Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders, usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasting through adulthood.1 ADHD affects 11 percent of school-age children and approximately 10 million adults in the U.S.2 Individuals with ADHD may be overly active or have trouble paying attention, staying focused, and controlling impulsive behaviors. ADHD symptoms may look different in adults and can cause issues at work, at home or with relationships.1
Finding the right treatment strategy is critical to managing ADHD and limiting its intrusion with daily activities. Usually, treating ADHD requires a comprehensive, or multimodal, approach including medical, educational, behavioral, and psychological intervention.2 Traditionally, the most common treatments for ADHD are medication (stimulants) and occupational or behavioral therapy. Often, a combination of medication and therapy is best for individuals with ADHD.1
As technology continues to advance, there is a focus on further research and development of drug-free treatments for ADHD. Most notably, treatments for children through medical devices and digital health have entered the market and received clearance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Last year, the prescription-only device, Monarch external Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation (eTNS) System®, was authorized by the FDA for children aged 7 to 12 years. In April 2020, as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the FDA released guidance to help expand the availability of digital health therapeutic devices for psychiatric disorders, including ADHD. Shortly after, Akili announced FDA clearance of EndeavorRx™, a prescription treatment for attention in children with ADHD delivered through a video game.
Most recently, XRHealth announced a virtual reality (VR) therapy application for children (age 8+) and adults with ADHD. The application is aimed to improve well known ADHD cognitive functioning, such as attention, impulsivity, and higher, more complex thinking functions, like initiating, organizing, planning, and fully executing daily tasks. Based on the brain plasticity principle, which is the brain’s ability to restructure itself in attempt to overcome existing challenges, the VR solution closely monitors user progress based on sustained focus while distractions are present.
XRHealth hopes this latest advancement in non-drug treatment can offer support and relief for the millions of individuals coping with ADHD every day.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. What is ADHD? https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html
- Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). About ADHD. https://chadd.org/about-adhd/overview/
The XRHealth platform is not intended to represent a substitution for a patient’s medication, and any recommendations provided by the application are supportive in nature and should not be solely or primarily relied upon to treat ADHD.
