An intervention program combining parent training, child training and virtual reality for children with attention deficits: Insights from a feasibility study

Attention deficits are commonly diagnosed in children and it is evidently known that they affect various areas in their everyday life. Therefore, it is essential for children with attention deficits and their parents to receive specialized supportive services in order to cope with the cognitive, behavioral and emotional difficulties they face. The main aim of this study, which is part of the European funded project “Neo-PRISM-C: Neurodevelopmental Optimal-Predictors, Risk factors, and Intervention from a Systems approach to Maladjustment in Children” (Horizon2020- Marie Skłodowska-Curie ITN program), is the implementation of a multimodal intervention program (child training and parent training) for this population. The child training program, which is comprised of 16 individualized weekly sessions, utilizes the potentials of immersive virtual reality (iVR) technology for the training of focused and sustained attention and combines practices based on cognitive-behavioral approach for children’s training on behavioral and emotional self-regulation skills. The parent training consists of 8 weekly group sessions where parents are trained on behavior modification techniques, optimal parental practices as well as techniques for the enhancement of their children’s cognitive deficits. A feasibility study was implemented with the participation of 5 children 9-12 years old and their parents. The evaluation of both training programs as well as the evaluation of iVR technology and VR tasks reveal positive outcomes and participants warmly support the continuation of intervention programs’ implementation. Moreover, the qualitative data from their feedback show that both children and parents gained valuable knowledge and acquired skills to support them in the future.