Contributions of game therapy for cognitive skills of an adolescent with cerebral palsy

Abstract

This study aims to analyze the contributions of game therapy for cognitive skills of an adolescent with cerebral palsy. This research is based on a case study method, in which the software Desenvolve® was used to compare the participant's cognitive skills before and after 10 game therapy sessions using five minigames from the videogame Big Brain Academy: Wii Degree. We found a percentage increase in the participant's scores regarding 10 out of 19 cognitive skills that had been assessed. Five of these skills had been directly stimulated through the intervention. Regarding the total score, we found a percentage increase from 73.69% to 90.89%. Therefore, the study subject showed improvement in cognitive skills after the game therapy sessions. In addition, the subject became more engaged and motivated during the treatment period and achieved a better performance in the videogame, which is considered part of his daily life and a meaningful activity to him.