Comparison of the Effectiveness of Virtual Reality-based Cognitive Rehabilitation With Classical Cognitive Rehabilitation on Improving Executive Function in Children with Attention Deficit-Hyperactivity Disorder

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are a good target group for cognitive rehabilitation Because their behavioral problems, including inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity, have a specific cognitive and cerebral origin. This adaptation of behavior to cognitive function provides an opportunity to repair behavior by strengthening cognitive function. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of cognitive rehabilitation based on virtual reality technology as a new method and classical cognitive rehabilitation in improving the executive functions of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

This research was a quasi-experimental study using a pre-test-post-test design with a control group. The statistical population included all children aged 7-12 years with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Tehran in 1398 who were selected by convenience sampling method and randomly divided into 3 groups of 12 people. In the pre-test stage, participants were assessed with the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Rating Scale and the Computer Integrated Visual and Auditory Test (IVA-2). The first group received a virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation package and the second group received a Captain Log computer cognitive rehabilitation package, 12 sessions twice a week. No intervention was performed in the control group during this period. Post-tests were taken from all 3 groups after the intervention. Univariate analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the data using SPSS software v. 26.

This study was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of the Islamic Azad University, Central Tehran Branch (Code: IR.IAU.CTB.REC.1400.001). 

The results showed that both methods of cognitive rehabilitation intervention had a significant effect on cognitive functions (selective attention, sustained attention) of Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children (P<0.01). But no significant difference was observed between the mean scores of selective attention and sustained attention in the first experimental group and the second experimental group (P>0.05). 

Virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation is as effective as classical cognitive rehabilitation on selective attention and sustained attention in children with ADHD. Virtual reality-based cognitive rehabilitation can be used as a new approach to rehabilitating this disorder.