Virtual Reality in Rehabilitation of Executive Functions in Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

Epeli (Executive Performance in Everyday LIving) task,ADHD-rating scale IV (ADHD-RS) (parent report),Epeli Questionnaire (parent report),Epeli Questionnaire (child report)

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is caused by an abnormality in the
 development of the central nervous system. Children with attention and executive function
 difficulties often need long-lasting rehabilitation and there is an increasing need for
 timely, cost-effective, and feasible rehabilitation interventions, where the training is
 targeted to support everyday life functional capacity. The use of Virtual Reality (VR) in the
 rehabilitation of children with attention and executive function deficits offers
 opportunities to practice skills required in everyday life in environments emulating
 real-life situations.
 
 The major aim of this research project is to develop a novel effective VR rehabilitation
 method for children with deficits in attention, activity control and executive functions by
 using the virtual environment that corresponds to the typical everyday life. In this
 randomized control study VR glasses are used to present the tasks, and the levels of
 difficulty are adjusted according to the child's progress.
 
 Researchers expect that; 1) Intensive training improves the attention regulation, activity
 control skills and executive functions of the children in the intervention group; 2) Training
 of executive skills with motivating tasks in a virtual environment that is built to meet
 challenging everyday situations transfers to the child's everyday life, 3) The duration of
 the training effect does not depend on the success of the VR training itself, but on how well
 the child adopts new strategies that make everyday life easier and how the parent is able to
 support the child's positive behaviour in everyday life.