Assistive Technology with ADD/ADHD Students?

[Tim]

I heard there was assistive technology available to ADD/ADHD students. Does anyone have any ideas as to what technology works to help students to focus and overcome their difficulties in this area?

Thanks.
Tim

[Unregistered]

This would have to be on an individual basis, Some children with ADD focus better when they can use a laptop to do their work. Others get wound up on the computer because it is too busy or there is too much information. Technology may not have as big of an impact as other devices such as squishy seats or stress balls to help them sit still etc. I've been teaching over 30 yrs. and using technology as an incentive does help motivate some students. Those whose fine motor skills are poor also benefit from technology when writing out work. If ADD/ADHD students who have learning disabilities often do better with assisstive technology because their frustration can be reduced.

[Unregistered]

Tim--there is a type of assistive technology that I found doing some research. The web address is: http://www.eschoolnews.com/news/pfshowStory.cfm?ArticleID=5198
It is a bicycle helmet that has sensors in it, and it lets the child use their mind, instead of their hands. It's really neat!

[Myure]

Thanx for the link provided!
Information given was productive

[Unregistered]

I found a learning tool that works REALLY WELL for my 8yr old ADHD son. It's an online curriculum, but I use it when he gets behind or doesn't understand something he learned in school. I'm in California, and one of the local charter schools recommended it because they use it for a lot of their students.

http://www.time4learning.com/ADD.shtml

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

what I have found that works for ADD/ADHD kids and has stood the test of time is a parental foot up the misbehaving kids butt.

Strategies... technology...

Here's a strategy - DISCIPLINE THE KID FROM DAY 1


If he's two years old and starts to try and do what he wants instead of what you want him to do, bust his butt and put him in his room until he quits crying.

if little miss princess wants to throw a tantrum because she wants something at 2 years old... bust her butt and put her in the room.

It never ceases to amaze me when parents can't get their teenage son out of bed in the morning. They claim that it's because he's too big now. But had you started instilling behavior in him when he was a 2y.o. 30 pounder instead of pleading and bargaining and bribing to get up, you wouldn't have that issue when they were 15.

But I understand, filling your child up with behavior modifying drugs is MUCH easier than actually parenting. ADD/ADHD label also gives bad parents an excuse when Jr. acts like a complete butt-hole and embarasses them.

"I know he acted bad, but he's ADHD so it's not my fault (as a parent)"

[Unregistered]

"I know he acted bad, but he's ADHD so it's not my fault (as a parent)"







What I love is when parents call you in a panic because they realized their kid forgot their meds and are shocked that the kid is behaving normally. Even worse, is when you call the parents to discuss behavior and their knee-jerk reaction is "But he's been taking his meds". I am sooooo glad that medicine is now responsible for all of our behavior!

Ah well, I'm off to go and climb on some bookcases, write on bathroom walls, and talk disrespectfully to everyone I run into-but no one can get mad, I forgot to take my meds. Anyone else want to accompany me to Narcissist Anonymous?

[Unregistered]

Are you saying that all children who are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD are simply a product of poor parenting? That is ridiculous and irresponsible. Of course there are parents who try to medicate instead of modifying behavior. But there are just as many, probably more who have done everything in their power to modify behavior instead of medicating. People like you guilt good parents into not giving their children the medication that could potentially "fix" most of their problems. I went through three years with my son constantly forgetting to bring assignments or books home. Often he would spend most of the evening working on homework and then leave it at home. His recess would be spent redoing the work. No child would purposely leave completed assignments at home and have to redo them. Because of people like you I was determined not to give him medication for his inattentiveness. Finally a professional said something that made so much sense, if there is something as simple as a daily medication that would drastically improve his quality of education, why not just try it. If it doesn't work, you can always stop. What a difference it made. He didn't lose his personality or become withdrawn as many scare tactics lead you to believe. He still fidgeted at his desk. The difference was as he was standing with one foot in his chair, he was actually doing the work instead of just fidgeting. The teachers knew when he missed the medicine because the work that he was able to complete while on it was not completed. Do you have children? Are you a teacher? It is easy to stand back and arrogantly judge others...

