The use of digital reality technologies for children and adolescents with special needs: a bibliometric analysis

Digital reality encompasses various innovative technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), mixed reality (MR), and extended reality (XR). Digital reality technologies stand out as one of the most important innovations of our time, offering personalized, interactive, and accessible solutions for education and rehabilitation processes, especially for individuals with special needs. This study conducts a detailed bibliometric analysis to explore how these technologies have been applied in special education research. We carried out our search procedure through Web of Science (WoS) database. Analysis performed with Bibliometrix package in R on April 2025 and accessed a total of 640 records for 29 years from 1996 to 2025. The findings indicate a sharp rise in scholarly attention since 2019, with much of the research focusing on areas like virtual reality, autism, rehabilitation, and augmented reality. Countries such as the United States, China, and Spain have emerged as leaders in this domain, with Vanderbilt University contributing significantly to the field. The analysis identifies eight thematic clusters, which reveal the evolving ways in which digital reality technologies are being integrated into educational and therapeutic practices for children and adolescents with special needs. By offering a comprehensive overview of the current landscape, this study provides valuable insights into emerging research directions and underscores the growing importance of these technologies in shaping inclusive and innovative educational environments.