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Updated: May 12, 2026
Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
Clinical Utility of Virtual Kitchen Errand Task for Children (VKET-C) as a Functional Cognition Evaluation for
Yumi Ju1, Sura Kang2, Jihye Kim3
1Major in Human Development and Rehabilitation, Graduate School of Education Service Science, Dongguk University, Seoul 04620, Republic of Korea.
Insights
The virtual reality kitchen error task (VKET-C) effectively assesses executive function and working memory in children with developmental disabilities. This engaging tool shows promise compared to traditional cognitive assessments.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Neuropsychology
- Cognitive Assessment
- Virtual Reality Applications
Background:
- Functional cognition assessment in children is crucial for identifying developmental disabilities.
- Traditional cognitive tests may lack ecological validity for some pediatric populations.
- Virtual reality offers novel approaches to clinical assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the clinical utility of a virtual reality (VR)-based kitchen error task for children (VKET-C).
- To assess functional cognition in children using the VKET-C.
- To compare the performance of typically developing (TD) children and children with developmental disabilities (DDs) on the VKET-C.
Main Methods:
- 38 children (7-12 years) participated: 23 TD and 15 with DDs (autism spectrum disorder, ADHD, intellectual disability).
- Performance errors (omission, commission, motor) on the VKET-C were analyzed.
- Cognitive function was assessed using the Stockings of Cambridge (SOC) and Spatial Working Memory (SWM) tasks from CANTAB.
- Brunner-Munzel test compared TD and DD groups; correlations between VKET-C errors and cognitive measures were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Significant differences in omission and commission errors between TD and DD groups (p < 0.001).
- Omission and commission errors correlated with specific measures on SOC and SWM tasks.
- Motor errors showed significant correlations with SOC and SWM task performance.
Conclusions:
- The VKET-C demonstrates potential as a valuable tool for assessing executive function and working memory in children with DDs.
- The VKET-C provides an engaging and ecologically valid alternative to traditional assessment methods.
- VR-based tasks may enhance the assessment of functional cognition in pediatric populations.
Background/Objectives:
This study evaluated the clinical utility of a virtual reality (VR)-based kitchen error task for children (VKET-C) to assess functional cognition in children.
Methods:
In total, 38 children aged 7-12 years were included, comprising 23 typically developing (TD) children and 15 children with developmental disabilities (DDs), including autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and intellectual disability. While performing the VKET-C, performance errors were analyzed. The Stockings of Cambridge (SOC) and Spatial Working Memory (SWM) tasks from the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) were used to assess cognitive function. The Brunner-Munzel test was performed to compare performance errors between the TD and DD groups, and correlations between performance errors and cognitive measures were analyzed.
Results:
Omission and commission errors were significantly different between the groups (p < 0.001), with no significant difference in motor errors (p > 0.05). Omission errors were correlated with the initial thinking time mean (ITMN) in all items of the SOC task and the between errors (BE) of the SWM task. Commission errors were correlated with the ITMN in the difficult items of the SOC task and the BE of the SWM task. Additionally, motor errors were significantly correlated with problems solved in minimum moves (PSMM) and ITMN in the difficult items of the SOC task and BE in the SWM task.
Conclusions:
The VKET-C shows promise as an effective tool for assessing executive function and working memory in children with DDs, offering an engaging and ecologically valid alternative to traditional methods.
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