Using mobile virtual reality to empower people with hidden disabilities to overcome their barriers

Poyade, Matthieu; Morris, Glyn; Taylor, Ian; Portela, Victor

doi:10.1145/3136755.3143025

Cited by 9 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Similar to the use of realistic visual three-dimensional stimuli rendered in VR for desensitisation to specific phobias and environments that may provoke anxiety in individuals with autism [66][67][68], SoundFields produces realistic three-dimensional auditory stimuli that can simulate the movement and acoustic environments of feared sounds. For any form of VRET to be considered successful, the virtual environment must be capable of eliciting emotions such as anxiety in order for new positive associations with the stimuli to be formed through controlled and graduated exposure [69].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SoundFields: A Virtual Reality Game Designed to Address Auditory Hypersensitivity in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020

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Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are characterised as having impairments in social-emotional interaction and communication, alongside displaying repetitive behaviours and interests. Additionally, they can frequently experience difficulties in processing sensory information with particular prevalence in the auditory domain. Often triggered by everyday environmental sounds, auditory hypersensitivity can provoke self-regulatory fear responses such as crying and isolation from sounds. This paper presents SoundFields, an interactive virtual reality game designed to address this area by integrating exposure based therapy techniques into game mechanics and delivering target auditory stimuli to the player rendered via binaural based spatial audio. A pilot study was conducted with six participants diagnosed with ASD who displayed hypersensitivity to specific sounds to evaluate the use of SoundFields as a tool to reduce levels of anxiety associated with identified problematic sounds. During the course of the investigation participants played the game weekly over four weeks and all participants actively engaged with the virtual reality (VR) environment and enjoyed playing the game. Following this period, a comparison of pre- and post-study measurements showed a significant decrease in anxiety linked to target auditory stimuli. The study results therefore suggest that SoundFields could be an effective tool for helping individuals with autism manage auditory hypersensitivity.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

SoundFields: A Virtual Reality Game Designed to Address Auditory Hypersensitivity in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

2020

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“…Panksepp and Bernatzky suggest that the use of sound can have a greater neurological impact on the subcortical emotional systems more than visuals [31]. This has implications for the use of spatial audio rendering techniques which have been used to to support visual environments in virtual reality exosure therapy (VRET) interventions for combat related post-traumatic stress disorder [32], fear of moths (mottephobia) [33], fear of the dark [34] and to desensitise autistic children to airport stimuli that may cause distress [35]. However, there is limited research with mixed results investigating its capability as a primary tool for inducing the required amount of anxiety for successful exposure therapy.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Use of Binaural Based Spatial Audio in the Reduction of Auditory Hypersensitivity in Autistic Young People

Johnston

Egermann

Kearney

2022

IJERPH

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Individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are characterised as experiencing impairments in social-emotional interaction and communication, alongside frequently displaying repetitive behaviours and interests. Further to this, they are often described as experiencing difficulties in processing sensory information, with particular prevalence within the auditory modality. Provoked by common environmental sounds, auditory hypersensitivity can result in self-regulatory fear responses. Rather than a physiological pain reaction, literature suggests that these hypersensitivities are resulting through irrational fear of the sounds. This investigation evaluates the use of binaural based spatial audio as a rendering technique for delivering realistic simulations of averse stimuli within a virtual reality (VR) exposure based computer game intervention for auditory hypersensitivity in autism. Over multiple experimental sessions, 20 autistic participants experiencing auditory hypersensitivity were exposed to either spatial audio or stereo renders of target stimuli during the intervention. Measurements of self-reported emotions displayed significant reductions in associated negative emotional reactions to target stimuli for all participants. However, significant improvements were experienced by those listening to spatial audio simulations. Moreover, tracked voluntary interactions with exposure based game-mechanics increased as the study progressed. Providing further evidence of increased tolerance towards averse auditory stimuli.

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“…The application was developed building upon interactions between user-centred interaction design and software engineering design methodologies. The authors have engaged with different cohorts of end-users to co-design and assess all virtual environments in iSenseVR, to propose sensory realistic experiences (Poyade et al , 2017b). Initially, 26 volunteers with hidden disabilities across Scotland helped identify those typical environmental stressors in busy environments that often lead them to experience high levels of anxiety and stress.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

iSenseVR: bringing VR exposure therapy outside the laboratory

Poyade

Morris²,

Taylor³

et al. 2019

JET

Self Cite

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Purpose The purpose of this paper is to present the preliminary outcomes of a research which takes gradual exposure in virtual reality (VR) outside the laboratory to empower people with “hidden disabilities” breaking down their barriers towards independent living. It explores the use of VR through smartphones to practically apply gradual exposure to environment stressors that are typically found in busy spaces from one’s own safe environment. Design/methodology/approach Aberdeen International Airport has kindly accepted to take part to this research as a case study. Following a participatory design and usability testing, a semi-controlled seven-day study was conducted among seven individuals with hidden disabilities to assess user acceptance. Findings Results showed undeniable participants’ engagement and enthusiasm for the proposed approach, although further research is needed to increase the presence and improve the overall user experience. Research limitations/implications The proposed research has been conducted on small cohort of participants outside of a clinical setting. Further engagement with individuals with hidden disabilities is required in order to determine the effectiveness of the proposed approach. Originality/value This research presents a methodological and technological framework which contributes effectively to the practicality of VR exposure therapy outside of the laboratory setting, from one’s own safe place.

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Using mobile virtual reality to empower people with hidden disabilities to overcome their barriers

Cited by 9 publications

References 3 publications

SoundFields: A Virtual Reality Game Designed to Address Auditory Hypersensitivity in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

SoundFields: A Virtual Reality Game Designed to Address Auditory Hypersensitivity in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder

The Use of Binaural Based Spatial Audio in the Reduction of Auditory Hypersensitivity in Autistic Young People

iSenseVR: bringing VR exposure therapy outside the laboratory

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