Virtual reality to detect ADHD symptoms in children

"Attention deficit disorder, or ADHD, is a widespread behavioral and emotional disorder. More than five percent of all children and adolescents worldwide and, according to the CDC, 9.8 percent in the United States have been diagnosed with this disorder. This makes ADHD the most common psychiatric mental health issue in children and adolescents.

A problem in therapy is often the diagnosis. Patients have to explain their symptoms in interviews or questionnaires and are diagnosed on the basis of subjective observations. However, symptoms in themselves are not sufficient to confirm ADHD. As a rule, the diagnosis is only made when the deficits have a strong impact on the patient’s life. It is difficult to assess whether this is the case based on a questionnaire.

To make the diagnosis easier, a Finnish research team is taking a practical approach and observing patients in everyday situations. The researchers are using virtual reality and eye-tracking.

VR game simulates everyday situations

Virtual reality has long since arrived in medicine and research. Market researchers see VR in medicine as a future market worth billions. VR is already being used as a sedative in operating rooms. In the UK, VR headsets are being used as an anaesthetic before painful operations.

Researchers at the Universities of Aalto, Helsinki, and Åbo-Akademi have now developed a VR game called EPELI – short for “Executive Performance in Everyday Living” – which is intended to help diagnose ADHD. In the game, children find themselves in a virtual room and have to perform everyday tasks, such as making the bed or cleaning the room. Meanwhile, they are exposed to a variety of distractions, such as barking dogs and toys, and have many opportunities to interact..." Lire la suite