Can Digital Cognitive Training Help Children with ADHD?

What you need to know

• This study will test if a digital attention training program can improve attention and reduce ADHD symptoms in children ages 5-8.
• The training involves playing attention games on a tablet for 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 5 weeks.
• Researchers will compare the attention training to a control group doing math games, to see if it leads to better attention, behavior, and daily functioning.

Background on ADHD and Cognitive Training

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders in children. It involves ongoing patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity that interfere with daily life and development. Children with ADHD often struggle with things like paying attention in class, controlling impulses, and regulating their emotions and behavior.

While medications can help manage ADHD symptoms, researchers are also exploring non-medication approaches like cognitive training. The idea behind cognitive training is that repeatedly practicing certain mental skills may strengthen those abilities over time. For ADHD, cognitive training often targets skills like attention, working memory, and impulse control.

Some studies have found cognitive training can lead to improvements on attention tests for children with ADHD. However, the evidence is still mixed on whether it leads to meaningful changes in real-world behaviors and functioning. More research is needed to determine how effective these approaches are and who might benefit most.

About This Study

This study will test a digital cognitive training program called TALI Train, which was designed specifically to improve attention skills in children. The researchers want to see if using TALI Train can help children with ADHD get better at focusing, controlling impulses, and filtering out distractions.

Who Can Participate

The study is recruiting 104 children who:

• Are between 5-8 years old
• Have been diagnosed with ADHD
• Do not have intellectual disability or other major conditions that could interfere

How the Study Works

Children who join the study will be randomly assigned to one of two groups:

1. TALI Train group: Will play attention training games on a tablet
2. Control group: Will play math games on a tablet

Both groups will use their assigned program for 20 minutes a day, 5 days a week, for 5 weeks. The programs are designed to be engaging for kids, with animated characters and rewards.

Importantly, this is a “double-blind” study. This means neither the families nor the researchers doing the assessments will know which group each child is in until after the study. This helps prevent expectations from influencing the results.

What Will Be Measured

The main thing researchers want to see is if children in the TALI Train group show bigger improvements in attention compared to the control group. They’ll measure this using a computerized attention test called the Test of Variables of Attention (TOVA).

They’ll also look at whether the training leads to improvements in:

• Other attention skills like selective attention and impulse control
• ADHD symptoms and behaviors at home and school
• Daily functioning and quality of life
• Working memory and executive functioning (mental skills for planning and self-control)

Children will complete assessments before starting the program, right after finishing the 5 weeks of training, and again 3 months later. This will show both the immediate and longer-term effects.

Why This Research Matters

If effective, digital cognitive training could provide a new treatment option for ADHD that is:

• Accessible - Can be done at home on a tablet or computer
• Engaging - Uses game-like activities kids may enjoy
• Low-risk - Doesn’t involve medications
• Potentially longer-lasting - May strengthen cognitive skills over time

However, it’s important to thoroughly test these approaches to see if they truly make a difference in children’s attention, behavior, and daily functioning. This study will provide valuable evidence on whether TALI Train specifically could be a useful tool for managing ADHD.

The researchers will also look at factors that might influence how well the training works, like sleep habits, motivation levels, and family stress. This could help identify which children are most likely to benefit.

Conclusions

• This rigorous study will test if 5 weeks of digital attention training improves attention and behavior in children with ADHD.
• The results will show if this approach leads to meaningful benefits beyond just practicing attention tests.
• If effective, it could provide a new accessible treatment option to help children with ADHD build attention skills.
• More research is still needed, but this study is an important step in developing evidence-based digital tools for ADHD.