Many experts maintain that with proper monitoring of a child’s tech time — and a full understanding of it themselves — parents can incorporate technology as a tool to help their son or daughter more effectively manage struggles with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — in particular, maintaining focus.
“We do know that video games and some technologies can shorten attention spans and that, yes, being outdoors exercising is important,” says Randy Kulman, licensed clinical child psychologist and the founder and president of LearningWorks for Kids, an educational technology company that “specializes in bringing game-based learning to the real world” by teaching and improving executive functioning and academic skills. “But tech is not a cause of ADHD.” He explains that since technology is not going away, it should be used as an opportunity to assist children with ADHD and other academic and learning challenges to more effectively process information and enhance processing speeds.
“Technology in and of itself is an ideal tool for both kids and adults,” says Kulman, who is the author of “Playing Smarter in a Digital World,” which details why children should have a healthier “play diet” in which video games and other technologies are incorporated in daily life.
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Maria Edman, assistant professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at Mount Sinai Hospital, adds that naysayers need to look at the full picture. “Something to remember,” she says, “is that people with ADHD are often distracted by everything from a pen dropping to their inner thoughts, so technology is not the culprit. It’s just one component that may be a distraction.”
Joan Green, speech-language pathologist and the founder of Innovative Speech Therapy, helps children and adults with various communication and learning challenges by having them turn to, and better understand, technology. She not only strives to help parents learn more about the tools available for their child, but also provides technological suggestions to help the child improve at the same time — an empowering process designed to maximize the benefits of technology.
Here’s a closer look at some technological benefits for children with ADHD.
Smartphones: The smartphone is, in Kulman’s opinion, “one of the best inventions” for someone with ADHD. In addition to setting reminders, he says it can be used to take pictures in one setting and then referred to later in another. For example, he explains that since working memory is usually an issue for children — and adults — with ADHD, a smartphone could be used to take a picture of homework assignments, which are then accessed later.
Smartpen: Green, who is also the author of “Assistive Technology in Special Education: Resources for Education, Intervention and Rehabilitation, 2nd Edition” explains that the Livescribe Smartpen is one of several products that enable users to digitally capture and play back handwritten notes thanks to high-tech features. “It’s hard for a person with ADHD to pay attention in class, learn new material and take notes at the same time,” she says. Therefore, Livescribe can help by allowing a child to refer to abbreviated notes and drawings that are synced with audio recordings at a time and place that’s more convenient and conducive to retention.
Edman says that Livescribe may be helpful for children — as well as adolescents and adults — with ADHD because it allows people with inattention issues to go back to their notes at a later time.
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Dictation Technology: Because children with ADHD can often lose their train of thought and have difficulties staying on task, Green suggests turning to dictation technologies to support the writing process. She says they can be very accurate and helpful when it comes to writing challenges. For example, she explains that most new tablets, smartphones and computers include microphones, and the ability to dictate is provided as a feature that just needs to be turned on in the settings. Many schools have “gone Google” and people who use Google Docs can go to the tools menu within Google Docs and select the “voice typing” option. She cautions that this is not a “magic solution” and the individual should first get used to the dictation process and create an outline prior to tackling larger projects.
Apps: “Apps can help kids write, support weak executive function skills and improve working memory issues,” Kulman says. He’s a fan of Notability, which takes notes and allows the user to listen to a specific portion of those notes later. This app may be ideal for the older child or adolescent in high school or college.
Green finds that since children with ADHD are easily distracted, it may be helpful to declutter the digital environment with apps designed to get rid of pesky ads. Such apps provide the reader with a text-only version of the material. Additionally, she adds that “reader views” are typically included in most browsers; if using Chrome, she says that Mercury Reader — an extension that achieves the same result — may be worth exploring.
Another way to improve focus? Edman says she’s heard of Cold Turkey, which temporarily blocks internet distractions.
Guided Access: Wish your child stayed on task while using their iPad, instead of clicking the home button to check out something else? Green says that all a parent has to do is enable Guided Access — which works with iPhone, iPad or iPod touch — so he or she won’t be able to exit a particular screen. “It helps maintain focus because it stays on one screen and helps prevent distractions from occurring.”
YouTube: YouTube can be a good learning resource, but Green cautions parents to be aware that their child may come across inappropriate content. Therefore, she suggests turning to YouTube alternatives such as TeacherTube. It houses educational information, broken down for parents, students and teachers, and is organized by categories such as math and science. Kulman also agrees with the power of YouTube, suggesting that parents and children turn to LearningWorks for Kids’ YouTube videos, which include a Let’s Play channel to help youngsters fine-tune their executive function and planning skills while playing games. Other LearningWorks for Kids YouTube videos are geared for parents, explaining why technology is important for their child.
[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health.]
Video Games: “I don’t think they’re all bad,” Green says, “but you have to control the time a child spends on them and separate junk tech from good tech.” She says so-called junk tech falls into categories that include violence, while games such as Minecraft and her personal favorites — Wii Fit and Rock Band — are good. Video games, Green explains, can help with reflexes in terms of learning quicker reaction times as well as memory, both of which can improve a child’s focus.
Additionally, Kulman says the very nature of these games will inevitably involve setbacks and mistakes, which can help a child with ADHD — or any child for that matter — manage real-world situations at home or in school.
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Can Technology Help Kids With ADHD Stay Focused? originally appeared on usnews.com
