A pilot computer game that trains self-control skills may help children with ADHD

The study

1. 01

   Who took part

   40 children with ADHD, aged 8 to 12, all clinically diagnosed. The paper doesn't say what sex they were or which country they lived in.

2. 02

   What they did

   Each child played a computer game at home that trains three thinking skills: working memory, inhibition and switching. Children played 25 sessions of 40 to 50 minutes, one a day over five weeks, with five trainer contacts in all. The other group was on a waiting list.

3. 03

   What happened

   Parents rated the children better at thinking, self-control and ADHD behaviour. These gains were still there nine weeks later, and were also seen in children on ADHD medicine. The paper gives no numbers, so the size of the change is unknown.

What the study found

1. Helped

   Children with ADHD who trained at home with the game were rated better by parents on self-control and behaviour.

   • Action: Train attention and memory with exercisestested
   • Rule: Every daytested
   • Rule: Get a reward or payment for doing ittested
   • Rule: Reward yourself right aftertested

   Small randomised trial of 40 children with ADHD aged 8 to 12 · vs children on a waiting list · they rated themselves · ⚠ groups weren't properly compared

Source