Creating a computer game to improve flexible thinking in children with a learning disability

What is it about?

People who have the rare disorder Prader-Willi syndrome face several challenges. One important challenge is that the syndrome can make it very difficult to deal with changes to routines, plans or expectations. So when such changes happen, people with the syndrome often have meltdowns. We know from our previous research that cognitive difficulties with flexible thinking contribute to the problems people have dealing with change. In this study, we worked together with children with Prader-Willi syndrome and their family members, to create a computer game. We designed the computer game specifically to improve flexible thinking. We tested the game with a small group of children with the syndrome and found evidence to show that playing the game can improve flexible thinking in cognitive assessments. But we don't know yet whether playing the game could help with the behavioural challenges.

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Why is it important?

This is the first time a computer game for training flexible thinking has been developed in collaboration with children with a learning disability. We describe the methods we used to allow this collaboration to work well. This is the first time that a computer game has been built specifically for improving flexible thinking in children with a learning disability. If we can create games that can improve cognitive function in individuals where this cognitive function is impaired, then we may be able to build tools that have a positive impact on behaviour.