Current virtual reality-based rehabilitation interventions in neuro-developmental disorders at developmental ages
This mini-review examines the available papers about virtual reality (VR) as a tool for the diagnosis or therapy of neurodevelopmental disorders, focusing on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD). Through a search on li...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-01-01
|
| Series: | Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1441615/full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1841527594536665088 |
|---|---|
| author | Micaela Capobianco Concetto Puzzo Concetto Puzzo Concetto Puzzo Chiara Di Matteo Alberto Costa Alberto Costa Walter Adriani Walter Adriani Walter Adriani |
| author_facet | Micaela Capobianco Concetto Puzzo Concetto Puzzo Concetto Puzzo Chiara Di Matteo Alberto Costa Alberto Costa Walter Adriani Walter Adriani Walter Adriani |
| author_sort | Micaela Capobianco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This mini-review examines the available papers about virtual reality (VR) as a tool for the diagnosis or therapy of neurodevelopmental disorders, focusing on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD). Through a search on literature, we selected 62 studies published between 1998 and 2024. After exclusion criteria, our synoptic table includes 32 studies on ADHD (17 were on diagnostic evaluation and 15 were on therapeutic interventions), 2 on pure ASD, and 2 on pure SLD. These cover a total of 8,139 participants with ADHD (ages 3–19), 458 with ASD (ages 4–19), and 162 with SLD (ages 7–11). Results show that VR offers high ecological validity and enables improvements in cognitive and social skills. Specifically, in individuals with ADHD, VR showed benefits in attention and executive function, with optimal results when combined with pharmacological treatments. For ASD kids, VR proved effective in enhancing social skills and emotional regulation through personalized virtual scenarios. However, the literature on SLD remains limited, suggesting an evolving area of research. Despite limitations related to small sample sizes and technology costs, VR presents a promising outlook for clinical intervention in neuro-developmental disorders, supporting enhanced skills in a safe and controlled environment. We conclude that both immersive and non-immersive VR represents a valuable supplement to traditional therapies, allowing for personalized approaches. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-34841557fa7346c1b9dcf54cd445c73c |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1662-5153 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-34841557fa7346c1b9dcf54cd445c73c2025-01-15T10:49:39ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience1662-51532025-01-011810.3389/fnbeh.2024.14416151441615Current virtual reality-based rehabilitation interventions in neuro-developmental disorders at developmental agesMicaela Capobianco0Concetto Puzzo1Concetto Puzzo2Concetto Puzzo3Chiara Di Matteo4Alberto Costa5Alberto Costa6Walter Adriani7Walter Adriani8Walter Adriani9Economic, Psychological and Communication Sciences Department, Niccolò Cusano University, Rome, ItalyEconomic, Psychological and Communication Sciences Department, Niccolò Cusano University, Rome, ItalyFaculty of Psychology, Università Telematica Internazionale Uninettuno, Rome, ItalyCenter for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, ItalyFaculty of Psychology, Università Telematica Internazionale Uninettuno, Rome, ItalyEconomic, Psychological and Communication Sciences Department, Niccolò Cusano University, Rome, ItalyIRCCS Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, ItalyEconomic, Psychological and Communication Sciences Department, Niccolò Cusano University, Rome, ItalyFaculty of Psychology, Università Telematica Internazionale Uninettuno, Rome, ItalyCenter for Behavioural Sciences and Mental Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, ItalyThis mini-review examines the available papers about virtual reality (VR) as a tool for the diagnosis or therapy of neurodevelopmental disorders, focusing on Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), and Specific Learning Disorders (SLD). Through a search on literature, we selected 62 studies published between 1998 and 2024. After exclusion criteria, our synoptic table includes 32 studies on ADHD (17 were on diagnostic evaluation and 15 were on therapeutic interventions), 2 on pure ASD, and 2 on pure SLD. These cover a total of 8,139 participants with ADHD (ages 3–19), 458 with ASD (ages 4–19), and 162 with SLD (ages 7–11). Results show that VR offers high ecological validity and enables improvements in cognitive and social skills. Specifically, in individuals with ADHD, VR showed benefits in attention and executive function, with optimal results when combined with pharmacological treatments. For ASD kids, VR proved effective in enhancing social skills and emotional regulation through personalized virtual scenarios. However, the literature on SLD remains limited, suggesting an evolving area of research. Despite limitations related to small sample sizes and technology costs, VR presents a promising outlook for clinical intervention in neuro-developmental disorders, supporting enhanced skills in a safe and controlled environment. We conclude that both immersive and non-immersive VR represents a valuable supplement to traditional therapies, allowing for personalized approaches.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1441615/fullADHDASDSLDneuro-developmental disordersVR |
| spellingShingle | Micaela Capobianco Concetto Puzzo Concetto Puzzo Concetto Puzzo Chiara Di Matteo Alberto Costa Alberto Costa Walter Adriani Walter Adriani Walter Adriani Current virtual reality-based rehabilitation interventions in neuro-developmental disorders at developmental ages Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience ADHD ASD SLD neuro-developmental disorders VR |
| title | Current virtual reality-based rehabilitation interventions in neuro-developmental disorders at developmental ages |
| title_full | Current virtual reality-based rehabilitation interventions in neuro-developmental disorders at developmental ages |
| title_fullStr | Current virtual reality-based rehabilitation interventions in neuro-developmental disorders at developmental ages |
| title_full_unstemmed | Current virtual reality-based rehabilitation interventions in neuro-developmental disorders at developmental ages |
| title_short | Current virtual reality-based rehabilitation interventions in neuro-developmental disorders at developmental ages |
| title_sort | current virtual reality based rehabilitation interventions in neuro developmental disorders at developmental ages |
| topic | ADHD ASD SLD neuro-developmental disorders VR |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnbeh.2024.1441615/full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT micaelacapobianco currentvirtualrealitybasedrehabilitationinterventionsinneurodevelopmentaldisordersatdevelopmentalages AT concettopuzzo currentvirtualrealitybasedrehabilitationinterventionsinneurodevelopmentaldisordersatdevelopmentalages AT concettopuzzo currentvirtualrealitybasedrehabilitationinterventionsinneurodevelopmentaldisordersatdevelopmentalages AT concettopuzzo currentvirtualrealitybasedrehabilitationinterventionsinneurodevelopmentaldisordersatdevelopmentalages AT chiaradimatteo currentvirtualrealitybasedrehabilitationinterventionsinneurodevelopmentaldisordersatdevelopmentalages AT albertocosta currentvirtualrealitybasedrehabilitationinterventionsinneurodevelopmentaldisordersatdevelopmentalages AT albertocosta currentvirtualrealitybasedrehabilitationinterventionsinneurodevelopmentaldisordersatdevelopmentalages AT walteradriani currentvirtualrealitybasedrehabilitationinterventionsinneurodevelopmentaldisordersatdevelopmentalages AT walteradriani currentvirtualrealitybasedrehabilitationinterventionsinneurodevelopmentaldisordersatdevelopmentalages AT walteradriani currentvirtualrealitybasedrehabilitationinterventionsinneurodevelopmentaldisordersatdevelopmentalages |