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Pilot study shows humanoid robot reduced distress in children with autism during cardiology visits, suggesting social robots can improve healthcare experiences.
Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often experience distress during medical procedures due to sensory sensitivities and communication challenges. We conducted a pilot study assessing whether a humanoid robot (NAO) could reduce distress during cardiology assessments. 24 children with ASD were evaluated during NAO-assisted visits. Distress levels were significantly lower compared with previous routine non-robot-assisted visits involving the same patients. Reduced motion artefacts and shorter diagnostic procedures were also observed. These results support the feasibility and potential benefit of integrating social robots into outpatient paediatric settings for patients with autism, paving the way for more inclusive and neurosensitive healthcare experiences.
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Lodi et al. (2026) studied this question.
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