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💡How to design for users with ADHD ADHD affects around 5% of children, 2.5% - 4% of adults. People with ADHD often struggle to maintain focus on tasks, especially if they are repetitive and not stimulating. This can lead to difficulty completing routine work tasks, making errors due to forgetfulness, or getting easily distracted. Good design accommodates the needs of all groups of users, including users with ADHD. Here are some key things you need to consider when creating your product: 🍎 UI design for ADHD users Reduce visual clutter ✔ Limit the number of elements on the screen at one time. Too much information or visual noise can be overwhelming and cause distractions. ✔ Highlight key areas. Use visual cues like size or colors to guide attention to the most important elements on the page. ✔ Offer Focus mode. Temporarily hide non-essential UI elements to help users concentrate on the task at hand. Design step-by-step processes ✔ Break down complex tasks into smaller, digestible steps to help maintain focus. For example, use a multi-step form instead of overwhelming the user with a long form. ✔ Recap previous actions. If a task involves multiple steps, offer a brief recap of the previous step before moving to the next. This can help refresh the user’s memory. ✔ Save user progress. Allow users to save their work and return to it later; it will reduce anxiety about completing tasks in one session. Minimize congitive load ✔ Limit form fields. Only include necessary form fields and break longer forms into manageable steps. ✔ Use simple language. Keep instructions, labels, and actions short and easy to understand to reduce cognitive load and confusion. Limit distractions ✔ Disable auto-playing content, like videos or sliders, which can be highly distracting to users with ADHD. ✔ Minimize decorative animations. Use animations only when they serve a purpose, like guiding attention or showing progress. ✔ Limit external links. Avoid sending users to external sites or opening new tabs that can easily cause distraction. Keep users within the flow of your content or task. ✔ Let users control the level of notifications they receive. Too many notifications can cause distractions and frustration. 🍏 Product research & testing Involve users with ADHD in product research and usability testing. ✔ Conduct one-on-one interviews to gather detailed feedback. Individuals with ADHD may prefer a more personal setting where they can take their time and express their thoughts without feeling overwhelmed by group dynamics. ✔ Structure usability tests around real-world scenarios and tasks. 📘 Guides and tools: ✔ Living With Adult ADHD: Explained In Comics (by Ana Krajinovic) https://lnkd.in/dnjAZ3vW ✔ How my ADHD makes me a better designer (by Sarah Mohs) https://lnkd.in/dCrdH4r3 ✔ Neurodiversity Design System https://lnkd.in/dH2khV-8 #design #ui #uidesign #adhd

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We incorporate several game mechanics to improve executive function in ADHD patients, focusing on cognitive skills like planning, working memory, impulse control, and flexible thinking: 1. Task Switching: Players alternate between puzzles, mazes, and rule changes, enhancing cognitive flexibility. 2. Working Memory: Memory puzzles and pattern recognition strengthen short-term information retention. 3. Impulse Control: Mini-games challenge players to pause and think before acting, improving self-control. 4. Planning & Strategy: Complex tasks require resource management and multi-step strategies to boost organizational skills. 5. Goal-Oriented Missions: Missions with clear objectives teach players to break down tasks and focus on long-term goals. 6. Adaptive Difficulty: Difficulty adjusts dynamically to promote resilience and problem-solving without overwhelming players. 7. Real-Time Feedback: Instant rewards and feedback encourage intrinsic motivation. 8. Timed Challenges: Players balance speed and accuracy, improving time management. 9. Decision-Making: Choices that affect outcomes enhance decision-making These features provide engaging, interactive ways to develop essential executive function skills. #adhd #gaming #focus #healthtech #therapeuticgames #brain

🎵 For individuals with ADHD, the brain can feel like a storm of racing thoughts, distractibility, and challenges with focus. Enter music, a tool that doesn’t just entertain but can transforms the ADHD experience. ADHD Brain and Music: People with ADHD often have difficulty regulating dopamine, a neurotransmitter crucial for focus and motivation. Listening to or playing music stimulates dopamine production, creating a sense of reward and satisfaction that can help maintain attention and boost mood. How Music Helps ADHD Individuals: 1. Improved Focus and Task Completion: Music, especially instrumental tracks or specific genres like lo-fi or classical, creates a rhythmic and structured environment. This helps block out distractions, allowing the ADHD brain to focus better on tasks. 2. Emotional Regulation: ADHD often comes with emotional highs and lows. Music acts as a mood stabilizer, helping individuals navigate intense feelings by soothing or energizing as needed. 3. Routine and Time Management: Songs can act as time markers. For example, using playlists to structure morning routines or tasks (e.g., "complete the chore before the song ends") can improve time awareness. 4. Stress Relief: ADHD brains often experience overstimulation, leading to stress. Music’s calming effect can slow racing thoughts and reduce anxiety, offering a mental breather. How to Use Music in ADHD: 1. Background Study Music: Low-tempo, repetitive music can enhance concentration during work or study sessions. 2. Learning Through Rhythm: For memorizing information, setting it to a tune or rhythm (like mnemonics) can help with retention. 3. Physical Activity: Fast-paced tracks can make exercise more engaging, improving physical and mental health. 4. Therapeutic Drumming: Drumming can help with impulse control and emotional expression while improving focus. Personalizing Playlist: While some may thrive on classical music, others might need rock or electronic beats. Experimenting to find what resonates with your brain is key. Music isn't just an aid for ADHD; it’s a lifeline that taps into the brain’s natural rhythms to foster calm, creativity, and clarity. Whether you’re an ADHD individual or a supporter, never underestimate the power of a good song to change the game. What are your favorite tracks or genres for focus and relaxation? Share below! Illustration credit: Mental Health Center Kids

