VR/AR therapy devices and apps to treat ADHD at home

Produced by XRHealth, the system helps users complete cognitive functions and complex thinking tasks while using eye-tracking data to inform clinicians of their progress

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders diagnosed in children, with an estimated prevalence of approximately 5% worldwide and 9% in the United States.

According to a national survey in China, 8.7% of Taiwanese school-aged children and adolescents meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder), with a population of about 220,000. The prevalence rate is only 2.44%, and the actual number of patients may be three times the number of patients who have seen a doctor. In other words, only one third of the domestic ADHD patients see a doctor. According to clinical statistics, if they do not receive stable treatment, about 60% of patients' symptoms will continue into adulthood, which has a significant impact on cognitive learning, interpersonal relationships, and workplace performance. American studies have also found that if ADHD schoolchildren are not properly treated, the subsequent social costs such as medical treatment, education expenses, crime, and low productivity will exceed US$5 billion a year.

However, many adults also receive ADHD diagnoses for issues that may have gone unnoticed at a young age.

According toADDitude magazine , 3% of adults worldwide are diagnosed with the disease. Unfortunately, the disorder is underdiagnosed in adults because the diagnostic criteria were developed with only children in mind, and many people with ADHD—whether adults or children—usually have additional psychiatric disorders.

XRHealth, a virtual reality telehealth company , has released an ADHD treatment app that helps users continue ADHD treatment from the comfort of their home. Designed for adults and children ages 8 and older, this VR app helps users improve behaviors involving cognitive functions and more complex thinking, such as organizing, starting, planning, and completing everyday tasks.

The XRHealth ADHD app is based on research into brain plasticity, the ability of the brain to rebuild itself in the face of obstacles. Using physical, visual and auditory experiences through the app, users can improve cognitive and motor skills by mimicking what happens in real life. Additionally, with eye-tracking data, the platform can measure users’ attention when they are distracted. This information is sent to the user's clinician to create, supervise, and adapt training to the patient's needs.

"Our training method can help the brain of a child or adult better cope with ADHD," said Eran, CEO of XRHealth. "The interactivity of the therapy can provide clinicians with key measures of improving focus and attention span and reducing impulsivity."

VR platforms can serve as an alternative to play therapy, helping users reduce impulsive behavior and improve concentration while developing life skills.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has established a policy allowing practitioners to prescribe VR therapy to supplement supervised outpatient ADHD treatment due to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a statement released by the company. Interested users can apply for the ADHD VR TeleHealth Kit through their insurance, which includes the Pico Neo 2 headset, according to Venture Beat .

The system is not meant to replace other treatments, such as face-to-face therapy and/or medication, and needs to be used under the direction of an XRHealth-approved clinician.