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All of the latest Mists of Pandaria news15 Minutes of Fame: WoW buoys autistic youngster
by Lisa Poisso 
Apr 13th 2010 at 4:00PM
Should little kids play World of Warcraft? Players and non-players, parents and childless alike seem to relish pontificating. Ultimately, it all comes down to active parenting -- you have to judge whether your child's development and personality are suited for a dunk in the waters of a massively multiplayer world, and you have to stay plugged in, yourself.
For WoW player Tsiva, mother of an 8-year-old with Asperger Syndrome, the decision to bring her son into the game has paid off. "It's helped with his reading, counting, confidence, motor skills and it's provided him with a heck of an incentive to work hard outside of the game," she reports. Tsiva's been blogging since last summer about her son's adventures in Azeroth, in the hopes that their experience will enlighten other players and spread awareness of the ways playing games like World of Warcraft can be a positive force for many children, including those with disabilities.
Main character Tsiva Guild <Insurrection>
Realm US Sentinels-H
Thomas' main character Merve
Guild <Insurrection>
Realm US Sentinels-H
15 Minutes of Fame: Tell us a little about Thomas' challenges and needs.
Tsiva: Thomas has Asperger Syndrome, which is considered a high-functioning form of autism. He also has ADHD and a receptive learning disorder. He was very hyper and rambunctious from the time he was a toddler and he didn't start talking until he was about 4 years old. I knew something other than his initial diagnosis, ADHD, was the problem but I couldn't put my finger on it. We had a lot of testing done on him, but it wasn't until he started exhibiting some tell-tale signs (making loud, bizarre noises compulsively) that it clicked in my head as to what it might be. My brother also has Asperger's, and when Thomas started making those same odd noises, I was fairly certain Thomas had the same thing. I had to raise some hell to get the testing done, but upon being tested, the specialist said that Thomas is a classic Asperger kid.
Since we got that diagnosis, Thomas was placed in a special needs class at a new school and he's getting the specialized teaching he needs. It was incredible to see him go from failing academically, depressed and destructive, and socially withdrawn to thriving academically (reading and writing, to boot!), self-confident and happy, and capable of interacting with other people in a more normal way.
What first gave you the idea of starting him in WoW?
Thomas has spent a lot of time at my side, just watching me play. I'm not sure why I did it, but while I was farming mobs in Netherstorm, I prompted him to start counting. And count he did. I was a little surprised at how well he was doing and it occurred to me that without killing the fun inherent in the game, I could get him to play the game and use it as a learning medium.
How do you see his gameplay helping him?
It seems like it's helped him in a multitude of ways. I've noticed some improvement with his eye-hand coordination. It's also helped with his counting and subtraction. As he progresses through quests that require him to get a set amount of items, he has to look at the numbers and figure out how many he's gotten and how many more he needs.
How has his gameplay evolved since he began playing?
Well, he started out very slowly. He has problems with his motor skills, so at first, he was very slow when it came to moving his toon around and fighting mobs. Now, he moves his toon around and fights very fluidly. He also no longer mindlessly just spams certain moves. It took a while to get him to understand that sometimes it's good to go on the offensive and sometimes you need to stop and quickly heal yourself or others with you. (His main is a druid.) Lastly, his communication skills are a lot better, so he's been able to reply to others in-game.
And now you're playing along with him. How has that changed things?
Well, it's made me appreciate how easily I can do stuff in game. For Merve, he's making great progress and he's learning a lot, but a lot of the in-game stuff doesn't necessarily come easily to him. I have to work with him on certain things and coach him. It's frustrating for us both, but rewarding when he gets new achievements, does new things and gets really stoked about it. I've also had to cut back some of my own personal play time to accommodate running him through dungeons and helping out in game when he needs it. It's worth it, though. ;)
What restrictions and limitations do you place on his gameplay? Well, I let him play for 30 minutes to an hour most nights, plus or minus. If it's not a school night, I'll sometimes let him play longer. I'm sure he'd play a lot longer if I let him, but I prefer he goes outside to play and do things other than WoW.
In game, he's not allowed to group or chat with players he doesn't know. His communication skills in game are still rather limited. He can read quite a bit, but he has a hard time typing up responses. He has to abide by a no-whisper, no-group, no-trade and no-target rule to avoid him pestering people who don't know him and don't know his communication limitations.
I've had some people wonder what the point of him playing in an MMO is when he can't interact much with other players. Even without the interaction, though, he still manages to have a good time -- and to me, that's the entire point.