🎮 How Games Help Build Brain Skills 🧠 Gaming is a powerful medium that naturally integrates many of the cognitive skills necessary for managing ADHD. Successful gameplay requires a constant balancing act between focus, strategy, and flexibility. These inherent qualities make gaming an excellent training ground for executive function skills. 🔄 Task Switching and Gaming: Many games require players to juggle different objectives or change strategies on the fly. Whether it’s switching between solving puzzles or battling enemies, gaming forces players to shift their attention — key skills for ADHD management. 🚦 Impulse Control in Gaming: Games often present situations where players must resist the urge to act hastily. Whether it’s waiting for the perfect moment to strike or avoiding a tempting shortcut, players are challenged to exercise patience, training their impulse control. 🧩 Planning and Strategy in Gaming: Games require both short-term tactical decisions and long-term planning. Managing resources and navigating complex levels helps develop essential skills like time management and organization — both crucial for ADHD individuals. How We Integrate These Skills Into ADHD Therapy 🧠🎮 At VitalPlay, with Serenium, we’ve harnessed the intrinsic strengths of gaming to design a game specifically for individuals with ADHD. Our mechanics aren’t just about entertainment — they’re scientifically tailored to address the core cognitive challenges of ADHD through engaging gameplay. 1️⃣ Task Switching Meets Cognitive Flexibility: Players face varied tasks — whether solving puzzles or navigating new environments, encouraging them to shift focus and adapt quickly. 2️⃣ Impulse Control Training Through Engaging Mini-Games: Players learn to pause, think, and choose wisely, developing the patience and self-control essential for managing impulsivity. 3️⃣ Strategic Planning and Goal Management: Mission-based gameplay challenges players to break down complex tasks into smaller, achievable goals, strengthening their ability to prioritize and strategize. 💡 Why It Works Individuals with ADHD can harness their unique brain wiring to develop critical executive functions through gaming! Serenium adapts to each player’s skill level, ensuring that they’re continually challenged but never overwhelmed, allowing for sustained growth. With every task switch, every strategic decision, and every impulse controlled, players are learning to navigate both the game world and real life with more focus, control, and success. Full article here: https://lnkd.in/dtPR9_98

Improving reading skills for kids with ADHD can be approached in several effective ways. Here are some strategies that can help: 1. Create a Structured Environment: Minimize distractions by providing a quiet and organized space for reading. A consistent routine can also help kids know when it's time to focus on reading. 2. Use Engaging Materials: Choose books that align with the child's interests. Graphic novels, comic books, or interactive e-books can capture their attention better than traditional texts. 3. Incorporate Multi-Sensory Techniques: Engage multiple senses by using audiobooks alongside printed texts. This can help them follow along and improve comprehension. 4. Break Reading into Smaller Segments: Encourage short reading sessions with breaks in between. For example, read for 10-15 minutes and then take a short break to help maintain focus. 5. Use Visual Aids: Highlighting key points, using sticky notes, or creating graphic organizers can help kids visualize the information and retain what they read. 6. Encourage Active Reading: Ask questions about the text, have them summarize what they read, or discuss characters and plot. This can help improve comprehension and retention. 7. Practice Regularly: Consistency is key. Set aside daily reading time to build routine and reinforce skills over time. 8. Reward Progress: Use a reward system to motivate them. Celebrate their achievements, whether it's finishing a book or improving their reading fluency. 9. Consider Professional Support: If needed, working with a reading specialist or tutor who understands ADHD can provide personalized strategies and support. By combining these strategies, you can create a more effective and enjoyable reading experience for kids with ADHD. Remember, patience and encouragement are essential!

