
"My dissertation is one of the first studies to address ASD, ADHD, and DLD diagnoses as a single group when studying children’s emotion recognition difficulties. Although the sample size was rather small, the results of the study provide promising direction on the common challenges in emotion recognition skills of these children. These problems should be further explored in future research," Joanna Kaski explains.
These findings enhance our understanding of the challenges children with neurodevelopmental disorders face and also offer new practical perspectives for both clinicians and researchers. "In the future, digital games can be an effective addition to traditional habilitation methods and can help children develop important skills. However, it is important to remember that language and emotional skills are always learned in interaction with another person, and children should always play together with an adult," Kaski emphasizes.
Children with neurodevelopmental disorders often encounter challenges in recognizing emotions. Difficulties in these skills can often lead to loneliness, mental health challenges, or social exclusion. Strengthening emotion recognition skills is therefore paramount. The Emotion Detectives game is developed for children aged 6 to12 years and is freely available on the website of the Finnish National Agency for Education.
The doctoral study involved children aged 6-10 years with a neurodevelopmental disorder (n = 50) and a control group of typically developing peers (n = 106). The intervention group (30 children) played the Emotion Detectives game for two months, while 20 children served as the control group. Children were tested on emotion discrimination skills as well as language and cognitive skills before and after the two-month intervention period, with the intervention group also tested one month after the intervention period ended.
The results showed children with neurodevelopmental disorders had similar cognitive, linguistic, and emotion discrimination difficulties, as well as behavioural problems. The skills of the children who played the Emotion Detectives game improved more than those of the control group who did not play the game during the two-month observation period. The skills were also maintained one month after the intervention period.
The study also surveyed the views of parents and professionals regarding the emotion recognition skills of the children in their daily lives. Based on the parents’ observations, for example, it was found that approximately one-third of the children did not have any friends to play with.
"My dissertation is one of the first studies to address ASD, ADHD, and DLD diagnoses as a single group when studying children’s emotion recognition difficulties. Although the sample size was rather small, the results of the study provide promising direction on the common challenges in emotion recognition skills of these children. These problems should be further explored in future research," Joanna Kaski explains.
These findings enhance our understanding of the challenges children with neurodevelopmental disorders face and also offer new practical perspectives for both clinicians and researchers. "In the future, digital games can be an effective addition to traditional habilitation methods and can help children develop important skills. However, it is important to remember that language and emotional skills are always learned in interaction with another person, and children should always play together with an adult," Kaski emphasizes.
Last updated: 28.5.2024