XRHealth announced a new VR therapy application for ADHD, aimed at improving known ADHD cognitive functioning such as attention, impulsivity and higher, more complex thinking functions like initiating, organizing, planning and fully executing daily tasks. The VR solution closely monitors user progress based on sustained focus while distractions are present.

Why does it matter?

A new FDA policy enables clinicians to prescribe VR therapy for patients with ADHD during the public health emergency of COVID-19 as an adjunct to clinician-supervised outpatient treatment. XRHealth’s VR training solution is based on the brain plasticity principle, which is the brain’s ability to restructure itself in an attempt to overcome existing challenges. The application uses well based cognitive principles shown in the research field that are effective in facilitating this process. Furthermore, to enhance its effectiveness, the application allows the clinician to create, monitor, and adjust the training process at every step.

Specifically, in every training session, a user-adaptive mechanism — backed by eye-tracking technology — is available to allow the clinician to adjust the task difficulty level in accordance with the patient’s ability. This mechanism is meant to challenge patients and constantly motivate them to enhance their performance.

Clinicians using XRHealth will be able to prescribe the number and length of VR therapy sessions for each individual ADHD patient. Some of the application’s core advantages include:

• Motor activation: Patients with ADHD commonly experience issues with both cognitive and motor abilities. The XRHealth application is one of the few digital cognitive training applications that intertwine motor and cognitive activity into an integrated digital, clinically monitored training program.
• The visual and auditory experience mimics real-life activity to improve motor movement.
• Better clinical monitoring that gives the clinician comprehensive, detailed and precise information about patient performance and improvement during every session.
• Integrated eye-tracking technology provides unbiased, objective, and quantifiable data that can be used for better patient assessment, training, and monitoring.

The therapeutic platform will be available to consumers later this year on the XRHealth web site.

On the record

“Our training method is able to help a child or adult brain better cope with ADHD,” Eran Orr, CEO of XRHealth, said in a statement. “The interactive nature of the therapy is able to give clinicians critical measurements of improved concentration and attention span as well as reduced impulsivity.”

The context

Using extended reality technologies has been growing through the years, with the COVID-19 pandemic driving the sector to the new heights. In that sense, we have prepared a report dedicated to the use of XR in Healthcare; it is readily available from our sister site – DHbriefs. Check it out.