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

Are you saying that all children who are diagnosed with ADD/ADHD are simply a product of poor parenting? That is ridiculous and irresponsible. Of course there are parents who try to medicate instead of modifying behavior. But there are just as many, probably more who have done everything in their power to modify behavior instead of medicating. People like you guilt good parents into not giving their children the medication that could potentially "fix" most of their problems. I went through three years with my son constantly forgetting to bring assignments or books home. Often he would spend most of the evening working on homework and then leave it at home. His recess would be spent redoing the work. No child would purposely leave completed assignments at home and have to redo them. Because of people like you I was determined not to give him medication for his inattentiveness. Finally a professional said something that made so much sense, if there is something as simple as a daily medication that would drastically improve his quality of education, why not just try it. If it doesn't work, you can always stop. What a difference it made. He didn't lose his personality or become withdrawn as many scare tactics lead you to believe. He still fidgeted at his desk. The difference was as he was standing with one foot in his chair, he was actually doing the work instead of just fidgeting. The teachers knew when he missed the medicine because the work that he was able to complete while on it was not completed. Do you have children? Are you a teacher? It is easy to stand back and arrogantly judge others...

you know how you make a kid who forgets his homework at school, start remembering to bring it home?

it's a wild, untested theory, I realize. It's experimental and highly controversial


YOU MAKE HIM BRING EVERY BOOK HOME EVERYDAY
:eek::eek:

I know, how shocking, a parenting tip that will fix a negative behavior that ISN'T drugs

but here's the catch, you actually have to follow up on it and deal with it when he doesn't bring the books home. But following up isn't a strong point for most parents with "ADHD/ADD" kids or else they wouldn't have been labeled ADHD in the first place.

[Unregistered]

I'm not sure where you received your education, but if you had received a good one, you would know that there is such a thing as ADD/ADHD. Yes, I do realize that it is over-diagnosed, but there really are children out there that have these problems. People like you make educators have a bad reputation. You need to do more research on the topic. I hope that you do not have children that have ADD/ADHD because it will make you feel helpless!

[Unregistered]

I'm not sure where you received your education, but if you had received a good one, you would know that there is such a thing as ADD/ADHD. Yes, I do realize that it is over-diagnosed, but there really are children out there that have these problems. People like you make educators have a bad reputation. You need to do more research on the topic. I hope that you do not have children that have ADD/ADHD because it will make you feel helpless!






Hmm.... Think about what you have just said, ADHD is overdiagnosed. I my experience, out of every ten kids who have been labeled as ADHD, only one of them actually has it. That means that CNO's advice is valid 90% of the time.

Now let's look at the 10% that actually have ADHD. Recent brain research has shown that the greatest cause of ADHD is environmental factors (like too much TV, lack of stability, ect) from birth to age 4. These factors effect the way that children's brains develop. Essentially, when a child lives in a chaotic environment they are constantly functioning in their cerebellum(fight or flight), wich in turn makes the cerebellum strong and the prefrontal cortex atrophied (weak, unused). In other words the parent's lack of parenting ability actually caused this irrevesible disorder.

You would not have a problem with CPS taking children away from parents who fed their child draino (leading to brain disorders), but you are adamantly opposed to educating parents on how they can prevent giving their children ADHD.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

I don't think that ADHD is fake in the terms that the behaviors aren't there. It's obvious that bad behavior IS there.

I am saying that ADHD is 100% preventable, even in that 10% of kids that actually have it.


I will never have an ADHD kid because I raise my children with standards and expectations. (careful, that sounds an awful lot like parenting, doesn't it)

[Unregistered]

I don't think that ADHD is fake in the terms that the behaviors aren't there. It's obvious that bad behavior IS there.

