Current virtual reality-based rehabilitation interventions in neuro-developmental disorders at developmental ages

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Psychology
• Computer Science

Background:

• Neurodevelopmental disorders, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD), present significant diagnostic and therapeutic challenges.
• Virtual Reality (VR) technology has emerged as a potential tool to address these challenges due to its immersive and interactive capabilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review and synthesize existing literature on the application of virtual reality (VR) for the diagnosis and therapy of neurodevelopmental disorders.
• To focus specifically on ADHD, ASD, and SLD, evaluating the efficacy and potential of VR interventions.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted, identifying 62 studies published between 1998 and 2024.
• Studies were filtered based on exclusion criteria, resulting in 32 studies for ADHD, 2 for ASD, and 2 for SLD, encompassing a total of 8,139 participants for ADHD, 458 for ASD, and 162 for SLD.

Main Results:

• VR demonstrates high ecological validity, facilitating improvements in cognitive and social skills across neurodevelopmental disorders.
• For ADHD, VR interventions showed benefits in attention and executive functions, particularly when combined with pharmacotherapy.
• In ASD, VR was effective in enhancing social skills and emotional regulation through tailored virtual environments.

Conclusions:

• VR presents a promising supplementary tool for clinical interventions in neurodevelopmental disorders, offering personalized approaches in controlled settings.
• While the literature on SLD is limited, VR's potential for enhancing skills in ADHD and ASD is evident.
• Both immersive and non-immersive VR technologies can effectively complement traditional therapeutic strategies.