Social Robots and Brain-Computer Interface Video Games for Dealing with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: A Systematic Review

Case report: Novel use of clinical brain-computer interfaces in recreation programming for an autistic adolescent with co-occurring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Background

In recent years, several autistic children and youth have shown interest in Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital's clinical brain computer interface (BCI) program. Existing literature about BCI use among autistic individuals has focused solely on cognitive skill development and remediation of challenging behaviors. To date, the benefits of recreational BCI programming with autistic children and youth have not been documented.

Purpose

This case report summarizes the experiences of an autistic male adolescent with co-occurring attention deficit hyperactivity disorder using a BCI for recreation and considers possible benefits with this novel user population.

Methods

A single retrospective chart review was completed with parental guardian's consent.

Findings

The participant demonstrated enjoyment in BCI sessions and requested continued opportunities to engage in BCI programming. This enjoyment correlated with improved Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM) scores in BCI programming, outperforming scores from other recreational programs. Additionally, clinicians observed changes in social communication efforts and self-advocacy in this first autistic participant.

Conclusion

The use of brain computer interfaces in recreational programming provides a novel opportunity for engagement for autistic children and youth that may also support skill development.

Evaluating speech-in-speech perception via a humanoid robot

Introduction

Underlying mechanisms of speech perception masked by background speakers, a common daily listening condition, are often investigated using various and lengthy psychophysical tests. The presence of a social agent, such as an interactive humanoid NAO robot, may help maintain engagement and attention. However, such robots potentially have limited sound quality or processing speed.

Methods

As a first step toward the use of NAO in psychophysical testing of speech- in-speech perception, we compared normal-hearing young adults' performance when using the standard computer interface to that when using a NAO robot to introduce the test and present all corresponding stimuli. Target sentences were presented with colour and number keywords in the presence of competing masker speech at varying target-to-masker ratios. Sentences were produced by the same speaker, but voice differences between the target and masker were introduced using speech synthesis methods. To assess test performance, speech intelligibility and data collection duration were compared between the computer and NAO setups. Human-robot interaction was assessed using the Negative Attitude Toward Robot Scale (NARS) and quantification of behavioural cues (backchannels).

Results

Speech intelligibility results showed functional similarity between the computer and NAO setups. Data collection durations were longer when using NAO. NARS results showed participants had a relatively positive attitude toward "situations of interactions" with robots prior to the experiment, but otherwise showed neutral attitudes toward the "social influence" of and "emotions in interaction" with robots. The presence of more positive backchannels when using NAO suggest higher engagement with the robot in comparison to the computer.

Discussion

Overall, the study presents the potential of the NAO for presenting speech materials and collecting psychophysical measurements for speech-in-speech perception.