NCT07392463

Artificial Intelligence Versus Virtual Reality Teaching for Children and Adolescents With ADHD

Comparative Effects of Artificial Intelligence Teaching and Immersive Virtual Reality Smart Classroom Teaching on Children and Adolescents With ADHD: A Randomized Controlled Trial

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 90 (actual)
• Sponsor: Tongren Hongxin Kangxin Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Guizhou Province · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 8 Years – 15 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a common neurodevelopmental condition in children and adolescents and is often associated with difficulties in attention, behavior regulation, and executive functioning. In addition to medication, non-pharmacological interventions, including digital and technology-assisted educational approaches, have gained increasing interest. This randomized controlled trial compared the effects of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted teaching and immersive virtual reality (VR)-based smart classroom teaching on core ADHD symptoms and executive function in children and adolescents with ADHD. A total of 90 participants aged 8 to 15 years who met diagnostic criteria for ADHD were randomly assigned to either an AI-assisted teaching group or a VR-based teaching group. Both groups received structured teaching interventions for 12 weeks, three sessions per week, with each session lasting 45 minutes. ADHD symptoms and executive function were assessed before the intervention, at the end of the intervention, and at a 3-month follow-up using validated rating scales. The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the effectiveness of these two digital teaching approaches and to provide evidence for personalized, non-pharmacological educational interventions for children and adolescents with ADHD.

Detailed description

This study was an open-label, randomized, parallel-group controlled trial designed to compare the effects of artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted teaching and immersive virtual reality (VR)-based smart classroom teaching on core symptoms and executive function in children and adolescents with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Participants aged 8 to 15 years were recruited from an outpatient ADHD clinic and were required to meet diagnostic criteria for ADHD according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5). Eligible participants were randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either the AI-assisted teaching group or the VR-based teaching group using a computer-generated randomization sequence prepared by an independent statistician. Due to the nature of the digital interventions, participants were not blinded to group allocation; however, outcome assessments were conducted by trained evaluators who were blinded to treatment assignment. Both groups received structured teaching interventions for 12 weeks, with three sessions per week and each session lasting approximately 45 minutes. The AI-assisted teaching intervention was delivered using a tablet-based adaptive learning system incorporating eye-tracking, behavioral analysis, and real-time feedback to dynamically adjust task difficulty and learning pace based on individual performance and attention patterns. The VR-based teaching intervention was delivered using immersive virtual reality technology to simulate classroom and task-based learning scenarios, with an emphasis on interactive learning and emotional regulation in a low-distraction environment. Primary outcomes included changes in core ADHD symptoms as measured by the ADHD Rating Scale (ADHD-RS). Secondary outcomes included changes in executive function assessed using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function (BRIEF), parent-report version. Outcome measures were assessed at baseline prior to intervention initiation, at the end of the 12-week intervention period, and at a 3-month post-intervention follow-up. All study procedures were approved by the Ethics Committee of Tongren Hongxin Kangxin Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, and written informed consent was obtained from parents or legal guardians, with assent obtained from participating children when appropriate. The study was conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki.

Conditions

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
BEHAVIORAL	Artificial Intelligence-Assisted Teaching	A behavioral digital teaching intervention delivered through an artificial intelligence-assisted adaptive learning system. The system dynamically adjusted task difficulty and learning pace based on individual performance and attention-related behavioral data and provided real-time feedback during learning activities. The intervention was administered for 12 weeks, three sessions per week, with each session lasting approximately 45 minutes.
BEHAVIORAL	Virtual Reality-Based Smart Classroom Teaching	A behavioral teaching intervention delivered using immersive virtual reality technology to simulate interactive classroom and task-based learning scenarios. Participants engaged in structured learning activities within a low-distraction virtual environment designed to enhance attention and engagement. The intervention was conducted for 12 weeks, three sessions per week, with each session lasting approximately 45 minutes.

Timeline

• Start date: 2024-01-01
• Primary completion: 2025-01-31
• Completion: 2025-09-30
• First posted: 2026-02-06
• Last updated: 2026-02-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China