Use of computers with chidlren with ADD/ADHD

[lilstar]

Hi everyone,

May name is emma and I am a 20 year old student from Liverpool, England. I am training to be a teacher with a goal to become a special needs teacher. I have done a lot of work with chidlren with ADD/ADHD and enjoy my work thouroughly. I am currently doing a research project for my teaching degree. I am researching educational software available for children with ADD/ADHD. Could you please help me as I have not worked with many of the chidlren in an educational way as much a in play work and so dont have much info on educational software.

I have a few questions that I would be really happy if you could help me to answer.

???Do you find the educational software availible benificial to your children?

???What changes do you think would make the software better?

???Do you think using a computer suits your children better than working on paper or in their heads?

I would be really grateful if you and your chidlren could help me with my research.

Thanks and look forward to hearing from you all

Emma xxx

[catseye]

Hi, and welcome to the board...

I have not personally noticed any specific software out there that is better than another for adhd kids...

I do think that using a computer would suit my sd's needs better, although it wouldnt help her handwriting which she desperately needs to work on... Kind of a catch 22, if she works with the computer more efficiently, she is losing time with the pencil, which is a necessity in life...

What software programs has everyone used that is better for adhd children??

I know since my sd is waaaaay into horses, she loves the spirit (which is requires reading in the game), and another horse game she has... More input in what works with your kids would be appreciated!!

cat

[eaccae]

Well - my DS (8 in December) has ADHD along with executive dysfunction (organization disorder) which I suspect many children with ADHD suffer from (it is a diagnosible disorder BTW). He also has dysgraphia.

For our son - we did just purchase him a dana by alphasmart which is a full sized keyboard with a wide screen that runs Palm OS and contains a wordprocessor. We haven't implemented it at school yet but after our IEP meeting at the end of Nov. we will probably agree to use it for Writer's Workshop and typing in homework assignments (the teacher is able to use the stylus and initial it each day). It is really easy for him to do his homework on that contains a lot of writing. The homework thing and the dana have worked out really well.

For him at home - it has made a huge difference: it is all contained - it is not fragile like a laptop and it is pretty much indestructible. (The folks at alphasmart love to demonstrate how they can drop it out a 4-story window onto pavement and show how it still works ) Plus - it is only 2 pounds.

The word processor is great - basically you turn it on, hit a key and start typing - it automatically saves and you just hook it up to the printer at school when you want to print out your work. Many schools now are using alphasmarts as an alternative for children with writing LDs.

It also is great for him organizationally. Because we have a software - ThoughtManager - installed on it - I can build (or the teacher) outlines and templates to help keep him organized. Currently I have writing prompt templates to help him jumpstart writing ideas and organize his thoughts - all he has to do is press one button and he can toggle back and forth between the file he is typing in and the outline. We also have checklists (to do lists) in there that have really helped him.

And at home we have a very specific schedule and we have this keyed into the calendar with alarms and this has helped him immensely. (For him - an alarm coming from the dana has a lot more credibility in his little mind than my kitchen timer and me). Let's just say that he now gets his homework done, his room is spotless, the table is set every night, his face is washed, his teeth are brushed, his clothes are in the hamper, he lays his clothes out for the next day, his backpack is packed up and he is actually going to bed on time.

I am living in an alternate universe - but we have found that for him - he needs that routine - with the organizer at his fingertips it is helping him implement the routine and because it is all included in his keyboard - there is nothing to misplace or lose. This works better than a normal PDA because it has the keyboard right there for him to type on and because of the dysgraphia - this is a huge help for his writing. Because he is focusing so much on the mechanics of writing he isn't able to focus on the process of writing. We did just find a tutor for his handwriting and hopefully the school will provide OT for this because he does need to learn how to write legibly - but he can't do this while writing for the purposes of content. For dysgraphic children - they do need constant remediation to improve their handwriting - BUT at the same time - it is physically (and mentally) very painful for them. So although remediation is needed - the reality is that they will probably type the majority of their content work. Although remediation will improve their handwriting and it may be legible - it will always be painful and slower than most people.

I like the dana much better than a computer - my son was segregated in Kindergarten - and the last thing I wanted was for him to relive that feeling. Having him work at the computer in class would have taken him out of the group because the computer is in the corner of the room. This way - he can still sit at his desk and work.

Basically - for a child with huge organizational problems - the dana has been invaluable - containing everything from checklists, homework - and even his spelling lists. A paperless hub, if you will. For an alternative to handwriting - so far it is golden and I think that once we start using it in school we are going to see major differences.

As for software at home - we did just purchase Kidspiration. We haven't used it alot so I can't give an accurate review but it was recommended to me by other parents who really sing its praises. It looks promising. It bascially helps with mind mapping and concept mapping - helping teach kids mapping tools and how to turn them into outlines and write from these. A tool for organizing thoughts.

I hope this helps. ;D

Elizabeth

[Allanque]

Look into Kurzweil (a program where you can scan in text and it'll read it back to you and let you do outlines from it and all sorts of neat things) and Inspiration (it can put outlines into different formats, like webbing and such).

I have a scanner pen that is my bestest new friend as I can scan stuff directly into my laptop instead of having to retype it all.

[eaccae]

Yes - Allanque - the Inspiration and Kidspiration are made by the same people (Kidspiration is for younger children and Inpiration for secondary school and up). I have heard a lot of good things regarding the pen as well. Technology is amazing these days!!

[Jenn]

ok I will try to answer you questions.....
1. I find some of it helps but a lot of it you have to be a wiz to even figure out how to get into the program and some of it has tons of reading and what ADHD kid wants to read how to do math?

2. Make it more fun and colorful and make software for the ADHD child the ADD child the LD child, make it more to the needs so parents have more choices.

3. yes excpet for the fact that like other ADHD kids their penmenship needs work.

[mskris]

eaccae:

Where do I find a site for that device? Can you provide a link? How old is your son? Would that type of device be appropriate for a third-grader?

Thanks!
Kris

[eaccae]

Kris,

alphasmart.com

DS is currently in the 3rd grade and it has been so helpful. I choose the Dana instead of the Alphasmart 3000 because he needed more than just the world processor with all of his organizational problems. Plus I know that he can grow into this more easily when it comes to taking notes in class, etc. If your son has a writing problem the school may provide you with one. I like it because it is truly a laptop alternative - heavy duty (even my DS can't break it), no "loading" time, it has a backlight if conditions need more light and the recharchable battery (you don't ever have to take it out - just plug the AC adapter into the wall) last for 25 hours. Plus it has all the organizational tools of a PDA but with the plus of a keyboard. I did purchase the thoughtmanager software for bulidng outlines, etc. - and with this I could make a template of a homework assignment outline for him - added a drawing with a box next to each day and all the teacher has to do is use the stylus to initial - very easy. Sorry I am going on and on about it - I just can't believe how useful it is. DH and I were talking about how even if he didn't have a writing problem - it has already paid for itself for the organizational tools. I covet it for myself. ;D

[HollyNTx]

my son is a wiz on computers.. anything that would help him and would be on the pc I would love to know about.
I am going to check into the Dana.

I did find a website on a computer based learning thing for attention. I have not tried it of course but if anyone wants to read about it here is the web www.playattention.com/


Holly