Virtual Reality for Social Skills Training

Autism is a condition that commonly makes people feel socially anxious. They may have difficulty picking up on social cues and making eye contact with others. Some autistic people report feeling estranged and lonely, constantly anxious in public, or overwhelmed when they can’t communicate how they’re feeling. VR is helping people with autism learn to communicate more effectively and get comfortable in social situations. Autistic people are using VR programs to practice conversations, identify emotions, and learn about making friends and judging the quality of friendships. A lot of people who have used VR this way report feeling more comfortable in the virtual setting than they would practicing in real life. It seems that VR can be a very helpful platform for people with autism.