Effect of cognitive training based on virtual reality on the children with autism spectrum disorder

Abstract

• Cognitive training based on virtual reality (VR) was very attractive to children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). • Cognitive training based on VR improved the typical symptoms of children with ASD. • Cognitive training based on VR perfected the clinical rating scales. • Cognitive training based on VA might be a good method to treat children with ASD. Virtual reality (VR) is an artificial environment which is experienced through sensory stimuli provided by a computer. The capability of VR to simulate reality could greatly increase access to psychological therapies. The model of early intervention training and partial intelligent feedback was established to analyze the effect of cognitive training based on VA on children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Clancy Autism Behavior Scale (CABS) were used to assist the severity of symptoms and treatment effectiveness of cognitive training based on VA on children with ASD. The results showed that the cognitive training based on VA was very attractive to children with ASD; cognitive training based on VA significantly improved the typical symptoms (the social communication disorder, speech retardation, narrow interest and rigid behavior) of children with ASD and perfected the Autism Behavior Checklist (ABC), Childhood Autism Rating Scale (CARS) and Autism Behavior Scale (CABS) during 4 weeks after treatment. The data suggested that cognitive training based on VA might be a good method to treat children with ASD.