An interventional study of Virtual Reality in Autism, Autism Disorder and ADHD - Attention Deficit Disorder With Hyperactivity, sponsored by New York Institute of Technology. Not yet recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 9 Years to 18 Years, including healthy volunteers. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-01-14.
Sponsored by New York Institute of Technology · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
The goal of this study is to determine whether playing a virtual reality (VR) game can help neurodivergent children pay attention for extended periods. The study includes children ages 9 to 18 who have autism, ADHD, learning differences, or movement coordination challenges. The program lasts for 6 weeks. During this period, children will play a VR game twice per week, with each session lasting 25 minutes.
The purpose of this quasi-experimental study is to investigate the impact of an immersive virtual reality (VR) game intervention on sustained attention in neurodivergent children aged 9 to 18 years. This project aligns with previous study dosages designed as a 6-week program targeting children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), specific learning disorder (SLD), or developmental coordination disorder (DCD) (neurodivergent disorders). Participants will be recruited through convenience sampling in the local community and will participate in two 25-minute VR sessions per week for 6 weeks.
This study examines the effectiveness of a VR-based attention-training program by comparing pre- and post-intervention data using the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) and the Right Eye assessment. Repeated-measures ANOVA will be used to evaluate changes in sustained attention, including omission rates and response times. The findings will provide insight into how immersive VR games can enhance attention and engagement in daily activities among neurodivergent children, thereby facilitating the integration of technology-based interventions into therapeutic practice.
1,030 studies on the registry are indexed under Autistic Disorder; 266 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 40 is below the median of 49 across 811 interventional studies indexed under Autistic Disorder.
Browse Autistic Disorder studies →New York Institute of Technology is the lead sponsor of 59 studies on the registry; 15 are open to participants now.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
DSM diagnostic criteria
The American Psychiatric Association’s manual of mental health diagnoses. DSM-5 (2013, revised as DSM-5-TR in 2022) replaced DSM-IV, and some studies still name the older edition. “Meets DSM criteria for …” means diagnosed by that edition’s diagnostic criteria, usually by a clinician in an interview.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Contraindication
A reason a treatment, test or procedure should not be given to a particular person, such as an allergy, another illness or a medicine they take.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
The research design comprises a nonequivalent quasi-experimental, multi-group pre- and post-test design (neurodivergent and neurotypical). The pre-test and post-test will consist of the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA) and the RightEye assessment. These measures will be administered at the clinical site (ISF). The intervention consists of two 25-minute VR sessions per week for 6 weeks.
Behavioral: Virtual Reality
Participants will engage in an immersive virtual reality (VR) game intervention designed to improve visual attention skills. The intervention employs a VR game called Electrical Maze, which requires players to maintain sustained visual attention and respond to game challenges that develop focus and inhibitory control. Each participant will complete scheduled VR gaming sessions that target attentional skill development. During the sessions, children interact with the Electrical Maze game, which presents visual tasks that require them to identify and respond to specific visual cues while inhibiting responses to non-target stimuli.
RightEye Assessment:
The RightEye system uses an infrared camera-based sensor bar attached to a monitor to objectively measure and analyze eye movements in real-time. It quantifies changes in attention-related oculomotor functions, including saccadic accuracy, smooth pursuit, reaction time, distractibility, and sustained attention. These metrics provide objective biomarkers for inattention and impulsivity, supporting occupational therapy goals of enhancing visual-motor integration, executive function, and participation in daily activities like reading or classroom engagement.
Time frame: Individual tests: 60 seconds (e.g., saccades) to 4-5 minutes (e.g., reaction time or pursuit tasks). Total session: 15-20 minutes, including 1-2 minutes for 9-point calibration and setup.
Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA)
The TOVA objectively measures sustained attention and inhibitory control via responses to visual stimuli (targets vs. non-targets). In this study, the visual TOVA will assess pre- and post-VR changes in attention in children with neurodevelopmental conditions, targeting omission errors, commission errors, response time, and response time variability.
Time frame: Standard visual test: 21.6 minutes (4 quarters of 5.4 minutes). Full session: 30-45 minutes (setup/review); short form for younger children (10.8 minutes; used for ages 9+).
Plan to share: No
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New York Institute of Technology