Skylar Rayne Allen
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Virtual Reality Gaming Systems for ADHD
Iamhero is a virtual reality gaming system at Ville De Ginestre that is designed to help treat symptoms of ADHD and improve cognitive development.
Using virtual reality to treat ADHD...
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83% of the studies assessing the ability of these different technologies to manage ADHD were found to be beneficial in managing symptoms
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There is a positive correlation between these technologies and diagnosing and treating ADHD
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Virtual reality is a valid process for evaluating ADHD. It is also concluded that the test is interesting and engaging for children, therefore they are more willing to complete the assessment.
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Research has shown that virtual reality can help improve some of the major areas of concern for individuals with ADHD, such as attention, impulsive behaviors, and problem-solving.
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Research
In order to get all of my hours, I spent many hours researching if there are other virtual reality gaming programs that aid in the treatment of ADHD, and I found a lot of interesting information. Although there are a variety of different gaming systems, I am going to discuss the main ones.
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EndeavorRX
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Mightier
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Amelia
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The secret trail of Moon
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XRHealth
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EndeavorRX:
EndeavorRX was created by a company called Akili Interactive This technology targets specific neural systems in the brain to address symptoms associated with brain-based conditions, such as ADHD. They are the first gaming system used to treat attention disorders that have been approved by the FDA for marketing. During the treatment, kids are guided through different areas of multitasking while avoiding distractions, by navigating courses, collecting targets, and maneuvering through different obstacles. The computer system then analyzes performance and customizes the treatment for each patient. The one thing that makes this program different from any others is the fact that you have to get prescribed this form of therapy by a doctor, meaning not just anyone can access this program.
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Amelia:
Amelia is a virtual reality program that states it helps overall mental health. It states that it targets a variety of different mental health categories including mindfulness, social situations, public speaking, moods, school, and a few other topics. They use virtual reality that is built on the most up-to-date psychology relating to cognitive behavior therapy. Overall, the research suggests that this virtual reality therapy helps to improve stress levels and has been effective when treating children and adults with overall mental health.
The Secret Trail of Moon:
There is a virtual reality game that is called The Secret Trail of Moon for treating Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Their treatment of choice for this cognitive disorder is multimodal. This was designed for cognitive training that is related to the core of executive dysfunction and ADHD symptoms. As a result, it was found that serious video games such as the one explained may complement the multimodal forms of treatment for individuals with ADHD.
Mightier:
It states that there are games that are created to help kids regulate and control their emotions. It offers emotion regulation help for children with outbursts, anger, anxiety, ODD, ADHD, autism, as well as overall play and wellness. When the stress increases the game becomes more challenging, then the calming techniques help kids discover their ability to regulate their emotions. With the heart rate monitor, it allows the kids to visualize their emotions in real-time, and the calmer that they stay, the easier the gameplay gets. The key finding is that children using mightier technology plus therapy have shown reduced symptoms of aggression, oppositional behavior, as well as parent stress.
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XRHealth:
This app presents a visual, auditory, and physical experience that mimics that of real life, and allows individuals with ADHD to improve both their cognitive abilities as well as motor movement. While it helps improve these different areas of focus, it measures and monitors sustained focus in the presence of distractions. As of now, the FDA has allowed this form of treatment as well as other treatments including medical treatment and in-person therapy sessions. The company states that clinicians will be able to use the app to assess eye movement while playing the game.
I Am Hero is a gaming program that was created by a team of experts. It trains executive functioning skills such as short-term strategies, attention span, short-term memory, planning abilities, focus, memory, patience, and problem-solving, as well as training these skills all at once. It is customized to each player, and the system stores the game performance and provides different reinforcement to the player.
There are two modes of therapy...
Clinical therapy & At Home Therapy
Three different games that can be played in clinical therapy:
1. Topological Categories
2. Infinite Runner
3. Space Adventure
Topological Categories
There are three settings, a bedroom, a garden, and a classroom each with 6 levels of increasing difficulty. This game targets:
- planning ability
- attention span
- focus
- memory
- waiting ability
Different durations can be set by the therapist for the patient to complete tasks quicker or slower, as well as the option of an active countdown. This game specifically has a task where the patient has to stand still for a certain period to pass and complete the task.
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Infinite Runner
Infinite runner promotes the physical involvement of the player to rid of excess energy. The player will run in place while moving left and right to avoid obstacles or to catch items. This game targets:
- Semantic categories
- Motor coordination
- Attention span
- Respect off the roads
- Patience
(This game looks similar to the Subway Surfer app game on smart phones.)
Space Adventure
This game can be played with either a motion sensor or mouse device. There are 7 different levels that each have 3 levels of difficulty. This game targets:
- problem-solving
- Planning
- Attention span
- short term memory
- cause and effect of ones own actions
The patient playes the role of an astronaut that has to overcome challenges. Directions are provided on the screen and the patient has to follow along. This game teaches the individuals how to collaborate and rely on others.
At Home Therapy
Therapists can assign homework where the patient's complete challenges at home to be used in between clinical sessions to boost therapy progress. Four different games can be played at home:
1. Astromemory
2. Space Trace
3. Space Adventure
4. Color Swipe.
At the end of each game, the patient and therapist can check the individual's progress and completion of tasks.
Astromemory
This game targets:
- Short term memory
- Attention span
- Focus
Pictures are shown than are hidden for the player to select the two matching images they just saw. Each pair of cards properly flipped adds one point to the score. As they succeed, the game increases in dimention and speed.
Space Trace
This game targets:
- Short term strategies
- Attention Span
- Focus
A board containing objects and symbols is present. The player has to select an item and switch it to a new one. If 3 identical objects are aligned, they cancel out and the object of the game is to use the available moves in order to align the items to reach the target score.
Space Adventure
This game targets:
- plan
- Problem-solving
- Attention span
- Short term memory
The players are directed to assemble each part of the astronaut's space suit. Coding is now introduced on level 5 for different patients. This game is designed to help the planning ability and to be familiarized with the human shape/body.
Color Swipe
This game targets:
- Planning abilities
- Separating colors from reading
The player moves the central star to the correct name of the color.
I Am Hero is used...
- for kids with a developmental disorder with its primary focus on ADHD.
Their goal was to produce an advanced game-based therapeutic environment that can be administered with standard treatment.
Data:
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The system gives a summary of the improvement seen in the clinic as well as a separate category for at-home treatment results.
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Following the graphs are the success rates for each game
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The therapist can select a reference period and evaluate the distribution of tasks among the 3 games as well as the monthly average of the course of the games. ​
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The program creates an Excel document of the results of treatment as well as represents the improvement in a visual form. ​​