Virtual Reality Attention Management Program for Improving Attention in Children
University of California, Davis
Summary
Problems with distraction are widespread in the 21st century, but for people with developmental delays or behavioral challenges they can have more damaging effects. For example, susceptibility to distraction is associated with worse school and social performance, lower high school graduation rates, and increased incidence of serious accidents. The investigators' goal is to improve understanding of distractibility and develop a targeted treatment. The proposed intervention is based on models of habituation, which is a term that means reduced physiological and emotional response to a stimulus (e.g. moving object, or loud noise, etc.) as it is seen repeatedly. The investigators use virtual reality technology to show study participants distracting stimuli repeatedly in a virtual classroom setting, and their hypothesis states that participants will improve attention in the face of distraction by training with this technology intervention. The virtual classroom setting is especially relevant for children who have significant challenges with distractibility, such as children with ADHD. This intervention will likely be effective in helping individuals with other clinical disorders and perhaps the general population as well.
Description
Distraction is a growing and large public health problem with estimated societal harm due to distracted driving alone at $123 billion. In the age of texting, social media and computer pop-ups, distractions are unavoidable. There are no known interventions specifically developed to reduce distractions from interfering with attention. This project will test a treatment that combines virtual reality (VR) technology with habituation learning and exposure therapy to reduce the ability of distractors to interfere with learning and attention in children who are highly susceptible to being distracted.…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 8–12 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Significant (T score \>= 60) ratings of Cognitive Problems/Inattention or DSM Inattention scale scores on the Conners' Parent or Teacher Rating Scale-3 or Parent ADHD Rating Scale-IV (ADHD-RS) * Endorsement of 4 or more symptoms of inattention on a clinical psychiatric interview (e.g. Parent DISC, DICA, Kiddie-SADS, Mini-KID) * Comfortable using a computer * Full Scale IQ \> 80 Exclusion Criteria: * Psychosis (by parent report at phone screen), significant depression, autism (15 or \> on Social Communication Questionnaire (SCQ)), psychotic disorders, visual or hearing…
Interventions
- DeviceVR Treatment
Distractors
- DeviceVR Active Control
No distractors
Location
- UC Davis MIND InstituteSacramento, California