Evaluating the impact of virtual reality interventions on motor and visual perception skills in children with ADHD: A single blind randomized controlled trial

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often involves motor and visual perceptual challenges that affect daily functioning. Traditional occupational therapy (TOT) is commonly used to address these difficulties, and virtual reality (VR) has emerged as a promising supplementary intervention. This study investigated the effects of VR combined with TOT on motor and visual perceptual skills in children with ADHD. In a single-blind, parallel-group randomized controlled trial, 60 children aged 7-12 years were assigned to an intervention group (VR + TOT) or a control group (TOT only), recruited from a university hospital pediatric clinic. The VR program included five games targeting motor and visual perceptual skills, delivered twice weekly for eight weeks. Outcomes were measured using the Bruininks-Oseretsky Test of Motor Proficiency, Second Edition-Brief Form (BOT2-BF) and the Motor-Free Visual Perception Test, Fourth Edition (MVPT-4). Compared with controls, the VR group showed significant improvements in fine motor precision (F(1,58) = 16.49, <i>p</i> < 0.001, η² = 0.221), balance (F(1,58) = 6.49, <i>p</i> = 0.014, η²=0.101), figure-ground perception (F(1,58) = 38.49, <i>p</i> < 0.001, η² = 0.399), and visual memory (F(1,58) = 17.62, <i>p</i> < 0.001, η² = 0.233). Large effect sizes suggest meaningful added benefits of VR. Further research should examine long-term outcomes and adaptations across ages and ADHD severity.