FAQs - About Sparky™

Sparky is breathing-powered interactive gaming(TM) focused on teaching children to do spirometry while performing a lung function test (also known as pulmonary function test). Once children have learned to do spirometry, the game is used for monitoring lung function. The test results can be used by parents to take action according to the asthma action plan, or to send the test results to their professional medical support when needed.

The first game developed by Lung Games was Wind Tales™, which was developed by our founder to help his daughter who has Cystic Fibrosis. When respirologists and researchers from the University hospitals of Leuven and Rotterdam Erasmus saw the positive impact of Wind Tales™ on young children with CF learning and adhering to their lung exercises, they began to ask if a game could be developed to help young children with asthma. Research confirms that 46% of 2- to 6-year-olds cannot perform a valid lung function test – LFT). Without an objective tool for diagnosis, physicians could only rely on subjective assessment and bronchodilator challenge.  So, a collaboration started and Sparky™ was born.

Sparky™ has been designed to enable younger children, especially preschool children, to do a lung function test. Sparky™ replaces the verbal and visual coaching, which can take 45 minutes or more per child, needed to help young children complete a lung function test , with  an intuitive breathing-powered interactive game™ that is fun to play while performing a lung function test at the same time.

A large percentage of young children, especially preschool (those under 6 years old), cannot easily follow instructions to perform standard spirometry due to their level of communication and understanding. Asthma and other lung related problems often appear for the first time in this age group. The game focuses on  2- to 12-year-olds because asthma typically continues for a number of years, and children up to 12 have expressed continued enjoyment with playing the game.

Sparky™ has been defined/designed for younger children, especially preschool children, to be a fun game.  As the game collects the data needed to assess lung function in the background, it can also be used to assist physicians with diagnosis and  assist parents/guardians with monitoring to help keep children out of the emergency room and hospital.  Serious Games are also known as Applied Games and are a category of games that have a purpose beyond just gaming. They help to teach and/or improve health.

For younger children, especially preschool children, performing a lung function test can be difficult, demanding, and cumbersome. Using Sparky™ to do a lung function test, makes it easier and fun.

Sparky™ has been designed to be played at home, so a lung function test can be done at home, as frequently as needed. . At home also means remote, so young and possibly sick children do not need to travel to a clinic/lab for a test. This is especially important for those persons living in rural and remote areas, but is convenient for everyone. Using Sparky™ can also improve communication, because a parent can send the results of the lung function test to their clinician whenever needed, providing the clinician with objective data,  rather than only a verbal description of the child’s condition.

Sparky™ is based and designed on the latest research. For more information, please visit https://lung-games.com

Sparky™ has been designed in cooperation with the University hospitals of Leuven and Rotterdam. Currently, we are exploring the establishment of a research program in North America to understand the full benefits of using Sparky™.

In the Sparky™ game, children play a number of mini games that follow a single-story line, and they learn to do spirometry and actually perform a full lung function test every time they play the game. The spirometer serves as a game controller for the mini games, in which they need to exhale or inhale in order to complete a task in the game. 

A lung function test (LFT) is a breathing test that measures how well a person’s lungs are working. It helps clinicians objectively assess lung function, diagnose lung conditions like asthma, and monitor their progress. These tests, also called pulmonary function tests (PFT)involve various techniques to measure airflow, lung capacity, and how quickly air moves in and out of the lungs.

Yes. The player does not know they are performing a lung function test and does not see the result of their lung function test within the game App or during play. They only know they are having fun playing and they are using the spirometer as a game controller. The parents/guardians can see the results of the LFT on the dashboard. Based on the results of the test, parents/guardians can take action according to the asthma action plan, or they can inform their clinician.

Yes. A child can only play the game after the parent/guardian creates an account and adds the child to the game. The game itself does not hold any data from the LFTs. These test results are encrypted and immediately sent and stored in the secure Sparky™ Database, which  can only be viewed through the secure dashboard controlled by the parent/guardian.

As a clinician, it is important to know if your patient is using Sparky™. If so, you can ask the parent/guardian to send you the latest lung function test results, or you can ask them to provide direct access to the database so you can see all of the test results over time. It is important to know that the lung function test is performed with a spirometer that has been assessed for safety and efficacy and officially approved for sale by the health regulator (Health Canada, FDA) in your jurisdiction  .

If you prescribe additional medication or therapy, you can ask the parent/guardian  to perform one or more lung function tests (playing the game), to verify the effects of therapy.

If the child is being discharged from hospital or from the Emergency Department (ED or ER), you may want the child to follow up at home by playing Sparky™, and giving parents/guardians instructions on how to intervene based on the test results an following up with their primary care clinician.

Yes. Sparky™ is intended to be played at home, or anywhere you take your tablet/phone. The results of the lung function test are logged into a dedicated secure online database, that can be accessed from anywhere. Clinicians can access the database from anywhere and review the latest test results, as well as the test results over time if you provide them with a direct link. Or you can print or send the pdf results by email to your clinician. This gives you timely objective information and saves you the time and inconvenience of trying to book a lab appointment and going to a lab location to do spirometry.

Yes. You can send the latest test result to your doctor or clinician, or provide them with access to the database, so the doctor/clinician can see all the tests that have been performed, over time.

Sparky performs an actual lung function test while your child is playing the game, which gives you an objective measure of your child’s lung health.  A decrease in some of the measures tracked in the lung function test often show airway restriction one or more days before an asthma attack occurs. Your asthma action plan, developed with your clinician, will tell you what to watch for in the Sparky™ LFT objective measures and your observations when monitoring your child.

IF YOU DON’T HAVE AN ASTHMA ACTION PLAN, SPEAK TO YOUR PRIMARY CARE DOCTOR OR CLINICIAN

Your/your child’s asthma action plan, developed with your child’s clinician, tells you what to do when you see certain signs that your child may be experiencing a worsening of their asthma. It is important to continually monitor your child and always have their asthma action plan easily accessible. Watch for specific sign/symptoms and use Sparky™ to give you objective information so you know when and how to take action according to your asthma action plan.