O uso de jogos digitais no atendimento educacional especializado de adolescentes com Transtorno do Espectro Autista (TEA)

Abstract

Integrating technology into Special Education (SEA) is an effective approach to improving the development of executive functions in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This study aimed to analyze the impact of using digital games as an educational tool on the development of these functions, focusing on skills such as planning, inhibitory control, cognitive flexibility, and selective attention. The study involved 12 adolescents diagnosed with ASD, between the ages of 11 and 17, enrolled in the public school system of the Federal District. The participants were divided into two groups: the experimental group, composed of six adolescents who received interventions using digital games, and the control group, also composed of six adolescents, who only received traditional ESA activities. The methodology used was mixed methods, with quantitative and qualitative data collection. The results showed that the experimental group achieved significant improvements in executive function tests, especially in the Attention Cancellation Test (CAT), where scores increased from 91.7 to 103.7 after the interventions. In contrast, the control group showed stability or a decrease in scores, with an initial average of 75.0 on the Tower of London Test (ToL), which changed little, and a slight decrease on the TAC, from 53.8 to 45.8 points. Questionnaires administered to parents showed a positive perception of the use of digital games in ESA, highlighting the increased student engagement in the proposed activities. It is concluded that the use of digital games in ESA contributes positively to the development of executive functions in adolescents with ASD, with greater emphasis on aspects of selective attention and inhibitory control. We suggest extending the studies with larger samples and longer intervention periods to validate the results obtained and to explore new intervention parameters in the context of inclusive education.