AI and Neurodivergence: How ChatGPT can Help | by Mario I Rodriguez | Jan, 2024 – Medium
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Mario I Rodriguez
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Hello!
If you’re just tuning in, we are spending a year with ChatGPT. Today’s subject is neurodiversity and AI. Listen, I’m not a licensed medical practitioner and neither is the chat. I have a licensed therapist and psychologist that I see regularly. Do not self diagnose yourself. Let me say that again. DO NOT SELF DIAGNOSE YOURSELF. Please seek professional help if you are struggling and require guidance.
Now that we have come to terms with the fact that we are NOT licensed professionals and therefore CAN’T DIAGNOSE OURSELVES, let’s explore how AI has assisted someone with a neurodivergency — ME!
I have another disclaimer before we continue. It’s important to note that AI is not the most important tool in my arsenal on this front. My best support has been my wife, family, friends and the medical help I’ve sought along the way. I have only used AI as an enhancement to what I do normally with my therapist and psychologist. The idea came after I began experiencing gastrointestinal issues resulting from an autoimmunity (Ain’t stress a bitch?). It helped me formulate a diet that encompassed foods with a smaller likelihood of intestinal inflammation. Real fun stuff, I know.
The transcripts linked below and the excerpts included in this article are just examples of the conversations I’ve had with AI. The reality is my use has not been entirely healthy as I have obsessed over conversations I’ve had in the chat. I’ve inadvertently stressed out my wife, friends and coworkers about it. “You never stop with the AI.” And it’s honestly pretty damn true. So here’s another disclaimer —
AI can be addictive. Having access to the “answer to every question” can become very enticing. There were times where a server issue or a ChatGPT update had me jonesing for access. Much like everything else in life, moderation is key.
Anyway, let’s begin.
AI can provide definitions to scientific and medical terms that may be espoused during medical appointments that most doctors likely take for granted. Take the word “dopamine,” for example. I had no frame of reference for what this word meant prior to seeing a medical professional. I looked it up in the dictionary but I still had no idea how it worked or what it meant. I felt embarrassed to open up to those around me so I sought help from the chat.
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Me:
…can you explain dopamine a bit more to me, how it functions, what we know about it scientifically, and how it affects behaviors in people? How does ADHD exacerbate the dopamine craving?
ChatGPT:
Certainly! Dopamine is a neurotransmitter, which is a chemical messenger that plays a crucial role in various functions within the brain and body. It belongs to a class of neurotransmitters known as catecholamines and is often associated with pleasure, reward, motivation, and reinforcement of certain behaviors. Here’s a breakdown of some key aspects of dopamine…
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Here’s something else to think about — perhaps a therapist can utilize an AI to create a digital profile on a patient to keep track of an individuals behavior. It can extrapolate that data and compare each visit to one another to see how that individual may have felt during their appointment. Said therapist could utilize this data to fine tune their approach to medicine. We must not forget about HIPPA compliance, though, so we need to establish secure and clear regulations so that proper security parameters can be put in place. And to the naysayers, hospitals and clinics operate on WiFi. Many therapy appointments now take place from the comfort of your own home over a web chat. Internet systems are probed by malicious attempts constantly, but as system admins, we take measures to ensure that connections remain safe and confidential.
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Me:
How could a therapist use AI to treat their patients?
ChatGPT:
Therapists can leverage AI in various ways to enhance the treatment and support provided to their patients. Here are several ways in which AI can be integrated into therapeutic practices…
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Alright, let’s say you have a safe internet infrastructure, AI has been approved as an auxiliary tool (the same as internet before it), and your office wants to implement AI. What else can it do?
I work for a non-profit that serves people that are neurologically divergent. My boss recently mentioned an idea that could be explored with AI that sent me down another ChatGPT rabbit hole. You can tie your buildings system controls into an AI to monitor and collect data. Why does this matter as it relates to individuals with neurodivergence? What if an individual has a behavioral episode and nobody can explain what the issue is. Well, if we look at the data collected by AI, maybe we find out that the room that this person was in was just a few degrees hotter than usual. Temperature can have an adverse effect on a persons behavior. Perhaps the AI tells you all of the devices that are plugged in and running in a given area. Sound emanating from devices could be a contributing factor. Maybe you set a better schedule on your loud HVAC machine. The AI gives you one final suggestion. For the individual in question, their profile mentions a sensitivity to light and all the lights were turned on in the room.
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Me:
Can you tell me how temperature controls, building controls and AI could help provide a comfortable atmosphere for neurodivergent individuals in clinical settings?
ChatGPT:
Certainly! The integration of temperature controls, building controls, and AI can play a crucial role in creating a comfortable and supportive atmosphere for neurodivergent individuals in clinical settings. Here’s how these technologies can contribute…
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Now I am going to make my final point — it can help most patients keep themselves honest. The reality is some individuals will not be able to control their behavior and need something to positively reinforce good behaviors. A behavioral technician may not always be available. Sometimes, it helps to have a buddy. Especially if that buddy won’t judge you for asking “stupid questions.” (Side note, can we dispel of this notion that questions are stupid? On that front, this is the last time I’m using this phrase).
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Me:
If i ever get stuck ruminating on something, and I send you a message, can you give me a fun fact?
ChatGPT:
Absolutely! I’d be happy to provide a fun fact whenever you need a distraction from ruminating thoughts. Feel free to reach out anytime, and I’ll share an interesting and lighthearted fact with you. Sometimes a little break and a bit of curiosity can be great for shifting your focus.
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I had the chat help me create a schedule to balance all my whacky personal responsibilities, projects, work, and hobbies. Another conversation I had was what jobs were people with my neurotypical profile well suited for. IT was one of them. (Surprise, surprise, I’m an IT tech). It even helped me prepare for job interviews by creating mock questions I could work on. I also asked it to explain how to prepare for interviews given my thought process and methodology. (It’s all in the chat!)
I could go on for ages, but that’s not the point of these Sunday articles. The point is to get you thinking and talking to your loved ones, colleagues, and strangers about AI. I hope that together we can learn what the future may hold. The best way to ensure a safe future is through knowledge.
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Me:
What are some of the negative consequences of pitfalls involved with all we’ve outlined above?
ChatGPT:
While the integration of technology, AI, and innovative approaches in mental health and therapy can bring numerous benefits, it’s important to be aware of potential pitfalls and negative consequences. Here are some considerations:
1.Privacy and Data Security Breaches
2.Informed Consent
3.Overreliance on Technology and Loss of Human Connection
4.Misinterpretation of Cues
5.Algorithmic Bias and Fairness
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Thanks for reading. Tune in next week for another AI riffing.
Cheers, strangers!
Photography by @grantkettner on Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/grantkettner?igsh=enhwc3d6bHA1eGQ2
https://chat.openai.com/share/18769daa-fd62-4b00-8d29-08de4c62878e
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I’m just an IT tech who likes to tell stories.
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