What's his favorite in-game activity?
He likes to fish and farm mobs. He gets really excited when I take him into dungeons, but if he had his way, I think he'd be more than happy to wander Azeroth, killing mobs along the way.
What is his behavior like now?
Thomas takes medication for his compulsiveness. There are some things, though, that medication can't fix. He is still, to a degree, more impulsive than a typical kid, even with his medication. He has a hard time focusing. He doesn't pick up on "normal kid" things. There's a lot of stuff kids pick up without being taught. Those sort of things we have to make it a point to teach him, and it's not always easy.
He also views things in a totally different way from other people. He simply does not relate the same way. He's very obsessive. He likes to hoard things. He's often noticeably anxious in social situations and will cling to you if you don't get onto him. And he doesn't have a sense of what's right and wrong socially, like most people do. It leads to some awkward situations. Mind you, he's doing so much better than he was before. But it can still be very stressful dealing with his issues.
He's working on reading comprehension, grammar and math. His teacher is also teaching him social skills that he didn't pick up like non-autistic kids do. I've seen him do things this year that a couple of years ago, I wasn't confident he'd ever be able to do. It's been within the last half year that he's really started to read and write well.
What about your own main character?
Casual raider, altaholic, PvPer ... I really like to mix it up. I raid a couple nights each week and spend the rest of my time either PvPing, chatting with friends or working on alts. I also find myself going off after certain objectives (achievements, mounts, etc.) when the mood strikes me. I have two level 80 priests, Tsiva being my second but more progressed priest. I main tank-heal with her for a casual 10-man raid group that I absolutely love. I also PvP quite a bit. I enjoy being that annoying disc priest who's a pain to kill.
How did you get into WoW?
My husband and I wanted an inexpensive way to spend time together. We figured 30 bucks a month for the two of us would be a lot less costly than going out every weekend. So, we got a couple of trial discs at a local Best Buy, were immediately hooked and the rest is history.
Follow the continuing adventures of Tsiva and Merve at Running With Merve. Read more about combining families with gaming in MMO Family at our sister publication, Massively.
15 Minutes is LFM- Are you an ICC raider over the age of 60?
- Do you play WoW across the miles with one or more generations or layers of your extended family, as a way to keep in touch?
"I never thought of playing WoW like that!" -- neither did we, until we talked with these players. From an Oscar-winning 3-D effects director to a rising pop singer ... from a quadriplegic player to a bunch of guys who get together for dinner and raiding in person every week.Filed under: Interviews, 15 Minutes of Fame
Reader Comments (Page 4 of 5)
Bill Apr 13th 2010 7:45PM
As a person with Aspergers Syndrome as well as terrific grades in most of my high school history I would say that I have benefited from this genetic mutation as opposed to other forms of autism where some cases can get as bad as not being able to remember your own name. Even though I'm a gifted student who stays pretty fit, etc, I have usually found it pretty hard to socialize with people in real life. However once I started using the internet more often I discovered Runescape at age 10 where I was a pretty well-liked person and I found it easy to socialize. Runescape then evolved into World of Warcraft a few years later and I eventually just found playing in a social community to be as easy as breathing. I know quite a few other people would agree with this and even though I don't think there's many 8-year olds hanging around trade chat or WoW in general, a cybernetic reality can be a haven for some people such as myself or Thomas where you can be yourself without feeling the anxiety you do in reality.
Phaegelan Apr 15th 2010 1:16AM
The same applies to me. When I started WoW in my 8th grade year, it was a strange and unusual experience for me. In 9th grade, because of my asperger's syndrome, I became a prime target to teasing.
Do you see where I am going? I just believe that the haters who hate need to seriously get a life. They don't see what we see in the asperger's world.
No, I am being serious, and not offending my own "syndrome". Thank you.
obarthelemy Apr 13th 2010 8:20PM
You have my respect, and best wishes, for the huge amount of love you're showing to your kid. He'll give it back 100-fold.
satanslut666 Apr 13th 2010 9:26PM
i myself have ASD and i think wow has helped me alot with my communication i have also seen huge improvement in my nephew who has learning difficulties as well as ASD =)
Zottle Apr 13th 2010 9:09PM
I've got aspergers. I shudder to think where I'd be if I weren't introduced to PC gaming. The article is pretty spot on and I wish more kids had parents like this.
Phaegelan Apr 13th 2010 9:18PM
Don't try to make fun of this disease.
I personally have this disease, I am 17 years old and I worked with children who have even worse with aspergers syndrome.