Mindfulness-based training effect on attention, impulsivity, and emotional regulation among children with ADHD: The role of family engagement in randomized controlled trials Mindfulness Training for Children with ADHD Background Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common condition in school-aged children, characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Mindfulness training can help improve these symptoms and enhance emotional well-being, leading to a better quality of life. Aim The study aimed to explore how mindfulness training affects attention, impulsivity, and emotional regulation in children with ADHD. Study Design This research was conducted as a randomized controlled trial (RCT) involving 60 children and their parents, split into two groups: one receiving mindfulness training and the other not. Methods Researchers collected data using three tools: Socio-demographic and Academic Data Questionnaire Vanderbilt ADHD Diagnostic Parent Rating Scale (VADPRS) Emotion Regulation Questionnaire Results The study found significant improvements in attention, impulsivity, and emotional regulation in the children who underwent mindfulness training compared to the control group. Conclusion Mindfulness training is effective in helping children with ADHD by reducing inattention and impulsivity while enhancing emotional regulation and overall performance. Recommendations Healthcare professionals should integrate mindfulness techniques into ADHD treatment plans. Educating families about mindfulness can boost its effectiveness. It’s essential to make these programs available in schools and community centers for wider access. Additional Information This study is registered under RCT: NCT06131190, dated 11-9-2023. Clinical Trials and Digital Solutions Clinical trials play a vital role in creating effective treatments. To make these benefits more accessible, DocSym offers an AI-driven platform that combines ICD-11 standards and clinical protocols into one easy-to-use resource for healthcare providers. In today’s healthcare landscape, efficient operations are essential. Our mobile apps facilitate scheduling, treatment monitoring, and telemedicine, simplifying patient care management. By leveraging AI, clinics can improve workflows, enhance patient outcomes, and reduce paperwork. Learn more about our solutions at aidevmd.com. https://lnkd.in/gKC56XXi #ClinicalTrials #AIinHealthcare #MedicalAI #HealthTech #DigitalHealth #PatientCareAI #AIResearch #MedicalInnovation #BioTech #AIforGood #HealthcareData #AIinMedicine #PharmaAI #ClinicalData #HealthAI #AIHealthSolutions #PrecisionMedicine #AIandHealth #ClinicalAnalytics #AIDiagnostics

🎵 The Power of Sound for ADHD Management 🎶 What's the buzz about using sound to help manage ADHD? There is a world of auditory experiences that can help. The research is still evolving but suggests that having a certain amount of noise playing in the background may improve everything from sleep to focus and transitions. Here's a little bit about how it all works:  🧠  The Nucleus Accumbens: The nucleus accumbens, our pleasure center, plays a pivotal role in the reward circuit in the brain. When we listen to music or sounds that resonate with us, this area lights up, orchestrating a dopamine release that uplifts mood, enhances focus, and increases calm. 🥁 Binaural Beats and Alpha Waves: Some research shows that listening to binaural beats stimulates both sides of the brain and helps them work together to create alpha waves, essential to well-being. (search on YouTube) 🎧 Classical Music, like Mozart or Bach, offers a structured harmony that helps our brain focus without being overwhelmed. 🌈 A Spectrum of Noise Colors (frequencies) can help you relax and focus by blocking disruptive sounds. The most common are White noise, Pink noise, Brown noise, and Grey noise. Each blends and emphasizes different sound frequencies. Ultimately, the power is in your hands. Embark on a journey of self-exploration, trying a variety of music and background sounds to help you find what works best for you and your unique brain. It's about finding your own rhythm and harmony.

Gamification—the use of game elements in non-game contexts—has been shown to improve focus, behavior, and self-regulation in children with ADHD. Video games, when paired with therapeutic elements like music, create a fun, engaging way to keep kids involved while building essential cognitive skills. 📚 Scientific Backing: Research by Martín-Moratinos et al. (2022) found that video games, especially those incorporating music therapy, significantly improve attention and behavior in children with ADHD. By turning therapy into an interactive experience, games help kids engage with their treatment while making it enjoyable. Martín-Moratinos, M., Bella-Fernández, M., & Blasco-Fontecilla, H. (2022). Effects of Music on Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Potential Application in Serious Video Games: Systematic Review. Journal of Medical Internet Research, 25. https://lnkd.in/dbTmu8Qd 💡 What We’re Doing: At VitalPlay, we’re inspired by this research to design games that combine science and play. Our goal is to create experiences that not only entertain but also empower children with ADHD, helping them develop skills like focus, memory, and emotional regulation—all while having fun.

🎮 Unlocking the Power of Neurodiversity with Serenium 🎮 Understanding #ADHD means embracing its unique strengths within neurodiversity—creativity, hyperfocus, and adaptability. With our deep roots in #gaming, Serenium by VitalPlay is designed to be fun first, while also enhancing attention, working memory, and cognitive flexibility. 🌟 The Power of Games in ADHD Management: 🎮 Games can provide instant feedback, which is crucial for learning and motivation, especially for individuals with ADHD. This immediate response helps them understand consequences and adjust strategies quickly. 🧘♂️ Some games are designed to enhance mindfulness and reduce impulsivity, teaching players to pause and consider their actions—skills that can translate to real-world success. 🎯 The engaging nature of video games can harness the power of hyperfocus, turning it into a tool for learning and improvement. 🧠 Neurofeedback games that adjust difficulty based on the player’s brain activity encourage states of focused attention, training the brain over time to sustain attention longer. 🔄 Customizable difficulty levels allow games to be tailored to individual needs, ensuring they are always challenging but not overwhelming. 📅 By incorporating routines and structured play, these games help improve organizational skills and time management. 🤝 The social aspect of some games can also be beneficial, improving communication skills and building social relationships, which can be challenging for people with ADHD. 🎯 Let’s continue to innovate and make a positive impact on the ADHD community!