The Virtual Challenge: Virtual Reality Tools for Intervention in Children with Developmental Coordination Disorder

Abstract

This narrative review highlights the latest achievements in the field of tele-rehabilitation: Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR) serious games aimed at restoring and improving cognitive functions could be effectively used in Developmental Coordination Disorder Training. Studies investigating the effects of the abovementioned tech applications on cognitive improvement have been considered, following a comprehensive literature search in the scientific electronic databases: Pubmed, Scopus, Plos One, ScienceDirect. This review investigates the effects of VR and AR in improving space/motor skills through mental images manipulation training in children with developmental coordination disorders. The results revealed that in spite of the spreading of technology, actually only four studies investigated the effects of VR/AR tools on mental images manipulation. This study highlights new, promising VR and AR based therapeutic opportunities for digital natives now available, emphasizing the advantages of using motivational reward-oriented tools, in a playful therapeutic environment. However, more research in this filed is needed to identify the most effective virtual tool set for clinical use.

Cerebellar mutism syndrome: From pathophysiology to rehabilitation

“…Face-to-face therapeutic sessions targeting: hierarchically graded massed practice; strategy acquisition; cognitive-behavioral therapy Significant improvements in academic achievement, attention, and improved implementation of metacognitive skills Frontiers in Cell and Developmental Biology frontiersin.org implemented rehabilitation strategies, allowing more oriented and more tailored treatments to be administered to the patient, also making rehabilitation possible at the patient's home, with indisputable logistic and psycho-emotional advantages and bringing indisputable advantages also in terms of motivation in the post-operative rehabilitation of the patient with tumor of the posterior cranial fossa (Clemenson and Stark, 2015;Corbetta et al, 2015;Jung et al, 2020;Lino et al, 2021;Sciancalepore et al, 2022). Furthermore, the most recent medical literature reports interesting data on the positive impact on clinical recovery of rehabilitation programs that include aerobic physical motor activity in pediatric neuro-oncological patients (Szulc-Lerch et al, 2018;Kohler et al, 2021).…”

Posterior Fossa Tumor Rehabilitation: An Up-to-Date Overview

“…Computer-based interventions also make possible rehabilitation at the patient’s home, with indisputable logistical and psycho-emotional advantages. The use of technologies such as brain computer interfaces, robotics, virtual reality, and augmented reality tools currently adopted in the treatment of cognitive disorders in adult patients and children [ 67 , 68 , 69 , 70 , 71 , 72 , 73 ] could also lead to indiscuss advantages in terms of motivation in posterior fossa tumor post-surgery rehabilitation.…”

Developmental Coordination Disorder and Most Prevalent Comorbidities: A Narrative Review

“…These difficulties, which are objectified in the DCD population in greater response times and greater number of errors, have been documented on both meaningful and non-meaningful gestures [ 36 ]. On the other side, the scientific literature has documented that, in contrast with ASD population, children with DCD can improve their motor skills through training [ 37 , 38 , 39 , 40 ].…”