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The virtual reality sessions helped autistic children overcome their fears with 45% of the tested cases released from their phobias six months after treatment, according to a study.
The sophisticated Blue Room, developed with the University of Newcastle, allows specialists to create a safe environment to allow patients to fend for themselves in scenarios and deal with their fears with the help of a doctor. a therapist.
An 11-year-old boy who was terrified by dogs and would become hysterical if he saw one found so that his family now has a very popular pet burrow.
A separate study also showed for the first time that the treatment was effective in some adults with autism.
The team created virtual environments, which do not require goggles, especially to fight against other phobias, including wasps, lifts, darkness, theft, dolls, balloons, transportation in common, schools and living rooms.
The child uses an iPad controller to move in the scenario and remains perfectly in control of the situation.
Harry Mainwaring, 11, was terrified by dogs, but he now loves his friend Wilfy (University of Newcastle / PA).The Blue Room is based in Durham County and created with the University by Third Eye NeuroTech technology specialists.
Research published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders revealed that 45% of young patients had received treatment six months later.
The University of Newcastle conducted a randomized controlled trial involving 32 autistic children aged 8 to 14 years.
A child uses an iPad to navigate a scenario to overcome his fear of using public transit (Third Eye NeuroTech and Newcastle University / PA).Half immediately received treatment in the blue room and the other half acted as a control group, receiving deferred treatment six months later.
After receiving the treatment and with the support of their parents, the children were introduced to the scenario they feared in the real world.
Two weeks after treatment, research shows that four of the top 16 (25%) had responded to treatment and were able to cope with a specific phobia.
Blue Room Virtual Reality Suite (Third Eye NeuroTech and Newcastle University / PA)This effect remained, with a total of six showing improvement after six months (38%), however, one reported a worsening of their phobia.
Meanwhile, in the control group, five untreated participants were aggravated within six months.
The control group was then treated in the blue room after this hour. The results showed that globally, 40% of treated children showed improvement at two weeks and 45% at six months.
Beach trips are no longer a problem for Harry after being helped to overcome his fear of dogs (University of Newcastle / PA)Harry Mainwaring, 11, has recovered so much from his real dog phobia that his family has been able to get a burrow called Wilfy.
His mother Lizzie said, "As soon as Harry sees a dog, he will become hysterical, screaming and running away.
"It was very dangerous because he would not look where he was running, even though it was on a road because he just wanted to be away from the animal."
Harry and Wilfy are great friends (University of Newcastle / PA)The effect of the Blue Room treatment on the Tyne Valley schoolboy has transformed life, she said.
"It's amazing how Harry behaves now with dogs," she said.
"He loves our dog and whenever he sees others, he is happy when they approach him and he will caress them."
Professor Jeremy Parr, who led the study, said, "For many children and their families, anxiety can reign over their lives as they try to avoid situations that can trigger fear or phobia of their child.
The Virtual Reality Suite allows bus-safe patients to feel safe when they are in the scenario (Third Eye NeuroTech and Newcastle University / PA)."Being able to offer NHS treatment that works and seeing children cope so well gives hope to families who have very few treatment options for anxiety."
Phobias are thought to affect about 25% of children with autism.
The treatment also helped a 26-year-old girl graduate from university after overcoming her paralyzing fear of crossing the doors or into a long corridor.
The university said the NHS treatment was available to British families through the Complex Neurodevelopmental Disorders Service of the NHS Trust Foundation of Northumberland.
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