A Review of Usefulness of Virtual Reality in Treating Autistic People

Abstract

Virtual Reality (VR) has been utilized from past two decades for treatment of numerous psychological disorders successfully. Ongoing innovative advancements in VR are offering considerably more potential. Immersive virtual reality and embodiment in VR is being explored for treating psychosomatic diseases. It additionally can possibly rewire implicit and unconscious beliefs and cognition that are particularly significant in mental illness. VR therapies help patients of mental disorders by overcoming from their fears, physical traumas, phobias, depression, social anxiety, cognitive issues with the help of interactive avatars in 3- dimensional environment. Autism is a psychological disorder which also uses VR therapies for treatment. This paper reviews how virtual reality can help autistic people in their treatment by creating virtual environment. It also gives an insight of display modalities used in virtual reality along with a glimpse of VR therapies which help autistic people to build communication skills, navigate their environment and manage anxiety.