I salute to this mother, because in my opinion I would never see someone with the heart to teach a disabled child the skills of WoW. WoW is hard to learn, just like in 2005 when I started... and WoW introduced me to the world of PC gaming. :)
satanslut666 Apr 13th 2010 9:31PM
no offence phaegelan it's NOT a disease...and to the haters especially the ignorant person who said "oh its just social awkwardness" i pity you :) you are so ignorant and narrow minded you try to turn such a great thing into nothing...to all of you who think it is "wrong" for his mother to let him play again you are wrong unless you KNOW her son KNOW how much she is doing in the background and have an understanding or experience with this condition you cannot judge such a thing :)
Phaegelan Apr 15th 2010 1:25AM
I must have typed that too quick. I did remember that it was not a disease. Thank you for correcting me.
I am glad that you support against the haters. Do people realize the truth of asperger's syndrome? Or are they dumb enough to even learn about it?
(no offense to you, or anyone reading this article)
MightyBurebista Apr 13th 2010 10:09PM
A fellow Aspie salutes you! As for real life, all I can say is be thankful for your above-average cognitive skills, as they will get you far. Also, don't stress about now being the center of attention; you WILL manage to make ~true~ friends, and the haters gonna hate, so bugger them. :)
MightyBurebista Apr 13th 2010 10:10PM
...I was actually meaning to say "don't stress about NOT being the center of attention". A pox upon typos!
Piisuke Apr 14th 2010 1:31AM
@MightyBurebista:
Grow up. Somebody needs to say it.
@ InvaderDem
It doesn't come down to the parent. You just don't let your kid play games outside his range. Heck, when I was 5, my mum didn't allow me to play Zelda on the NES and that is when games didn't come with age rating.
Tokkar Apr 14th 2010 2:24AM
"You just don't let your kid play games outside his range."
No, YOU don't let your kid (if you have one, or at least one that you're caring for ala babysitting or whatever), but that's where it stops.
This is why they say "parental guidance suggested" on PG movies. That means that a parent should guide their child, and it suggests that this be the case based upon the content of the movie.
However, if the PARENT OF THE CHILD decides that it's okay, then it's okay. End of story.
Sorry to turn your righteousness into self-righteous delusion here, but what you are stating is that even with a parent deciding for themselves that it's okay, they can't do it. That's just being totalitarian and is telling the parent that they don't know what's best for little Johnny, when they are the ones RAISING little Johnny.
The fact remains, you don't like it. Okay, that's fine. Don't allow any children that you are raising or otherwise caring for to play, but respect the wishes of the parent here. She decided that her son was old enough, and it has turned into a positive thing.
Don't ruin that positive thing with your own indignation.
MightyBurebista Apr 14th 2010 12:58PM
I reckon YOU need a hug, Freddy Sunshine.
And let me tell you what: with an attitude like yours, the day you're gonna start raising kids above toddler age, you're gonna be wishing to GAWD that you'd never been born with the kind of hell those little demons will unavoidably be putting you through. Unless it has all started already. Better know a Prozac salesman. '-_-
Tokkar Apr 14th 2010 1:21PM
Attitude like mine? What, you mean actually taking charge of raising a child instead of letting a ratings industry/government/school/church/whatever do it for me?
Tokkar Apr 14th 2010 1:22PM
Doh! Ignore that, MightyBurebista. I thought it was Piisuke again.
Need...coffee...NOW...
Piisuke Apr 14th 2010 5:07PM
Edit: Ugh, the comment/reply system of this website needs some re-adjustment.
Actually Tokkar, as is the case with films, children are forbidden to go into a cinema and watch a film outside a range. Maybe you're the "I don't look at age ratings" parent, but with all the negativity surrounding moronic parents and their failure to understand age ratings and video games, I made it a point to check those things better.
Aside from that, PG rated films are only for PG rated films, not for films that are rated say 15/18. Wow is similar, it is rated T, or 12, depending on where you're from.
As for my "self" righteousness, yeah, as I said above, children aren't allowed into cinemas to watch films they're too young for and they cannot buy the games in the stores, unless the clerk at the store is a muppet.
These are simple rules. If a parent thinks it is "ok" for the child, than the parent is to blame if something ever goes wrong, no matter how simple the situation is. The ratings are there to protect the children, as well as the video game market, not for people to ignore them and think they know better. You don't by alcohol, or cigarettes for a 12 year old kid.
Tokkar Apr 14th 2010 5:50PM
"As for my 'self' righteousness, yeah, as I said above, children aren't allowed into cinemas to watch films they're too young for..."
