Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality for Children, Adolescents, and Adults With Communication Disability and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: A Systematic Review
Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders
Bailey, B., Bryant, L., et al. (2022).
Review Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 9(2), 160-183.
This systematic review investigates the effects of virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) interventions on communication skills in individuals with a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with communication disability.
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Original, peer-reviewed, published, English-language research providing feasibility or efficacy findings (Not further specified)
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Virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) demonstrate the potential for supporting social communication interventions in individuals on the autism spectrum or with intellectual disabilities; however, "findings do not yet provide sufficient insight into the factors underlying effective VR/AR communication interventions for people in this population" (p. 178). Outcome results within and across the included studies varied greatly, and the authors were unable to identify the most effective VR/AR platform. Studies found that individuals on the autism spectrum or with intellectual disabilities found VR/AR interventions to be feasible, accessible, and agreeable. Limitations of this review include low-quality study designs, limited reports on barriers and facilitators, and the lack of diagnosis diversity since the majority of studies included individuals on the autism spectrum. Additional high-quality research targeting a variety of populations is warranted.
