New research led by experts at BlueSprig reveals positive behavioral outcomes through virtual reality-based therapy tools.
One of the most exciting emerging technologies that’s poised to support ABA therapy providers as they help children with autism develop essential skills is virtual reality (VR). A new research study, led by BlueSprig’s Vice President of Specialty Clinics Dr. Ashley Fuhrman and Dr. Amber Valentino, has shown that VR can be an incredibly effective behavioral teaching tool for children with autism, offering them a unique way to practice social, communication, and life skills in a safe, controlled environment.
“The results of this study demonstrate VR’s ability to recreate real-world scenarios into realistic experiences that improve the lives of clients receiving ABA therapy,” said Dr. Furhman. “As a provider of ABA therapy, positive client experiences guide our research and practice. Learning that the technology used in this study was beneficial to our practice and positively impacted program participant happiness was incredible. It means the use of this technology has the power to alter ABA therapy programs.”
What is Virtual Reality?
Virtual reality (VR) is a technology that creates a simulated environment, often through a headset, that immerses its user in a 3D world. It’s widely used in gaming, education, and even surgical training, but now, it’s being applied in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for autism.
Dr. Furhman and Dr. Valentino’s new article, titled Virtual Reality Training of Safety and Social Communication Skills in Children with Autism: An Examination of Acceptability, Usability, and Generalization was recently featured in Behavior Analysis in Practice.
Their study explored how children with autism respond to learning through VR. The results were inspiring. Not only did the children enjoy participating in the VR simulations, but they also developed critical skills that they retained long after the study concluded.
How Virtual Reality Supports ABA Therapy
ABA therapy helps kids learn new skills by breaking down complex behaviors into smaller, teachable units. For children with autism, this often means working on skills such as engaging in conversation or understanding social cues. One of the challenges clinicians face is finding ways to help children practice these skills in real-world settings, which can sometimes be overwhelming.
This is where research shows that VR could be a huge assist to providers. VR allows children to experience real-world situations—such as meeting a new person, crossing a busy street, or navigating a social gathering—without the pressure of an actual environment. Through repetition and guided practice, the children who used VR in the study mastered these scenarios at their own pace, gaining confidence along the way.
In the study, clinicians used Floreo, a VR platform designed specifically for neurodiverse learners, including those with autism, which is often used in school settings. Floreo provides engaging, interactive experiences where children can work on social and communication skills in various virtual environments. Whether it’s practicing taking turns during a conversation or feeling confident socializing in a group setting, VR offers endless possibilities for teaching critical life skills.
“VR technology is enhancing personalized care for neurodiverse individuals of all ages and backgrounds,” said Vijay Ravindran, CEO of Floreo. “It was fulfilling to see that program participants understood the skills taught through VR technology and that the participants retained the skills they learned once the technology was removed.”
What Makes VR an Effective Tool for Autism Therapy?
Children with autism often benefit from learning in structured, predictable environments. VR provides just that. In the VR simulations, practitioners were able to set up every aspect of the scenario, ensuring that the child felt safe and supported while practicing new skills. This level of control is difficult to achieve in real-world settings, where unpredictability can cause anxiety or sensory overload.
The research highlighted another important finding: the children enjoyed their VR therapy sessions. This positive engagement is critical in ABA therapy because it often leads to better learning outcomes. When children enjoy therapy, they have the motivation to participate and retain the skills they are learning.
One of the most promising aspects of VR is its ability to tailor experiences to the unique needs of each child. For example, clinicians can adjust the level of complexity in a scenario or introduce visual and auditory sensory stimuli in a controlled way. This level of control makes VR an adaptable tool that providers could implement for a wide range of learners.
VR also offers an ideal environment for generalizing skills. For example, once a child has practiced taking turns with a virtual character in a controlled setting, they can gradually begin to apply that skill in real-life situations. This transition from virtual to real-world learning is a key benefit of using VR in therapy.
What This Means for Parents
As a parent, it’s natural to have questions about VR. How might this new technology fit into your child’s therapy in the future? Well, more research on the tool is still emerging. If studies like Dr. Fuhrman and Dr. Valentino’s continue to show that VR is a valuable enhancement for therapy sessions, it may become an option for your child in the future. If VR becomes available for regular use in ABA, it won’t replace traditional in-school, at-home, community- or center-based ABA therapy – it will enhance it. By adding another tool to their teaching toolkit, your child’s therapy team will have more resources to meet their individual needs and tailor therapy to their goals.
For example, if your child struggles with anxiety in social situations, VR might help them practice in a way that feels less intimidating. Using VR in therapy could allow your child to practice important life skills in a low-pressure environment before applying them in real life. It’s a powerful way to bridge the gap between therapy and the outside world.
While VR is still a new addition to the field of autism therapy, early research is promising. As leading practitioners and researchers continue to refine the use of this technology and develop its applications, the potential for improving outcomes for children with autism is growing.
Looking Ahead: The Future of VR in ABA Therapy
While VR is not yet a mainstream tool in ABA therapy, it’s gaining attention as organizations like BlueSprig continue to explore its potential. As the industry moves forward, providers will need to undertake more research to fully understand the long-term impact of VR in ABA therapy. As BlueSprig researchers Dr. Fuhrman and Dr. Valentino explain in their abstract, “VR is an emerging technology, and more research is needed to determine its efficacy as well as its impact on variables such as client indices of happiness and social validity.”
However, early results show that children not only enjoy the experience but also retain the skills they learn. For parents and pediatricians alike, this has the power to open up new avenues for supporting children with autism in their development in the future.
Virtual reality is more than just a new tech trend—it’s a powerful tool that has the potential to be a huge support for ABA therapy providers and the children and families they serve. By offering a safe, engaging, and controlled environment for children to practice critical life skills, VR is on the path to helping to unlock new potential treatment options for kids with autism.