Robotics therapy for children with long-term conditions
Does your child experience emotional distress due to from type 1 diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, allergies, or any other long-term health condition? If so, your child may enjoy interacting with an advanced humanoid robot that helps them learn more and feel better about their condition
Advanced humanoid robots
Does your child or teenager have a long-term condition such as type 1 diabetes, asthma, or epilepsy? Children diagnosed with long-term illnesses typically face significant emotional challenges (e.g., anxiety). Doctors and psychologists are increasingly using advanced robots to support children with certain chronic conditions (e.g., type 1 diabetes). However few of these projects specifically target the children’s emotional needs, using evidence-based methods. Which is why psychologists at Liverpool John Moores University are developing a robotics programme specifically addressing the emotional health of children with chronic illness.
Type 1 diabetes
Advanced humanoid robots are being used in UK and Europe to assist children diagnosed with long-term illnesses, particularly type 1 diabetes. Our advanced robot specifically targets the emotional needs of children with type 1 diabetes, aiming to enhance their emotional wellbeing and support blood sugar control through 'talking therapies' administered by a physical or virtual robot!
Robotic play
Children interact with a humanoid robot that knows about their culture, talks about type 1 diabetes, makes them feel better about the illness, and tests their knowledge of self-care activities.
Virtual robotics
Children can interact with a virtual simulation of the robot online, using a mobile device, laptop, or PC. Like the physical robot, the virtual simulation is also programmed to improve the child’s emotional wellbeing.
Emotional support
Type 1 diabetes is emotionally challenging for children. The robot is programmed to administer evidence-based talking therapies that reduce diabetes-related emotional distress (e.g. depression).
Helping your child cope emotionally with illness
Our primary goal is to reduce emotional distress in children living with long-term conditions, such as type 1 diabetes, asthma, epilepsy, and allergies, by making them feel happier about their condition. This is important because research suggests emotional distress can hamper disease self-management
Children will interact with an advanced humanoid robot that administers psychological protocols to make them feel better about their illness
Children from Black, Asian and minority ethnic backgrounds may be surprised to find that the robot seems aware of and sensitive to their ethnicity, when talking about their illness. For example, the robot may pronounce unusual Nigerian names (e.g., 'Babatunde'), mention rare South Asian foods that should be eaten in moderation in diabetes care (e.g., ladoo, gulab), or show awareness of religious events.
Not every parent/child will be able to visit our robotics clinic at Liverpool John Moores University. Children will be able to interact with the robot online. This 'on-screen' robot will act like the real robot, providing emotional support using evidence-based techniques
Register your interest!
Do you think your child will benefit emotionally from interacting with advanced humanoid robot that helps them better understand their long-term illness? Will you like your child to visit our robotics clinic in Liverpool, or simply interact with our virtual robot online, using their mobile device? Do you want to suggest ways the robot can be configured, to meet the needs of your child? If yes, please register your interest, by sending us a brief email using the details below.
Call us: (+44) 151 904 6310
Email: f.k.umeh@ljmu.ac.uk (type ‘Robotics’ as the subject)
Join our FACEBOOK group on the use of tech to provide emotional support to children diagnosed with long-term conditions, such as type 1 diabetes.