I am saying that ADHD is 100% preventable, even in that 10% of kids that actually have it.


I will never have an ADHD kid because I raise my children with standards and expectations. (careful, that sounds an awful lot like parenting, doesn't it)






I agree, but once the damage is done we do have to help the kid out. Here are some things that parents can do to prevent ADHD from becoming more pronounced:

1. Develop a stable, predictable home life.

2. Use consistent consequences

3. Talk, instead of yelling

4. Calmly inform the child of upcoming changes before the changes occur.


Here are some coping strategies that kids can learn to help them better deal with the brain damage:

1. Create an organised study area in the house that contains paper, pencils, ect. so that no time is lost looking for supplies.

2. Teach the child to cut a small triangle out of the bottom of completed workbook pages and student planners so that it is easier to find the current page.

3. Allow the child to use head phones to block out noise (but don't connect it to a music player!)

4. Have the child do homework in your presence so that you can insure completion. Schoolwork uses the part of the brain that requires sustained focus, so doing homework will make that part of the brain stronger.

[Unregistered]

I actually came upon this site while researching ADHD assistive technology for a research paper for my Master's. I cannot believe that people would talk so rudely and down to someone whose child has a REAL disability. So maybe it isn't seen like someone with down syndrome or someone bound to a wheelchair everyday...but it is real. There are many cases when children are misdiagnosed and it truely is do to poor parenting. There is a huge overrepresentation of children with ADHD. However, that does not mean this is the case with everyone. That is like saying everyone driving a red car drives fast. No, sorry doesn't always happen. I do believe that other interventions should take place before medication is administered...but why look down on some that is trying to better their child. Maybe you should take a step back and have a little empathy. Life always looks different when you are looking in. For these people this is real life, not some joke or simple behavioral problem that can be solved with time out and a spanking. I pray that God gives you the ability to see that all maybe created equal...but we are all different in our own way.

[Unregistered]

I actually came upon this site while researching ADHD assistive technology for a research paper for my Master's. I cannot believe that people would talk so rudely and down to someone whose child has a REAL disability. So maybe it isn't seen like someone with down syndrome or someone bound to a wheelchair everyday...but it is real. There are many cases when children are misdiagnosed and it truely is do to poor parenting. There is a huge overrepresentation of children with ADHD. However, that does not mean this is the case with everyone. That is like saying everyone driving a red car drives fast. No, sorry doesn't always happen. I do believe that other interventions should take place before medication is administered...but why look down on some that is trying to better their child. Maybe you should take a step back and have a little empathy. Life always looks different when you are looking in. For these people this is real life, not some joke or simple behavioral problem that can be solved with time out and a spanking. I pray that God gives you the ability to see that all maybe created equal...but we are all different in our own way.












The problem is, when as many as 90-99% of the kids diagnosed with ADHD actually have adhdD (ADHD Deliberate) then you have to expect a negative response from teachers who are putting up with s.h.i.t.t.y. behavior. In the case of actual ADHD I am more likely to make accomadations. But the vast majority of ADHD kids are just brats with incompetent parents.

[Unregistered]

I'm infuriated by what I'm reading from some people claiming to be experts on ADD/ADHD. I have a seven-year-old son who is on medication for ADHD as a last resort. I don't appreciate being called a lousy parent and being blamed for my son's disorder. You might want to consider that many of the parents to whom you are referring foster a stable home life, set high expectations for their children, and follow through with appropriate consequences. It is also important to note that siblings growing up in the same family, with the same parenting style, receiving the same expectations and consequences can often behave entirely differently. How do you explain that? My 3-year-old doesn't have the disorder. It is obvious. Just as it's obvious that my 7-year-old does.

Also, have you considered the scientific findings that prove there is a physiological explanation for this disorder? These aren't just bratty kids. In fact many of them feel horrible about their behavior and want more than anything to be "normal".

