The Training Effect of Virtual Reality Games on Visual Function in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Children in Taiwan

Abstract

Purpose To investigate the differences in visual function between the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) children and their controls and to evaluate the training effect by utilizing virtual reality (VR) games.Methods A total of 60 participants aged between 6–13 were recruited. A series of visual function tests, including near point convergence (NPC), phoria in both distance and near, fusional vergence, amplitude of accommodation (AA) and accommodative facility (AF) were applied, and a vision-related questionnaire were also completed. 17 of ADHD children participated in the VR training program and the effect was evaluated pre-and post-training.Results The accommodative facility of the ADHD group were reduced compared to their controls (p = 0.015). The result showed that there were higher CISS scores in ADHD group (p < 0.001) and which was manifest with visual complaints of performance-related symptoms. After 3-months VR games training, significant improvement in NPC (p = 0.039) and a higher proportion of orthophoria was observed in ADHD group.Conclusions There were no significant differences in refractive error, NPC function, amplitude of accommodation and vergence fusional range between ADHD group and the controls, however, accommodative facility was significantly lower in the ADHD patients. In addition, a significant improvement in visual function was found after applying the VR games training to the ADHD children. Therefore, the results showed that VR training is a practical and efficient option to enhance visual function of ADHD population.