One of the newest options in autism treatment -- the use of robots to teach communication and social skills -- was the focus of a presentation by Joshua Diehl, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Notre Dame. More than 140 parents and professionals attended the program, "Robots & Research: Using the Latest Technology in Autism Treatment" that was held at the Barber National Institute on March 29. Audience members were able to interact with "Kelly," a Nao humanoid robot which is specially programmed to help break down communication barriers for children with autism.

     "The most important part of social interaction is understanding what's being said and being able to be understood," says Dr. Diehl. "If we can bridge this social gap, it will open up so many doors for children with autism and help them in all aspects of their lives." By incorporating technology, which is especially appealing to most children with autism, gestures and tone of voice are simplified, potentially making therapy sessions less threatening and more productive.

     Dr. Diehl began the research less than two years ago and it has shown promising results with a small group of children on the autism spectrum ages 6-11. The use of the robot is integrated into intervention sessions with applied behavior analysis, or ABA, the most effective treatment for children with autism.

     The research will be conducted with a larger group of children in summer, 2011. An effort is now underway to secure funding to continue the research with a large student population at other sites, including the Barber National Institute.

     For more information about the research project, view an interview with Dr. Diehl that aired on WICU TV.

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