Link between Video Game Addicts and Language Impairment
Experts have found links between video game addicts and Asperger. The typical symptoms of the Asperger’s disorder are to do with language delays quiet close to autism. It has also been reported the language and cognitive skills are mildly affected with the Asperger’s disorder.
In addition, researchers are also of the opinion that video game addicts are more likely to suffer a sense of alienation or isolation which gives rise to potential mental problems in the long run.
A team of researchers from the University of Bolton (England) examined 400 gamers, mostly male. Though the researchers did not study the gamers on the basis of the Asperger’s syndrome, they reflected traits of the disorder. The team led by John Charlton only sought to question the volunteers on how often they played the video games.
The researchers found that more the gamers engaged in video games, the more likely they were to possess 3 distinct traits of the Aperger’s syndrome. The 3 traits of the Asperger’s syndrome being:
- Neuroticism
- Lack of extraversion
- Lack of agreeableness
John Charlton also emphasized that people suffering from the Asperger’s syndrome were more likely to become video game addicts as it gives them the opportunity to escape into a world that doesn’t require face-to-face interaction with people.
Charlton however does not confirm that avid gamers are more likely to develop the Asperger’s syndrome. However, he says that the reverse can happen because children suffering from the Asperger’ syndrome cannot make eye to eye contact, cannot perceive social cues like boredom in others and in that sense suffer from alienation or loneliness that can cause depression. Researchers opine that video gaming aggravate the loneliness and depression in already emotionally and mentally affected kids.
Though the actual cause of the Asperger’s Disorder is not arrived at, researchers opine that it could be a genetic component. Treatments for the disorder include – improving social skills and breaking the repetitiveness which experts opine video games discourage.
Experts opine that when kids in their growing years are still exploring this world, video games come as a HUGE hurdle in weakening their abilities to interact with people thereby shutting them out from life much before their time!