Only if they're by themselves. Let's say you're 12 years old. You are with Mom & Dad and you're going to an "R"-rated movie. Mom & Dad say it's okay. Guess what? You ARE allowed into the movie.
If it's an NC-17, that's a different story. R-ratings, though, say it's Restricted (hence the "R") and that children under the age of 18 are not permitted WITHOUT A PARENT OR LEGAL GUARDIAN.
If the parent says "No", then guess what? You're not going to see that "R"-rated movie!
This isn't the same as buying alcohol or tobacco, so I don't even know why you are trying to compare what I'm saying to something that isn't allowed for children BY LAW anyway.
Ratings systems for games and television shows are there for parents to be notified. If a parent approves, then the parent approves.
Thank you.
Piisuke Apr 14th 2010 6:30PM
Tokkar, I've seen parents been rejected into a Cinema, because they're children are too young, even with the consent of the parents, so don't bullcrap me. I've seen kids been rejected into the cinema, because one of them was too young. Sure, in the first case the parent could go in, but the child simply couldn't.
The same story goes for buying games in a videogame store. As a matter of fact, stores can get in trouble for selling games like GTA (an example) to minors.
"Ratings systems for games and television shows are there for parents to be notified. If a parent approves, then the parent approves."
And if the Cinema/Store approves with the ratings, so do they. Those ratings CAN be enforced on people. Of course, in a store the clerk cannot decline a parent for buying the game, but in any other situation they can and they will. So for it being a simple "guide line", as you try to make it seem to be, is incorrect. If it were a guideline, stores and cinemas weren't allowed to enforce the rules upon children.
Thank YOU.
Tokkar Apr 14th 2010 10:25PM
/sigh
Okay, let's examine this: You say "cinema", so I can assume that you're not from the States.
The Motion Picture Association of AMERICA sets ratings for movies, and if a parent wants to take their kid to a R-rated show, the theater can't say "no" because the rating clearly states "unless accompanied by a parent/guardian". If I am incorrect and you ARE from the States, and you have seen the theater eject a child because of an R-rating, then that is what is known as a lawsuit in the making, sorry to say.
Now as for the ratings on videos and games in stores: Stores enforce the ratings for counter sales (or at least they're supposed to), but parents can still purchase it for them.
The fact remains, here in this country anyway, that PARENTS are the final decision-makers for what is right for their kids. Not you, not I, not the government. Yes, if a parent is ENDANGERING their child, the government can step in; however, letting your kid play Bloody Dismemberment and Homicidal Ninjas from Hell III in 3-D is hardly grounds for Child Protection Services to step in. It may not get the parents nominated for Mother and Father of the Year, but there you go. They're still the decision makers for what is right or wrong for little Johnny and Julie.
And this parent did right for her child, in my (and a lot of others, according the comments here) opinion.
You say otherwise.
That's YOUR opinion.
But remember this: your rights end at the end of your lips when it comes to telling me how to raise a child. The same holds true for this child's mother.
This is the last I will say on this matter.
Piisuke Apr 15th 2010 1:48AM
You are correct, I am not from the States.
As for it being a lawsuit in the making? Well, the only thing I can say is; only in America. People would seriously sue a cinema for rejecting a child for a movie that he's clearly not supposed to watch, no matter "if the parent "knows" better"? In various countries in Europe, I have seen parents get told their child cannot see this movie. Of course the parent gets angry, but the one key thing they fail to understand is; the parent probably only saw a trailer, where the clerk at the cinema most likely saw the entire film, vice versa for videogames.
The FACT is, is that stores and cinemas can reject children into watching a movie/buying a game. Heck, I was rejected buying Saw IV on DVD 2 years ago, because I couldn't prove I was over 18 years old, as they didn't "recognise" my valid ID card used to travel abroad. I was 23 at the time.
The other FACT remains is, parents often buy the game/film, because their child wants it. They hardly know the game/film and often base their decision on trailers/covers/word of mouth. Parents think they know better, because they are the parent and he'd be the clerk, but the simple fact here is, the clerk most likely knows it better.
Now, they may not know the child, but a film with swearing ninjas decapitating people is not a film for children, no matter how you look at it, no matter if the parents feel "they know better".
Common sense is something apparently not everybody has and I've seen parents make the most stupidest of decisions, including buying their son games like GTA, simply because they have no clue what "18" means in the lower right/left corner and don't bother asking. You're telling me the parent's "decision" is final, no matter what? Hardly.