Computer practice may help children with ADHD: keep things in mind, hold back, plan.

The review

1. 01

   Who took part

   1,087 children and teenagers under 18 with ADHD, from 17 trials. The average age in each trial ran from 7.6 to 15.6 years.

2. 02

   What they did

   Children did computer exercises for attention and thinking skills. Sessions lasted 15 to 75 minutes, for 4 to 20 weeks. Other groups did placebo tasks, got usual care, or were still waiting.

3. 03

   What happened

   Children did better than others on thinking skills, planning, memory and self-control. Attention problems got better too. Switching tasks, feelings, ADHD symptoms and hyperactivity showed no clear gain.

What the review found

1. HelpedFocus

   Children who did computer exercises held more in mind than other groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 9 studies with 454 people · vs placebo activities, usual care or a waiting list · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

2. HelpedFocus

   Children who did computer exercises held back more than other groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 9 studies with 428 people · vs placebo activities, usual care or a waiting list · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

3. HelpedTime management

   Children who did computer exercises for thinking skills planned better than the other groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 6 studies with 315 people · vs placebo activities, usual care or a waiting list · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

4. HelpedOther outcomes

   Children who did computer exercises were less distracted than other groups did.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested

   Pooled analysis of 13 studies with 885 people · vs placebo activities, usual care or a waiting list · they rated themselves · ⚠ whole programmes were tested, so no single part can be credited

Source