Whether or not ADD/ADHD is over-diagnosed is not the issue here. You are claiming that it doesn't exist and that is simply closed minded and insulting. My husband and I tried everything in our power to keep our child off medication. We didn't, by any stretch of the imagination, take that decision lightly. We choose this path because it is WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CHILD.

I would also like to mention that I'm an educator working on my master's degree, which is what brought me to this site. I've had several students in my classroom over the years that suffered with this disorder. Yes - I said suffered, because that is truly how it is. Just as I'm not a lazy parent, I'm also not a lazy teacher just looking for a quick fix to make MY life easier. Please think about what you are saying. Don't judge my parenting - don't judge my teaching - and most of all, don't judge my child. You have no idea what it is like to be in our shoes. Just because you were blessed to have children who didn't struggle with ADD/ADHD, it doesn't mean you are a better parent than I am and it certainly doesn't make you an expert on this issue.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

I have walked in your shoes, by adopting a child that was a bratty kid with "adhd"

I had no issues fixing that problem. She is a child that all her teachers love to death.
I did it with discipline and no drugs that are designed to dope a kid into submission.

If you let your child take drugs to control behavior, it's failure, plain as day

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;35344]Whether or not ADD/ADHD is over-diagnosed is not the issue here. You are claiming that it doesn't exist and that is simply closed minded and insulting. My husband and I tried everything in our power to keep our child off medication. We didn't, by any stretch of the imagination, take that decision lightly. We choose this path because it is WHAT'S BEST FOR OUR CHILD. QUOTE]












First off, I never claimed ADHD didn't exist. Secondly, the over-diagnosis is, and always will be the issue. Sure, some kids lives are effected by ADHD, and yes for those kids meds can be helpful. But the majority, the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY, are victims of false diagnosis. Parents would rather hear that their kid has a life long disorder that to work on improving their parenting. I guess it should not come as a surprise that a group of parents who can't be bothered to discipline their kids are outraged that anyone would accuse them of infanalizing their children and stealing their future.

Aw, well, as the saying goes, "If you do a bad job of raising your kids, don't worry. You'll get a second chance when you raise your grandkids."

[Unregistered]

[QUOTE=Unregistered;3534 I've had several students in my classroom over the years that suffered with this disorder. Yes - I said suffered, because that is truly how it is. Just as I'm not a lazy parent, I'm also not a lazy teacher just looking for a quick fix to make MY life easier.[/QUOTE]













Uh-huh. Just wait until you get a class (reg ed) where over 50% of the kids are diagnosed with ADHD and then tell me if you still think over-diagnosing is insignificant. It stands to reason that out of every hundred or so kids there is likely to be ONE kid with ADHD. When that number is closer to 40, then its time to look at parenting ability. Go to any Inner-city or high welfare school and you will see a 30-40% ADHD diagnosis rate.

You claim that anyone who disagrees with you needs to walk in your shoes. Trust me, I've had my fill of placating whiny parents-so I'm not going to placate you.

[Unregistered]

Why respond to someone who is bitter and frustrated because of a past job with unsupportive management? He obviously has never had someone he deeply cared for struggle with ADD. He's never had to feel the pain of watching that person try very hard to change, only to fail over and over again.

