Mexican company designs VR helmet to treat ADHD

A Mexican company is currently developing a virtual reality program and a mobile application ( app ) meant to treat children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

The application runs in a virtual reality helmet through which children play exercises designed for ADHD, explained the director of the emerging company, Miyabi Labs, Josep María Tomás .

The company also designed an app aimed at parents and psychologists, through which they will be able to monitor the progress of patients while they are using the helmet.

In an interview with the Information Agency of the National Council of Science and Technology (CONACYT) , María Tomás pointed out that designers, psychologists, and other specialists were involved in the creation of the content.

The director considered that hyperactivity, impulsivity, and lack of attention were some of the most common difficulties experienced by ADHD patients. The disorder, she said, becomes manifest in how difficult it is for children to follow instructions and through their incapacity to stay calm.

"What we do is treat the specific symptoms of ADHD, we have specific treatments for each of them. Each symptom is addressed through a challenge that confronts the child with two environments: his home and his school," she said.

In the trial phase, the company worked for three months with a group of infants diagnosed with ADHD. The children were made to use the virtual reality helmet once a week to perform the tasks suggested in the treatment.

After the experimental stage, the parents observed improvements in the behavior of the children when carrying out certain tasks.

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