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ADHD, Virtual Reality, and AI: can technology help us understand the invisible?

  • info847897
  • 2 days ago
  • 4 min read

Many of us know that ADHD is often misunderstood, with people hearing statements such as “just use a planner” or “why can you not apply yourself?”. Stereotypes about people with ADHD being lazy, careless, or easily distracted often overshadow the complex reality of living with ADHD. Attention is not simply absent, it can be dysregulated, and initiating tasks is not a sign of laziness but often a struggle with executive function. Many live with constant internal noise and juggling of thoughts, while masking symptoms to fit expectations. The internal experience of ADHD is often invisible and advice that seems simple can be unhelpful and inadvertently place blame rather than offering meaningful support.


In a recent OHT Mental Health Network coffee chat, we discussed lived

experiences and professional insights, exploring how technology could help illuminate and support the understanding of the lived ADHD experience.


Rethinking career paths

For some, ADHD manifests in curiosity and restlessness, challenging the traditional “stick to your lane” narrative. Some participants shared how moving between careers once felt like failure, but they ended up recognising it as a strength: the ability to hyperfocus, connect ideas, and innovate across domains as a major strength. Technology and mental health innovation thrive on these unconventional perspectives, which are covered in the rest of this article.


Technology as a bridge, not a crutch

Virtual reality (VR) is beginning to offer immersive ways for individuals with ADHD to practise focus, manage anxiety and simulate real-world executive function challenges. Equally compelling is VR’s ability to help neurotypical people understand what ADHD feels like, modelling the experience of sensory overload or cognitive fatigue first hand, and transforming abstract cognitive experiences into tangible experience, supporting understanding and empathy.


However, innovation comes with practical hurdles. VR headsets are expensive, fragile, and require training and reliable internet. Operational and logistical hurdles often determine whether technology succeeds or fails in real-world settings. As one participant put it, “the ideas are brilliant, but implementation is where it breaks down.”


Wearables and biometric validation

Beyond VR, wearables and AI are providing objective proof of experiences long dismissed as subjective. Heart rate variability, electrodermal activity, and eye-tracking reveal cognitive load and stress. Machine learning models can identify ADHD with remarkable accuracy, transforming personal challenges into measurable insights. This evidence empowers individuals to advocate for workplace accommodations, while challenging the notion that difficulties with focus are mere laziness.

However, data collection raises important questions. Who owns the information? How is it used? Participants discussed the fine line between empowerment and surveillance, noting that trust in institutions like the NHS is key to acceptance, while caution is required when data crosses international borders.


AI as a cognitive scaffold

Artificial intelligence is emerging as a practical tool for managing ADHD in everyday life. Participants shared experiences using AI to structure ideas, sense-check work, and even catch what was missed in meetings.

“AI is like a scaffold: it does not build the house for you, but it helps you hold everything up while you focus on what matters.”


Yet, there is a cautionary note. Widespread access to AI can lead to inconsistent, “good enough” solutions. Without careful validation and thoughtful implementation, technology risks becoming a collection of fragmented tools rather than a meaningful solution. This is why conversations such as this one are important to share awareness and discuss how innovative technology can be used and implemented in a manner that ensures people’s safety and offers effective support.


Simplicity, accessibility, and inclusion

“Tech made by digital natives often forgets that not everyone grew up in the virtual world.”

Across the discussion, the central theme that emerged is that complexity is the enemy of adoption. Technology must be simple, inclusive, and accessible across age, ability, and digital literacy. Training, financing, and thoughtful design are essential. Tools created by tech-native developers often fail to consider those who are less comfortable with digital tools, highlighting the importance of empathy and inclusion within the design process.


Takeaways

When done right, technology offers more than efficiency, it can also help gain understanding. VR, wearables, and AI can transform invisible struggles into visible insights, foster empathy,

and empower individuals to navigate ADHD with greater confidence. But innovation must be paired with practicality, ethical use, and inclusion, taking into consideration that the challenge is not only to invent, but also (and especially) to implement.


“Innovation is exciting, but the real impact comes when it is accessible to the people who need it most.”


The conversation will continue in the OHT Mental Health Network, illustrating that meaningful exchanges between people with lived experience, mental health professionals, medical doctors, neuroscientists, and innovators are the key to shaping a more empathetic, evidence-informed future in mental health.

Join the discussion and learn about future events in our Slack channel: #oht-sn-mentalhealth (join OHT Slack here).



References

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