The Effectiveness of a Virtual Reality-Based Training Program for Improving Body Awareness in Children with Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder

Abstract: This study investigates the effectiveness of a Virtual Reality (VR)-based training program in improving body awareness among children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Utilizing a quasi-experimental design, the research sample consisted of 10 children aged 4 to 7 years, with IQ scores ranging from 90 to 110. Participants were divided into an experimental group and a control group, with the experimental group receiving a structured VR intervention over three months, totaling 36 sessions. Assessment tools included the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale (5th Edition), the Conners Test for ADHD, and a researcher-prepared Body Awareness Scale. The results indicated statistically significant differences between pre-test and post-test scores for the experimental group, demonstrating the program's efficacy in enhancing spatial awareness, body part identification, and motor expressions. Furthermore, follow-up assessments conducted one month after the intervention revealed no significant differences from the post-test results, confirming the sustainability and continuity of the program's effects over time. The findings suggest that immersive VR environments provide a safe, engaging, and effective therapeutic medium for addressing psychomotor deficits in early childhood ADHD.