Remote Home-Based Virtual Training of Functional Living Skills for Adolescents and Young Adults With Intellectual Disability: Feasibility and Preliminary Results

Francesco Rundo,Simonetta Panerai,Raffaele Ferri,Valentina Catania

doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2018.01730

Abstract

Background: Virtual Reality (VR) is acquiring increasing credibility as a tool for teaching independent living skills to people with Intellectual Disability (ID). Generalization of skills acquired during VR training into real environment seems to be feasible.Objective: To assess feasibility and verify effectiveness of a remote home-based rehabilitation, focused on functional living skills, for adolescents and young adults with ID, by using virtual apps installed on tablets. In particular, to assess if this tool can be managed independently, if it is enjoyable and simple to be used, and if the acquired skills can be generalized to the real environment of everyday life.Subjects and method: A single group, pre- and post-test research design was used. Sixteen participants with ID were included. A digital system was arranged, with a server managing communication between the database and the apps installed on tablets. In vivo tests were performed before and after the eleven sessions of VR training. Satisfaction questionnaires were also administered.Results: Statistically significant improvements were found between the pre- and post-in vivo tests, as well as between the VR training sessions, in almost all the parameters taken into account, for each app. Final questionnaires showed a good satisfaction level for both the participants and their families.Conclusion: The highly technological system was managed independently by participants with ID, who found it simple to be used, useful and even fun; generalization across settings was obtained. Results obtained require to be confirmed by future controlled studies, with larger samples.

Highlights

The extensive development of new technologies enables clinicians to offer increasingly innovative therapeutic interventions
Immersive and non-immersive Virtual Reality (VR) are among these new technologies and their popularity is due to the possibility of creating countless functional environments similar to reality, which can be adapted to different therapeutic objectives
VR is acquiring increasing credibility as a useful tool for teaching independent living skills to persons with Intellectual Disability (ID) in a safe environment; generalization into real environments of skills acquired during VR training seems to be feasible (Cromby et al, 1996a,b; Brown et al, 1998, 1999; Standen et al, 1998, 2001; Gourlay et al, 2000; Mendozzi et al, 2000; Brooks et al, 2002; Groenewegen et al, 2008; Josman et al, 2008; Saiano et al, 2015; Yang et al, 2016; Simões et al, 2018)

Summary

Introduction

The extensive development of new technologies enables clinicians to offer increasingly innovative therapeutic interventions. In desktop visual display systems, the person interacts with a monitor showing three-dimensional objects and environments, as well as auditory and visual stimuli that make such environments similar to the real one This system is simple to use, requires limited instrumentation and a short training. The aim of our study was to assess feasibility and verify the effectiveness of a new way of teaching independent living skills at home, consisting of remotely controlling persons while they use virtual apps installed on their tablets. Generalization of skills acquired during VR training into real environment seems to be feasible

Methods

Results

Conclusion