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Updated: Jan 17, 2026
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Development of a Virtual Reality Assessment of Everyday Living Skills
Published on: April 23, 2014
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Effects of Virtual Reality Among Children With Developmental Coordination Disorder: An ICF-Based Randomized
Zeynep Kolit1, Koray Kara2, Sedef Şahin3
1Zeynep Kolit, PhD, is Assistant Professor, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Occupational Therapy, Lokman Hekim University, Ankara, Turkey; zeynepkolit_1903@hotmail.com.
Summary
Virtual reality (VR) therapy combined with conventional occupational therapy (COT) significantly improved motor, cognitive, and sensory skills in children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD). This VR-enhanced approach showed greater benefits than COT alone for pediatric rehabilitation.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Rehabilitation
- Neurorehabilitation
- Developmental Pediatrics
Background:
- Developmental Coordination Disorder (DCD) impacts motor, cognitive, and sensory-perceptual skills, affecting daily functioning in children.
- Virtual Reality (VR) intervention shows potential for enhancing skills in children with DCD.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of VR intervention combined with conventional occupational therapy (COT) for children with DCD.
- To assess improvements in motor, cognitive, sensory-perceptual skills, and activity levels from an International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health perspective.
Main Methods:
- A single-blind randomized controlled trial was conducted with 48 children (ages 5-8) diagnosed with DCD.
- The intervention group received VR plus COT, while the control group received COT only, with both interventions delivered twice weekly for 8 weeks.
- Standardized assessments measured gross motor skills, executive functioning, sensory integration, visual perception, and functional independence.
Main Results:
- The VR + COT group demonstrated significant improvements across all measured domains (motor, cognitive, sensory-perceptual skills, activity levels) (p < .05).
- The COT-only group showed significant improvements only in sensory-perceptual skills and activity levels (p < .05).
- Effect sizes (d > 0.8) were notably larger in the VR + COT group for all outcomes.
Conclusions:
- Integrating VR into COT is more effective than COT alone for enhancing motor, cognitive, and sensory-perceptual skills and activity levels in children with DCD.
- VR presents a promising tool for pediatric rehabilitation, potentially improving therapeutic outcomes and functional abilities.
- This approach offers therapists a valuable method to augment conventional treatments for DCD.
