About 3.1% of adults1 worldwide live with ADHD, and the US national rate of ADHD among children between the ages of 3 and 17 is roughly 10%1.
ADHD, also known as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a disorder that affects people’s behavior. It is marked by an ongoing pattern of inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity that interferes with functioning or development2. A few symptoms experienced by someone who has ADHD may be:
- Inattention: The person may have difficulty focusing on a single task, staying organized, and sustaining their focus for long periods3.
- Hyperactivity: The person may constantly move around or excessively fidget, tap, or talk. In adults, hyperactivity manifests as restlessness or talking too much3.
- Impulsivity: A person may take action without thinking. They may have trouble with self-control and the inability to delay gratification. This includes interrupting others or making decisions hastily without considering the consequences3.
The earliest signs of ADHD are seen in children and may tend to become more noticeable when they join school. However, there are scenarios where adults have been diagnosed with ADHD much later in life.
While there is no definite cause for ADHD, research has shown that a few factors that could lead to ADHD are being born prematurely, having a low birth weight, or smoking or alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy.4 Moreover, ADHD can affect any individual, but it seems to be more prevalent among those with learning difficulties.
How are ADHD Symptoms Treated?
Treating ADHD symptoms involves a multifaceted approach tailored to the individual’s specific symptoms, age, and personal needs. While there is no ‘cure’ for ADHD, therapy and medication, aim to improve functioning in daily activities and enhance the quality of life. Let us take a look at the various methods used to treat ADHD symptoms:
Medication
Medication is often a critical component of treatment for ADHD, with stimulants being the most common type. These drugs, including methylphenidate and amphetamines5, help increase and balance levels of neurotransmitters in the brain, improving attention, focus, and self-control.
Non-stimulant medications like atomoxetine and certain antidepressants may also be prescribed, especially if a patient experiences side effects from stimulants or has co-occurring conditions such as anxiety or depression. However, these may only last 24 hours and not more than that6.
Behavioral Therapy
Behavioral therapy is crucial, especially for younger children with ADHD. This therapy reinforces desired behaviors through rewards and consequences, develops effective coping strategies, and teaches social skills. Parents and teachers often implement behavioral interventions under a therapist’s guidance, making it a collaborative effort that extends beyond the therapist’s office.
Psychoeducation
Education about ADHD is an integral part of treatment. It involves teaching individuals with ADHD and their families about the disorder and how it affects various aspects of life. Psychoeducation helps patients and families understand treatment options and how to adjust home and school environments to support those with ADHD better.
Occupational Therapy
Occupational therapy (OT) helps individuals develop the skills needed for day-to-day activities and tasks. For those with ADHD, OT might focus on improving organizational, time management, and fine motor skills.
Occupational therapists work to create structured strategies that help individuals perform better in their personal and academic lives. Here are three essential OT techniques that are particularly beneficial for those diagnosed with ADHD:
Sensory Integration
Sensory integration focuses on helping individuals with ADHD better process and respond to sensory information from their environment. This technique is crucial because many people with ADHD may have difficulty filtering out background noise or be hypersensitive to textures or lights.
Executive Function Training
Executive function refers to skills that include working memory, flexible thinking, and self-control. People with ADHD often struggle with these skills, which can affect their ability to organize, plan, and prioritize tasks.
Executive function training in occupational therapy focuses on developing these critical skills through structured activities and strategies. This might involve breaking tasks into smaller, manageable parts, using tools like planners for time management, or practicing strategic planning through games and other interactive activities.
Mindfulness
Mindfulness in occupational therapy involves teaching individuals with ADHD to be more aware of the present moment and less reactive to the stimuli around them. This practice can include breathing techniques, guided imagery, or other relaxation exercises that help improve attention control and emotional regulation. By employing mindfulness, individuals with ADHD can learn to pause before reacting, reduce impulsiveness, and manage their emotions in a healthy manner.
How Does VR Transform Occupational Therapy for ADHD?
Virtual Reality (VR) is transforming occupational therapy for ADHD by introducing immersive, interactive environments that enhance traditional therapeutic techniques. Here’s how VR is making a significant impact:
Enhanced Cognitive Therapy
Researchers developed a video game using virtual reality (VR), which included a gamified chess version called “The Secret Trail of Moon” (TSTM)7. TSTM aimed to create an innovative and motivating tool for the cognitive therapy of patients diagnosed with ADHD. This video game consists of six work areas. Each area is designed to improve a different area of disability in patients with ADHD – attention, working memory, planning, spatial capacity, impulse control, and reasoning7.
