Trends in South Korean Medical Device Development for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder and Autism Spectrum Disorder: Narrative Review (Preprint)

Abstract

BACKGROUND Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are some of the most prevalent mental disorders among school-aged youth in Korea and as such, may play a role in the increasing pressures on teachers and school-based special education programming. The lack of support for special education, tensions between teachers, students, and parents, and the lack of backup for teacher absences are common complaints among Korean educators. New innovations in technology to screen and treat ADHD and ASD may offer some relief to students, parents, and teachers through earlier and efficient diagnosis, access to treatment options, and ultimately, better-managed care and expectations. OBJECTIVE This scoping review provides a review of medical device use and development in Korea for the diagnosis and management of ADHD and ASD and highlights research gaps. METHODS A scoping review was conducted based on the PRISMA-ScR (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews) checklist. RESULTS The trends in Korean medical device development were categorized into 2 major groups: “digital therapeutics” and “traditional therapy.” Digital therapeutics have 5 subgroups: “virtual reality (VR) & artificial intelligence (AI),” “machine-learning & robot,” “gaming & visual contents,” “eye-feedback & movement intervention,” and “EEG & neurofeedback.” Traditional therapy has 3 subgroups: “cognitive behavioral therapy & working memory,” “diagnosis & rating scale,” and “musical, literary therapy & MBSR.” CONCLUSIONS Future development of medical devices for ADHD and ASD is predicted to heavily rely on digital technologies, such as those that sense people’s behaviors, eye movement, and brainwaves.