June 2011 - sahtak
21
By Dr. Robert Myers
I
magine that you are living inside of a video game, where every-
thing is coming at you at once and every sight, sound and sen-
sation is a distraction. For a childwithADHD, getting through
a typical day is something like that—and it explains a great deal
about how they experience the world. Children with ADHD typ-
ically have impairment of functions such as concentration, mem-
ory, impulse control, processing speed and an inability to follow
directions. If you're a parent of a child with ADD or ADHD, this
most likely sounds all too familiar. Over the years, you’ve probably
struggled through homework sessions with your child, tried (and
failed) to get themto complete certain tasks like cleaning their room
or finishing yard work, and on more than one occasion, you’ve
probably felt completely drained by their high energy and seeming
inability to focus.
"Cognitive exercises have been found to produce desired
changes in not only how the brain works, but how it looks. What
this means is that you have the ability to work with your child to
help improve their ADHD symptoms."
The good news is, there is something you can do to help your
ADHD child improve their concentration skills. For years it was
thought that each of us was born with a generous supply of brain
cells, but that we were unable to produce additional cells or make
changes in how they function. Fairly recently, neuroscientists dis-
covered the presence of something called "neuroplasticity" which
enables the brain to actually grow additional cells or modify the
function of existing cells. Amazingly, cognitive exercises have been
found to produce desired changes in not only how the brainworks,
but how it looks.What thismeans for parents is that you nowhave
the ability to work with your child to help improve their ADHD
symptoms.
As a child psychologist and the father of a son with ADHD, I
developed a host of exercises that help ADHD kids improve their
concentration. The key is presenting them as games that are actu-
ally fun for parents and children to do together.
Here are a few simple suggestions to get you started:
1. The CoinGame: This is one of the games that we use in the
Total Focus Program. Parents like it because it improves memory
and sequencing as well as attention and concentration, and kids
enjoy it because it’s fast-paced and fun. First, youwill need a small
pile of assorted coins, a cardboard sheet to cover them, and a stop-
watch (or a regular watch with a second hand.) Choose five of the
coins from the pile (for this example, we’ll say three pennies and
two nickels) and put them into a sequence. Now, tell your child to
"Look carefully at the coins arranged on the table." Then, cover the
coins with the cardboard. Start the stopwatch, and then ask them
tomake the same pattern using the coins from the pile.When they
are finished, mark the time with the stopwatch and remove the
cardboard cover.Write down the time it took them to complete the
pattern and whether or not they were correct. If they didn’t com-
plete it correctly, have themkeep trying until they can do it. You can
increase the difficulty of the patterns as you go, and include pen-
nies, nickels, dimes, quarters, and half dollars. You’ll see your
child’s concentration and sequencing improve the more they play,
which is a great reward for both of you.
2. Relaxation and Positive Imagery: Combining simple relax-
ation techniques such as deep breathing with positive visual im-
agery helps the brain to improve or learn new skills. For instance,
research shows that if a personmentally practices their golf swing,
the brain actually records the imaginary trials the same as if they
were real trials which leads to improvement on the golf course. So
ADHDkids can "imagine" that they’re paying attention in class or
able to handle teasing, and this can in turn change their behavior at
school. You and your child can use your own creativity and give
this a try.
3. Mind - Body Integration: An example of this technique
would be to have your child attempt to sit in a chair without mov-
ing. The parent times how long the child is able to accomplish this.
Repeated practice over several weeks will show improvement.
Through this activity, the neural connections between the brain and
body are strengthened, providing improved self-control.
4. Crossword Puzzles and Picture Puzzles: It sounds simple,
but these are great tools for kids with ADHD. Crossword puzzles
actually improve attention for words and sequencing ability, while
picture puzzles—inwhich your younger child has to look for things
that are "wrong" in the picture or look for hard-to-find objects—
also improve attention and concentration.
5. Memory and ConcentrationGames: Children’s games such
as Memory or Simon are great ideas for improving memory and
concentration. They are quick and fun. Memory motivates the
child to remember the location of picture squares and Simon helps
themmemorize sequences of visual and auditory stimuli. Through
repeated playing, brain circuits are "exercised" and challenged,
which strengthens connections and thus improves function. Also,
there are some free computer games on the Internet that also im-
prove concentration or memory such as Memory and Mosquito
Killer. For older children and adolescents, check out the cognitive
exercises provided by Lumosity.
As you do all of these "brain exercises," you should work to-
gether with your child serving as his or her "coach." Provide them
with encouragement and track their progress as they improve. This
is a win/win solution, because it also strengthens the relationship
you have with your child.
Go ahead. Have some fun. Do the exercises along with your
child, and who knows, you may find your brain will work a little
faster and smarter, too!
These suggestions are provided as activities to supplement medical and/or
psychological treatment provided under the guidance of a physician or
psychologist. They will enhance the benefits of the treatment but will not
on their own resolve serious symptoms for a child who has been accurately
diagnosed with ADHD.
Five simple concentra on building
techniques for kids with ADHD
Children with ADHD typically have
impairment of func ons such as
concentra on, memory, impulse control,
processing speed and an inability to
follow direc ons.
