VR-FOCUS Clinical Trial

Using virtual reality to support thinking skills in youth with attention–deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)

Our research team is interested in helping children and youth with ADHD who often have difficulty with thinking skills such as attention, planning, and self-control. To support this goal, we are working with medical technology experts to create virtual reality (VR) tools to improve these thinking skills.

Black virtual reality headset.

We’re studying how a VR training program can both measure and engage thinking skills in a way that’s fun for kids. Unlike similar training programs that use computers and flat screens, VR puts users inside immersive environments that feel more like the real world. This makes the activities more engaging and motivating, which we believe will lead to more accurate results, more kids sticking with programs, and better outcomes overall.

As VR headsets become increasingly accessible and affordable, there is a growing interest in using it in healthcare. Today’s headsets can be set up at home, so families can access VR healthcare without having to visit a specialized clinic. As researchers, we hope that this at-home approach to mental health care can be used to one day help children and youth with ADHD in their day-to-day activities.

A person standing in a lab space wearing a VR headset and holding two hand controllers.

User participating in an immersive VR activity using the Meta Quest 3 headset in our lab.

We are opening up recruitment soon!

Interested in getting involved?

Your child may be eligible if they are:

Diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
Between 8–16 years of age
Willing to participate in:
1. Virtual intake visit (about 1 hour)
2. At home VR gameplay (20 minutes/day, 5 days a week, for 5 weeks)
3. Completion of Questionnaires
4. Follow up virtual visits (2 visits)