Skip to main content
DeepSpectrum Lab

Learning Modules

Four research-based modules designed to support social cognition and self-regulation in children with autism and ADHD.

Module System

Each module addresses a specific area of development that is often challenging for neurodivergent children. The content is structured into sub-modules that build on each other progressively, adapting to each child's pace and developmental level. All exercises are designed to be low-pressure, repeatable, and grounded in current clinical research.

Social Stories & Daily Scenarios

Interactive stories present typical everyday situations in a structured, step-by-step format. Children explore social sequences, try out different responses, and receive immediate feedback — all within a safe, pressure-free environment.

Autism & ADHDAges 6–16
  • Everyday Routines

    Morning rituals, mealtimes, and bedtime routines broken down into clear, predictable steps. Children learn what to expect and how to navigate transitions.

  • School & Classroom

    Common school situations such as following instructions, asking for help, group work, and handling changes to the timetable.

  • Playground & Peer Interaction

    Joining games, turn-taking, dealing with disagreements, and understanding unwritten social rules among peers.

  • Doctor Visits & Medical Settings

    Preparing for medical appointments, understanding what happens during examinations, and communicating discomfort or questions.

  • Shopping & Public Spaces

    Navigating supermarkets, public transport, and busy environments. Practising waiting, managing sensory input, and asking for assistance.

  • Family Gatherings & Events

    Birthday parties, holidays, and family visits. Understanding social expectations, managing overstimulation, and finding strategies to take breaks.

More modules

Navigating telephone calls & video chats, Handling unexpected plan changes, Understanding personal space & physical boundaries, Restaurant visits & ordering food, Waiting in queues & dealing with boredom, Sleepovers & staying at a friend's house, Coping with new environments (moving house, new school), Interacting with authority figures (teachers, police), Managing multi-step social sequences (making plans with a friend), Understanding cultural differences in social norms

Theory of Mind

Step-by-step training in understanding what others think, feel, and intend. This module addresses a core challenge for many autistic children — recognising that other people have different perspectives, beliefs, and knowledge states.

Autism-specificAges 6–16
  • Simple Desires & Preferences

    Understanding that people want different things and that desires drive behaviour. The foundation for recognising why people act in certain ways.

  • Beliefs & False Beliefs

    Learning that people can hold beliefs that differ from reality. Classic false-belief tasks adapted into engaging, child-friendly scenarios.

  • Emotions from Situations

    Connecting specific situations to the emotions they typically cause. Building the ability to predict how someone will feel based on what happened.

  • Perspective Taking

    Practising seeing situations from another person's point of view. Understanding that different people may experience the same event differently.

  • Intentions & Motives

    Distinguishing between accidental and intentional actions. Learning to read the reasons behind people's behaviour.

  • Sarcasm & Figurative Language

    Recognising when words don't mean what they literally say. Exercises on irony, idioms, and implied meaning in everyday conversation.

More modules

Understanding white lies & social lies, Recognising deception & manipulation, Second-order false beliefs (what she thinks he thinks), Understanding misunderstandings & their repair, Reading social hierarchies & group dynamics, Interpreting non-verbal cues (gestures, posture, gaze), Understanding promises & trust, Perspective in storytelling & narratives, Predicting emotional reactions of others, Moral reasoning & fairness judgements

Emotions & Self-Regulation

Training in recognising emotions in yourself and others, and learning practical strategies to manage emotional responses. Covers facial expressions, voice tone, body signals, and a toolbox of regulation techniques.

Autism & ADHDAges 6–16
  • Facial Expression Recognition

    Identifying basic and complex emotions from facial expressions. Structured exercises with clear visual cues and graduated difficulty levels.

  • Voice & Tone Recognition

    Learning to detect emotional cues in how people speak — anger, sadness, excitement, sarcasm — beyond just the words themselves.

  • Identifying Own Emotions

    Building awareness of internal emotional states. Using body maps, emotion scales, and reflection prompts to name and understand personal feelings.

  • Calming Strategies & Techniques

    A practical toolkit of breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and sensory strategies that children can apply when feeling overwhelmed.

  • Frustration Tolerance Training

    Gradual exercises that help children tolerate setbacks and delayed gratification. Especially relevant for ADHD-related emotional dysregulation.

  • Emotional Vocabulary Building

    Expanding the range of emotion words a child can use. Moving beyond 'happy' and 'sad' to nuanced descriptions of emotional states.

More modules

Recognising emotions in body language & posture, Understanding mixed emotions & emotional ambivalence, Emotional contagion & empathy training, Identifying emotional triggers & patterns, De-escalation strategies for conflict situations, Emotional journaling & self-reflection, Managing anticipatory anxiety, Recognising the difference between feelings and actions, Building emotional resilience over time, Age-appropriate mindfulness exercises

Executive Functions

Gamified exercises targeting attention, impulse control, planning, and working memory — the core executive functions that many children with ADHD find challenging. Short, repeatable sessions build routines without overwhelming.

ADHD-focusedAges 6–16
  • Sustained Attention Tasks

    Engaging activities that gradually extend focused attention spans. Varied formats keep practice interesting while building concentration stamina.

  • Impulse Control Exercises

    Go/no-go tasks, waiting games, and stop-signal exercises that strengthen the ability to pause and think before acting.

  • Task Planning & Sequencing

    Breaking down multi-step tasks into manageable sequences. Visual planning tools help children organise actions and anticipate what comes next.

  • Working Memory Games

    Interactive exercises that train the ability to hold and manipulate information. Pattern recall, sequence building, and dual-task challenges.

  • Time Management Basics

    Visual timers, time estimation exercises, and scheduling activities that build a practical sense of how long things take.

  • Flexible Thinking Challenges

    Exercises that practise switching between rules, adapting to changes, and finding alternative solutions when the first approach doesn't work.

More modules

Cognitive flexibility & set-shifting, Self-monitoring & error detection, Goal setting & progress tracking, Prioritisation & decision-making, Organisation of materials & spaces, Initiation (starting tasks without prompting), Emotional regulation under cognitive load, Multi-tasking & divided attention, Metacognition (thinking about thinking), Reward delay & long-term planning strategies

Interested in our modules?

We're currently in development. Join the waiting list to be among the first to try our learning tools when they're ready.