I'm a woman with ADD who made it through college and got a great job. ADD was unheard of when I was a kid, so I wasn't diagnosed until I was in my early thirties. I was never in trouble in school. I was always polite and obedient to parents and teachers. I often blew the curve on the test and could answer most every question, if asked. Yet I didn't get A's very often. I got B's and C's, because even though I knew the material, I couldn't remember to bring my homework with me to school. Often, I didn't even remember to do it the night before. Other times, I'd finish it halfway and then just wander off to do something else and never come back to it. I didn't wander off because I was a bad kid. I wanted to excel. I wanted to please my parents and teachers. I didn't have an answer as to why I'd wandered off or forgotten it at school or left the completed work at home. I just felt shame, embarassment and frustration. I'd set my mind that it would never happen again! I'd make a plan and get things organized (as best I could) so that I could remember. And it would work! Until I was on the bus going home and someone started a fight or somebody said something that sparked my imagination or something, anything, out of the ordinary occurred and took my focus away from my new plan to be focused... Literally, any distraction and all the good intentions I had for the evening were lost. I simply could not hang on to a plan, no matter what I did or how many notes I wrote to myself as reminders. I managed to cope enough to get decent grades, but I knew I could do much, much better. And the frustration of knowing that I had days where I could accomplish amazing things, followed by days where I could barely remember to put my shoes on before leaving the house...that massive inconsistency in my ability to focus was so confusing and embarassing. No amount of negative consequence, either internal or external, could make it change. It hurt so much. I could never explain it, so I felt intense shame. I knew I could do much more, so I was extremely frustrated.

I remember the times I forgot to get my permission slip signed and returned for the big field trip. It was always something I wanted to do so badly. Something/Somewhere very fun and interesting. I remember my teachers taking points off of my grade each day I was late with getting it back. And I remember having to stay in the cafeteria all day, quietly doing homework or reading, while the rest of the class got to go have a huge amount of fun on the trip, because I never was able to remember the permission slip and the day came. This happened more than once. Punishing me in order to get me to remember next time (which is what my teachers thought would work) only served to break my heart. It did nothing to help me remember. I just cried quietly and felt massive shame, embarassment and guilt. I spent years beating myself up for not being able to "get it together". I still do it, by habit, even though I now know what's going on.

To the people who think that all kids with ADD are just disobedient, know this: no amount of scorn, punishment, disapproval, guilt or denial of privileges helped me. And, guess what? It still doesn't. What has helped has been my own, massive effort to automate everything I can, so that I don't have rely on my ability to remember in order to handle important things. Everything that can't be automated...well, I do the absolute best that I can. And I try not to get too discouraged when I blow it...even when my "blowing it" cost me another late fee, cost me an opportunity for something good, cost me a possible relationship, cost me career advancement or cost someone close to me some happiness when I completely forgot something important to him or her. Bottom line: it's not about whether or not I WANT to do something
- It's about whether or not my brain is working when it comes time to do it. It's also about spending years determining the best ways to accomplish tasks and goals in spite of my disability.

To all people struggling with ADD or ADHD: I can't say I have any answers. I can only tell you that it's going to be ok. Don't ever settle for being a mess, but don't beat yourself up about it, either. Good luck to you. Hang in there. And don't listen to ignorant jerks.
:-)

[Unregistered]

Oh Boo-Hoo, some horribly mean teachers made you feel bad about your ineffective behavior. Then you changed your behavior so that you could succeed. Can you believe those evil teachers actually expected you to turn in paperwork? Gee...it isn't that your behavior caused youy problems-it was those horrible teachers!

So, in that loooong post I did not read how your employers reacted to your ADD behaviors. Are they to blame for your problems too?

It sounds like you manned up enough to take responsibility for your actions and get through college. So, all of those crying sessions in Elementary did pay off-you were finally able to get it together. Imagine for a minute how your college behavior would have been different if your elementary teachers had not pushed you (it would have just extended your period of failure).

Shame is not a bad emotion (although, I will grant that some people take it too far) because it motivates us to perform to a standard. Being accountable to other human beings makes the world a more pleasant place to live.

[Chocolate_New_Orleans]

my coach could give me that look and I felt a shame that was beyond words. I knew why I got that look and NEVER did it again.



How is that bad?

[fhaye]

Is it really true that there are assistive technology for learning with ADD-ADHD children (http://www.add-adhd-teen-help.com/add-adhd/what-are-the-symptoms-of-adhd-disorder-in-children.html) that they could use? It is my first time to hear that. I'm always been understanding and caring with my son's condition. But I need more help on this to make him grasp on his subjects.