How Video Games Affect Kids With ADHD

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is said to be a common behavioral disorder affecting mostly boys of school age. On an even more medical term, psychiatrists say that this is a neurobehavorial developmental disorder. Lack or increase of certain brain chemicals are attributed to suffering from ADHD.

The most common symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and difficulty in understanding sequence. It is not easy to hold the attention of ADHD kids because they get bored on routine work like school and household chores. They are already excited and irritable because of their condition. They would rather move quickly from one task to another because it ain't easy for them to grasp that life moves in a series of sequence.

READING GAMES FOR KIDS

However, there are also studies showing that these same symptoms can be improved when kids with ADHD find a very interesting activity like video games.

While they cannot focus on routine activities, the fast paced environment of racing games or other action-packed games can hold an ADHD kid's attention because the movements in the game does not bore them. They can channel their hyperactivity and energy by tuning it towards the game. They exhibit hyperfocus or an intense concentration while playing. They are able to determine and grasp the concept of sequence because they are able to process it more at their own pace.

But at one point or another, when they get distracted, their hyperfocus can result to sudden emotional and verbal outbursts. They can be verbally loud and threatening. They can be totally unreasonable and aggressive with their outbursts. This can be very frustrating to parents because they get confused of the outbursts and may even take them personally.

Whether video games can be helpful or yet another destructing factor to ADHD, it is most important to deal with the disorder in its wholeness. Dealing with ADHD does not rely on symptoms exhibited through video games alone. Video game addiction can be another whole new ball game with ADHD kids.

If your child already has ADHD and he also has his own virtual world, carefully observe how he behaves while he plays. If you see that he can clearly focus and really stay put while playing, then try to reinforce that behavior in other activities. Help him channel that same attention to school work by carefully choosing educational video games that work on the same premise as a racing game.

If on one hand, you observe more aggression and negative outbursts whenever your kid gets distracted from the game, focus on how to manage these outbursts. Understand that the outbursts are nothing really personal but is due to the fact their neruochemicals are already at the highest level. Your all too-excited and irritable kid has gotten even more excited and irritable as an ADHD person can be.

ADHD and Video games may or may not work together. Let's not move away from the main issue that you have a kid with ADHD who finds video games a point of interest in his life. Focus on the ADHD problem and prevent video games from becoming a way to add more damage to your kid's already serious condition.

How Video Games Affect Kids With ADHD

Read more about ADHD and Video Games at the website: My Video Game Addiction.

READING GAMES FOR KIDS