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"It is definitely not true to say that playing games can cause Asperger's syndrome." People with Asperger's typically find social situations stressful. They often can't make eye contact and fail to pick up social cues, like boredom, in other people. The condition tends to isolate children and can trigger depression, which according to researchers, video games may encourage. The exact cause of Asperger's is unknown, although researchers suspect there is a genetic component. Treatment for Asperger's usually consists of improving social skills and breaking repetitive behavior, the very things video games discourage. "I worry about the mental health of these kids," said Eileen Costello about children who spend many hours playing video games. Costello is a pediatrician and author of the book "Quirky Kids," about children with disorders like autism and Asperger's. "Video games don't prepare them for interacting with real people," she said. "You can't walk into a college interview and say that you are really good at playing Xbox." Related Links: Eric Bland's blog: What the Tech? |
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