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Sunday June 8, 2008

Hope comes in a computer game

Insight Down Under
By JEFFREY FRANCIS


FUN and games are now seen as a possible alternative treatment for children who have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – or ADHD for short.

At present, many ADHD children in Australia as well as in other countries, including in the Asian region, are being prescribed with stimulant medication, which has always been controversial among specialists and psychologists.

But the reality is that at least 20% of Australian children diagnosed with the disorder are under medication to overcome their disruptive behaviour, lack of concentration and difficulty in learning.

Although the doctors would prefer alternative treatment such as behavioural therapies, a recent government review has found that it is difficult to access such services throughout Australia.

Yet, according to the review chairman, Prof Philip Mitchell of the University of New South Wales, ADHD is a very common problem in Australia and many other countries.

Most people have hitherto believed that this disorder in children is the result of a slow development in the functioning of the brain, which the children would grow out of as they get older.

However, in a laboratory at Sydney University, psychologist Andrew Campbell and his PhD student Krestina Amon have been researching a computer game specially designed to teach the ADHD-affected children to be calm and relaxed.

Dr Campbell, who believes that children are receptive to new technology, wants to find something that would engage them for long periods of time to change their terrible mood and bad behaviour.

The research team has developed a computer game in which players wear biofeedback sensors to measure their heart rate and skin temperature and the use of breathing techniques.

The concept is to use their breathing and mind power to control the speed of the computer game (mainly slow breathing in and out) to teach them to relax and enjoy the fun. This, in turn, would help them to concentrate on what they are doing.

A group of 24 children between the ages of five and 15 are taking part in the trial. More than half of them are under stimulant medication. The others are not.

The initial results of the trial, according to Dr Campbell, have been “very encouraging”.

“The (ADHD-affected) children are translating their newfound skills from the game into real life,” he said.

“There has been an improvement in their mood in the school and at home. They are paying more attention to their tasks and are eating and sleeping better.”

For example, six-year-old Nicholas Tragotsalos, who was diagnosed with ADHD soon after he started school, has changed dramatically from being fidgety to being calm, cool and self-confident.

He is thriving in school tasks and approaches any activity with an “I can do it” attitude. His mother Janet is quite amazed with the change in him.

They appeared on a television programme last week as proof of the success of the alternative treatment for children with ADHD.

But Dr Campbell is yet to be fully convinced. He wants to see how the specially-designed computer game will benefit ADHD-affected children over a long period of time.

Signs of ADHD

How does a parent know that his or her child has ADHD?

According to research, children with ADHD always seem to be constantly in motion. They will dash around touching or playing with whatever is in their sight or talk incessantly.

They will often speak out and act impulsively without thinking of the consequences or grab a toy from another child or hit out when they are upset.

Many people believe that ADHD, first discovered in 1845 by Dr Heinrich Hoffman, is a children’s problem. However, even teenagers and healthy adult workers can suffer the disorder, according to a recent international study, which interviewed more than 7,000 ADHD-affected adults in 10 countries.

The study found that those who suffered the disorder and their lack of ability to concentrate cost an average loss of nearly a month’s work per year.

The highest loss rate was Colombia with 29.4 days, Italy 22.2 days, Lebanon 19.4 days, Belgium 16.5 days and Germany 13.6 days.

What is not commonly known is that many famous people are believed to have had ADHD, including Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, Sir Winston Churchill, Henry Ford and the late US President Dwight Eisenhower.

Jeffrey Francis is editorial consultant, Australasia-Pacific Media

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