Update: After publishing this posting I also found this Android n-back app. It's a game-like app based on the n-back or dual-nback protocol. I ran across a couple of interesting articles today on the relationship between video games and ADHD. An article at Child Mind Institute's site asks a question I frequently hear at workshops, "Do video games cause ADHD?" In brief, the article cites specialists who say that , no, video games don't actually cause a brain-based attentional disorder. But fast-paced and interactive media are particularly compelling for students with ADHD. And the article includes this great quote from psychiatrist Dr. Ron Steingardf:
Meanwhile, I learn that Boston based Akili Interactive Labs is reportedly in the process of designing video games with the stated goal of improving sustained focus and concentration. And there is evidence that video gaming may boost visual attention and quick decision-making. It's worth pointing out here that some reasonable limit on screen time is in order. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests no screens for children under 2 and a limit of 2 hours per day for older children, a limit that many children exceed. |
