Aspergers and Computer Game Addiction

Question

I have a 14 year old daughter who was diagnosed with Aspergers. She is currently attending a special needs school. Her main interest is to play games on the computer. She will get onto one of the Internet Multi Player Games and will not want to get off. We have implemented a timer program which only gives her a finite time that she can use the computer before it tells her that the time is up. Once the time is up she then asks us for more time. If we do not give her more time, she blows up into a fit of rage and may throw things or break things or physically bang her head into objects. We worry about our safety and hers when she does not get what she wants. How should we as parents react to this??

Answer

The short answer is download the My Aspergers Child eBook, because all the help you'll need in dealing with your daughter's rage will be addressed there.

The long answer is as follows:

Here are some symptoms or signs of video game addiction as well as computer game addiction to help determine if your Aspergers kids are addicted to computer games.

1. Choosing the computer or playing video games rather than spending time with friends or family.
2. Difficulty keeping up with personal responsibilities due to increased hours playing computer games.
3. Dropping out of activities such as social groups, clubs or sports.
4. Fatigue; tendency to fall asleep in school.
5. Irritable, cranky or agitated (withdrawal symptoms) when not playing a video game or on the computer.
6. Lying about computer or video game use so computer or video game privileges aren’t taken away.
7. Lying to others about computer or video game use.
8. Most of their “free time” (non-school hours) are spent on the computer or playing video games.
9. Neglecting personal relationships with friends and family to spend more time playing computer games.
10. Not keeping up with homework assignments/not turning in homework on time.
11. Obsession or preoccupation about computer games or playing video games on a video game console excessively.
12. Worsening grades.

Here is a self-test the Aspergers child can take to determine the level of game addiction:

1. Do you become so involved in playing computer games that you sometimes neglect to eat, sleep, or bathe?
2. Do you ever experience physical symptoms such as backaches, dry eyes or headaches after playing computer games?
3. Do you experience withdrawal symptoms when not playing computer games?
4. Do you sneak time to play games, perhaps late at night while others are asleep?
5. Do you spend most of your time thinking or wishing you could be playing your favorite game or surfing the web?
6. Has someone close to you, perhaps your significant other, ever criticized you for spending too much time playing computer games rather than spending time with them?
7. Have you been diagnosed with carpal tunnel syndrome or experience symptoms of carpal tunnel?
8. Have you ever said you were sick in order to stay home from school to play your favorite game?
9. While not spending time on the internet or playing computer games, do you feel angry, agitated, irritable or depressed?

If you are truly convinced that your Aspergers teens or young kids are addicted to video games or computer games, it’s your job as the parent to get your kids off the computer and off the video game console, providing them ample opportunity for active play and natural exercise in and outside of the home.

Make no mistake, video game addiction is a real addiction and if you are a mom or dad that is concerned about your home-grown video game addict, it’s up to you to parent your kids and closely monitor and limit their gaming activities. Massively multiplayer online role-playing games (MMORPG’s) are designed to be addictive.

Video game makers and marketers are counting on people to become addicted to the games! It’s a lot of money in their pockets, and a lot of money out of your pockets. Let your kids whine, cry and complain all they want about placing restrictions and limits on their game use, but be the parent.

One of the effects of kids addicted to computer games is the increase in childhood obesity amongst young kids and teens due to excessive amounts of time spent leading a more sedentary lifestyle (and poor eating habits), amongst other physical, emotional and mental problems associated with too much time being spent playing computer games.

Be the parent of your kids, not their friend. If the video game problem in your home is so bad that you feel your Aspergers youngster is a “video game addict”, or if your kids spend too much time watching television, shut it down and get your kids involved in other activities that encourage and promote active play and that provides more than finger and thumb exercises from video game controls.

Again, if your Aspergers child flips into a rage when computer privileges are withdrawn, then use the disciplinary strategies outlined in My Aspergers Child eBook.