The results concluded that VR environments could eliminate inattention, distraction, and hyperactivity by getting ADHD patients to utilize memory and attention skills, making participants’ reactions faster and more accurate, cultivating many aspects of executive functions, and enhancing emotional regulation7.
The above research demonstrates VR’s captivating environment and gamified nature that engage users in ways that traditional therapy often cannot. For individuals with ADHD who may struggle with sustaining attention, the immersive nature of VR keeps them engaged and focused. This heightened engagement enhances motivation to participate in therapy sessions consistently and with greater enthusiasm, potentially accelerating progress.
Simulate Real-Life Scenarios
In 2020, the FDA approved the first video game for ADHD, EndeavorRx8. The game tasks participants with racing a character through obstacle courses in different “worlds.” They chase fantasy creatures and create their own “universe.”8
Participants must focus, multitask, and avoid distractions to play the game. The game’s difficulty level adjusts in real time to keep them challenged. They’ll encounter sight, sound, and movement stimuli designed to target parts of the brain involved in attention8.
While the game was developed for children with ADHD, the results were positive. Children who played EndeavorRx improved their scores on a test that measures attention. In addition, most of the children and their parents said they felt the child’s attention had improved after the study8.
The above study demonstrates how VR allows therapists to create simulated environments that mimic real-world challenges faced by individuals with ADHD. While the EndevaourRx was a fantasy world, VR’s advanced technology enables therapists to immerse their patients in a classroom setting where a child with ADHD maintains focus amid distractions or a workplace environment where an adult practices organizational skills. These simulations provide a safe space for practicing skills without the real-world consequences of failure, thereby building confidence and competence.
Tailored Interventions
Yet another study discusses the development of a VR game for those with ADHD called the ADHD Dog. It is designed around several core areas—attention, impulse control, working memory, planning, spatial capacity, and reasoning9.
Each game component targets specific deficits commonly associated with ADHD, offering tailored cognitive challenges to strengthen the patient’s abilities in these areas. For instance, the game includes tasks requiring players to navigate environments that simulate real-world distractions and impulses, training them to focus better and manage impulsivity effectively9.
The game includes visual aids and structured instructions in each mini-game, which is crucial for ADHD learners. It assists them in focusing and understanding tasks. The game’s varying difficulty levels also allow for progression at a personalized pace9.
Moreover, the game incorporates features like leaderboards to promote community and motivation. Immediate feedback, rewards, and dynamic environments are critical in capturing the participant’s attention.
As a result, many participants perceived the intervention as effective in enhancing their ability to focus and regulate attention, emphasizing its positive impact on the cognitive aspects of ADHD. They also found the intervention engaging and enjoyable9.
This example showcases VR’s most significant advantage in occupational therapy — its ability to tailor interventions to each user’s needs. Occupational therapists can adjust VR software to alter the difficulty level, type of task, and sensory inputs to match the individual’s therapy goals and current ability level. This customization ensures that therapy remains appropriately challenging and maximally beneficial for each person.
Immediate Feedback
Another advantage of VR systems is their ability to provide immediate feedback, which is essential for learning new skills, especially for individuals with ADHD. For instance, if a user becomes distracted or shows signs of hyperactivity, the VR system can modify the environment or provide cues to help redirect focus and calm behavior.
This was apparent in the above example of ADHD Dog; the game incorporated immediate feedback to captivate and redirect the participant’s attention to the ongoing task9. This instant feedback helps users learn to self-regulate more effectively by making the connection between their actions and consequences more apparent and immediate.
Safe Exploration
For those with ADHD and sensory processing challenges, VR offers safe opportunities to explore and adapt to various sensory stimuli. VR environments can be designed to gradually introduce sensory inputs, helping individuals learn how to process and respond to them without becoming overwhelmed. This controlled sensory exposure is invaluable in occupational therapy, as it allows individuals to manage sensory sensitivity, which can significantly impact daily functioning.
By integrating VR into occupational therapy for ADHD, therapists can provide more dynamic, effective, and personalized care. This technology enhances traditional therapeutic techniques and opens new avenues for overcoming the challenges associated with ADHD.
XRHealth: Revolutionizing ADHD Treatments with VR
XRHealth is a dedicated VR therapy platform for healthcare. We redefine therapeutic healthcare from patients to providers.
Our VR for ADHD platform offers various possibilities in ADHD treatment through virtual reality, a tool designed to support clinics that treat patients with ADHD. The platform offers specialized FDA-registered VR apps with over 140 VR environments catering to 16+ therapeutic areas and are reimbursable by Medicare.
In addition to our VR therapeutic platform, our virtual clinics empower patients to receive care anytime, anywhere, provided by our licensed therapists using VR technology.
Elevate Your ADHD Treatments with VR.
