‘Pokémon GO’ Succeeds In Giving Children With Autism & Asperger’s Syndrome A Sense Of Belongingness

"Pokémon GO" doesn't just provide entertainment; the game also helps children with autism and Asperger's syndrome power through their developmental disabilities. The augmented-reality game reportedly improves their social, decision-making, and problem-solving skills.

Austin, a 16-year-old from the town of Brackenridge in Pennsylvania, is one of those with autism that has benefited from playing "Pokémon GO." Prior to his exposure to the game, Austin usually stayed indoors playing computer games and seldom interacted with other people, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported.

Now, Austin's mother said the boy is willing to venture outdoors to play "Pokémon Go" and interact with strangers also on the hunt for the virtual creatures. Austin is also taking walks with friends that he only conversed with online before.

For Austin, the best thing about "Pokémon GO" is seeing plenty of people playing it. The teenager said he "felt really happy" seeing crowds of "Pokémon GO" players, describing the experience as "breathtaking."

Experts said "Pokémon GO" enhances autistic children's independence skills and helps them get exercise by walking around searching for the pocket monsters. Ali Perryman, a psychiatric specialty counselor at the Theiss Early Autism Program, said autistic children are fascinated with electronic activities than tasks that require them to use pens, pencils, and papers. Virtual environments comfort these people and provide them with predictability and structure.

John Carosso, a child psychologist working with the Autism Center of Pittsburgh, said autistic children are more fixated on their own thoughts and behaviors than the world and other people. "Pokémon GO" is a way for children with autism to look "outward as opposed to inward," the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette added.

The same effects can be said for kids with Asperger's syndrome. Though the condition is a form of autism, Asperger's differs in the sense that those who have it either possess average or above average intelligence. People with Asperger's don't have learning disabilities, but they still struggle with speech and understanding language, according to The National Autistic Society.

Parents who have children with Asperger's syndrome claimed that "Pokémon GO" helped their kids leave their comfort zones and explore outside to catch the virtual creatures. The children are now more open to talk to their peers about the Pokémon they have caught, CNN reported.

The social interactions are less frustrating for kids with Asperger's as well. Normal children often focus on "Pokémon GO" and the pocket monsters instead of concentrating on the behaviors of their peers who have Asperger's. This way, they are more welcoming to kids with autism or Asperger's.