Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Interventions on Fine Motor and Activities of Daily Living Skills in Children Aged 5-10 Years With Autism Spectrum Disorder (VR-FAD)

September 30, 2026 updated by: Beyza Asli Bilsel

This study will investigate the effects of a Leap Motion-based virtual reality intervention on fine motor skills and daily living performance in children aged 5-10 years with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Children with ASD may experience difficulties in motor coordination, hand use, attention, and daily activities, which may affect their participation in everyday life.

The study will include children with ASD who attend occupational therapy sessions and meet the study eligibility criteria. Participants will receive a structured virtual reality-based intervention using Leap Motion technology. The intervention will provide controlled, repetitive, and task-oriented activities involving hand and finger movements.

Fine motor skills, daily living performance, and cognitive functioning will be assessed before and after the intervention using standardized assessment tools, including the Nine Hole Peg Test, the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure, and the Mini-Mental State Examination. Changes in fine motor performance and daily living performance from before to after the intervention will be examined.

The study aims to determine whether a Leap Motion-based virtual reality intervention may support fine motor skills and functional performance in children with ASD.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Detailed Description

Recent research has increasingly explored the use of virtual reality (VR) and technology-assisted approaches to support motor performance and functional abilities in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Technology-based interventions can provide structured, repetitive, and predictable task environments, which may facilitate practice and allow performance to be monitored under standardized conditions.

Leap Motion is a contact-free motion capture technology that detects three-dimensional hand and finger movements using infrared sensors. Its ability to capture parameters such as movement speed, accuracy, and coordination provides an opportunity to deliver interactive tasks involving targeted hand and finger movements. The contact-free nature of the technology may also be useful for children who experience sensory sensitivities or difficulties tolerating physical equipment during therapeutic activities.

Previous studies suggest that technology-assisted interventions may provide advantages such as immediate visual feedback, repeated task practice, adjustable task difficulty, and opportunities for performance-based progression. These characteristics may support engagement and motor learning while allowing activities to be adapted to individual performance levels.

Although VR-based approaches have been increasingly investigated in pediatric rehabilitation, further research is needed to clarify their effects on fine motor performance and functional daily living outcomes in children with ASD. In particular, examining Leap Motion-based applications may provide additional information about the potential of contact-free hand-tracking technology as an approach for supporting fine motor performance and functional abilities.

Therefore, this study will investigate the effects of a Leap Motion-based VR intervention on fine motor skills and daily living performance in children aged 5-10 years with ASD. Changes in selected motor and functional outcomes before and after the intervention will be examined.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
20

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Contact

The name and contact information for the person who can answer enrollment questions for a clinical study. Each location where the study is being conducted may also have a specific contact, who may be better able to answer those questions.

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

5 years to 10 years (Child)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Children aged 5-10 years. A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Currently receiving occupational therapy services at the study setting. Ability to follow simple verbal instructions and participate in structured intervention activities.

Ability to use the Leap Motion-based virtual reality system with appropriate assistance if needed.

Written informed consent obtained from a parent or legal guardian.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Presence of a neurological, orthopedic, or other medical condition that significantly affects upper-extremity motor performance.

Severe visual or hearing impairment that prevents participation in the intervention.

Significant behavioral difficulties that prevent completion of the assessment or intervention sessions.

Previous experience with the same Leap Motion-based virtual reality intervention, if applicable.

Failure to complete the required assessment or intervention sessions.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Experimental: Leap Motion-Based Virtual Reality Intervention

Participants will receive a structured Leap Motion-based virtual reality intervention designed to support fine motor skills and functional performance.
Behavioral: Leap Motion-Based Virtual Reality Intervention

Participants will receive structured, task-oriented virtual reality activities using Leap Motion technology to practice hand and finger movements and support fine motor performance.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Fine Motor Performance
Time Frame: Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention

Fine motor performance will be assessed using the Nine Hole Peg Test (NHPT). The test measures the time required to place and remove nine pegs, with shorter completion times indicating better fine motor performance.
Baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Occupational Performance and Satisfaction
Time Frame: At baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention.

Occupational performance and satisfaction will be assessed using the Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM). Participants and their caregivers will identify occupational problems that are important in daily life, and performance and satisfaction with these activities will be rated. Higher scores indicate better self-perceived occupational performance and satisfaction.
At baseline and immediately after completion of the intervention.

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Beyza Asli Bilsel

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
October 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
April 27, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 30, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 30, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 30, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • ATLAS-2026-09-30-01

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings