Using virtual reality homework to help children with selective mutism
Official title: The Effect of Virtual Reality Homework Exercises as an Add-On to Behavioral Therapy for Children With Selective Mutism
Run by Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA) · NCT06882629 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing if using virtual reality homework alongside therapy can help children with selective mutism feel more comfortable speaking at school.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 4 Years to 13 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 15 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Academisch Medisch Centrum - Universiteit van Amsterdam (AMC-UvA) Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Amsterdam, North Holland) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | August 1, 2025 |
| Main results expected | April 2027 |
| Study ends | June 2027 |
| Registry record updated | October 1, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06882629 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates for this study are children attending primary school who meet the DSM-5 criteria for selective mutism.
✕Probably not a fit
Children requiring inpatient treatment or those with contraindications for VR headset use will not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This clinical trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of combining behavioral therapy with virtual reality (VR) homework exercises for children diagnosed with selective mutism (SM). The intervention involves a structured protocol that helps children gain confidence in speaking at school, supplemented by VR exercises that families can practice at home. The study will utilize a single-case experimental design to compare children's speaking behavior before and after the intervention, while also examining familial factors that may influence treatment outcomes. Participants will receive VR headsets to facilitate their homework exercises over an average treatment duration of 25 weeks.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this approach could significantly improve communication skills in children with selective mutism, enhancing their social interactions and overall quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While virtual reality has shown effectiveness in treating anxiety disorders in adults, this specific combination of behavioral therapy and VR for selective mutism is a novel approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * The child meets the DSM-5 criteria for SM (as a primary classification). * The child is attending primary school. * Referred to an academic center for Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (Levvel) for diagnosis and treatment of SM * Psychiatric comorbidity is permitted, given that SM is the primary treatment target. * Medication use is permitted, if stable for at least 4 weeks prior to the start of treatment. Exclusion Criteria: * No participating parents. * Parents do not have sufficient mastery of the Dutch language. * Parents or child have an estimated IQ below 75. * The child needs inpatient treatment. * Children with a (medical) condition that is a contraindication for using a VR headset (epilepsy, claustrophobia, facial condition, sensitive vestibular system, panic attacks) * Parents receiving parental guidance which is not part of the standard treatment program. * Children that have received protocolled behavior therapy for SM in the past 12 months.
Where it's running
-
Levvel
Amsterdam, North Holland, Netherlands Recruiting
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.