Teens and video games is a mix that often gets parents a bit worried. Every day, we stumble upon countless articles that highlight the potentially harmful effects of video games on the younger generation.
As a result, many concerned parents tend to label video games as ‘bad’ or ‘dangerous.’ In fact, there are even those who go as far as banning video games in their households.
But did you know there are games which can actually help teens manage conditions like autism or attention deficit disorder?
A recent post by ADDitude talks about a new therapeutic video game designed by Akili Interactive. Some experts believe this video game can be a valuable tool for children with ADD and ADHD.
Project Evo: Proof that teens and video games aren’t always a ‘bad’ mix
We know for a fact that teens with ADD or ADHD often struggle to remain focused on their tasks. This, in turn, can make it difficult for therapists to teach other abilities that these teens need so badly.
Last year, a group of researchers at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia published a small study in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders.
According to their findings, children with ASD and co-occurring ADHD who used Project Evo for about four weeks experienced:
- Improved ability to pay attention
- Improved cognitive control
It seems this game is designed in a way that targets multi-tasking and can keep players engaged for extended periods. You can probably see why Project Evo proves extremely useful in training attention.
Although this study was conducted on a small sample of only 19 children, the results are promising enough for developers and researchers to continue investing in this exciting project.
Here’s another excellent example of how the concept of gamification can revolutionize mental health services and improve teens’ attention.
To learn more about treatment for teens, click here.
