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The Therapeutic Use of Gadles With Mentally Retarded Adults
The Therapeutic Use of Gadles With Mentally Retarded Adults
T his article provides conceptualz- tip Ie media as therapy, incl uding sides learning what is necessary to
zations of playas a learning and games. A theoretical rationale for adapt in a particular circumstance-
survival behavior and presents and findings from a study of the use a game, for example-also learns
findings of a study of the use of of games as a form of occupational how to adapt to external condi-
games with mentally retarded therapy for mentally retarded adults tions. If such learning were to take
adults. In this study the azm was will be presented. place in a more serious arena where
to describe both how therapists Theoretical and Empirical Sup- the consequences could threaten
can use games as therapeutic port for Playas Survzval Behavior. survival, it would be rather ineffec-
media and how changes can be Play, a central human characteris- tual and inefficient.
observed in the subjects. The study tic, is responsible for both individ- Play also allows the player to
identifies a number of therapeutic ual learning and the very fabric of process latent learning by increas-
strategies that did enhance the social and cultural life (2). Evidence ing the general stock of knowledge
play of the subjects. A long with suggests that play is a prerequisite that the person can draw upon in
increases in play, improvement in to behavioral flexibility necessary later circumstances (4). For instance,
motor behavior, cognitive abilz- for higher species to survive (3). studies show that children who play
ties, affect, attention, self- Among living species, those who with objects have more information
confidence, and social interaction play most exhibit the greatest abil- later about possible ways to use
was observed. ity to adapt their behavior for sur- those objects and are more success-
vival in a wide variety of ecologies,
ames considered essential in rather than exhibiting specialized
G early occupational therapy
practice are not currently in wide-
behaviors for narrow ecologies. Man
is the best example of this relation- Gary Kielhofner, M.A., Dr.P.H.,
spread use. However, games are ship between play and flexibility OTR, is Assistant Professor,
consistent with the "art and science" for adaptation in multiple ecologies. Department of Occupational Ther-
of occupational therapy (I) and Experiments convincingly point apy, The M(?dical College of Vir-
should be included as legitimate to social play deprivation as the key ginia, Virginia Commonwealth
media for practice. It has always feature of social isolation; the ab- University, Richmond, Vzrginza.
been the central concept of occupa- sence of play assures that the adult
tional therapy that humans' use of will be an inflexible and poor sur- Shawn Miyake, M.A., OTR, is
themselves in everyday activities, in vivor (3). It is not only what one Coordinator of Trazning in Occu-
self-care, in work, and in play has learns in play, but also how one pational Therapy, University
the power to maintain, restore, and learns to adapt behavior to emerg- Affiliated Facility, Neuropsychiat-
increase heal tho This art and science ing and changing circumstances ric Institute, University of Call-
of the field suggests the use of mul- that is important. The player, be- fornia at Los Angeles.