The digital memory game: an assistive technology resource evaluated by children with cerebral palsy

Sueli Neide Silva Da Cunha,Xisto Lucas Travassos Junior,Renato Guizzo,Camila De Sousa Pereira-Guizzo

doi:10.1186/s41155-016-0009-9

Abstract

The activities of daily living are routine self-maintenance tasks. Children with cerebral palsy can have difficulties, which can vary according to their level of motor impairment, in the performance of functional activities such as feeding and dressing themselves. The use of digital memory gaming can be a play activity and a technological resource that stimulates cognitive skills and contributes to the development of persons with disabilities. The objective of this article is to analyze the usability and effectiveness of a digital memory game for activities of daily living with children with cerebral palsy. Two children with cerebral palsy, one aged 5 and the other aged 7, participated in the investigation. The results obtained in the usability analysis are satisfactory because there were no major problems with the interface and the time available for the game and the rules presented were observed. The results also reveal the effectiveness of digital memory gaming for the recognition of objects and the activities of daily life. The importance of digital memory gaming for children with cerebral palsy is discussed.

Highlights

Cerebral palsy (CP) is an injury to one or more parts of the brain that can occur during gestation, during delivery, or after birth
The results indicated an increase in the gaming time and the number of attempt in Phase 3, the phase in which the game’s strategy requires greater memory skill by hiding all the cards at once
The results show that the performance of intervention with the digital memory game may have influenced the progress of picture matching hits because greater recognition of Activities of daily living (ADL) actions was observed

Summary

Introduction

Cerebral palsy (CP) is an injury to one or more parts of the brain that can occur during gestation, during delivery, or after birth. The causes may be varied: infectious diseases during pregnancy, maternal malnutrition, perinatal cerebral anoxia, and traumatic injury during birth, among other events. These individuals may develop muscle weakness, difficulties controlling musculature, and changes in tonus (Beckung & Hagberg, 2002; Mutch, Alberma, Hagber, Kodam, & Perat, 1992). Other manifestations may be present, including changes in vision, speech disorders, and epilepsy. Children with CP can exhibit certain difficulties in the performance of the everyday activities important for their functioning in different life settings

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