Design and Development of a VR-based System for Training Response to Joint Attention in Autistic Children: A Preliminary Study

Joint attention (JA), a crucial social-communication skill, is often found lacking in individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Consequently, JA is a common focus in early intervention programs. Prior studies have indicated that Virtual Reality (VR) technology could offer innovative ways to enhance JA skills in children with ASD. In this research, we present the design and development of a VR-based system that enables children with ASD to practice responding to JA cues in virtual scenarios. The designed scenarios were evaluated for content and face validity by a panel of ASD experts. Additionally, the usability of the developed system was tested with a small group of five children with ASD. The positive feedback from the participants, the absence of any harm, and the potential for practicing JA skills at a low economic cost suggest that this system warrants further investigation in future clinical trials.