The constant movement of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) might be distracting for other people, especially for the students who are trying to concentrate within a classroom. However, allowing them to fidget and move around may help them improve their cognition, according to a recent research.
The study, which was recently published in the Journal of Abnormal Child Psychology, examined 52 boy kids between the ages of 8 and 12, half of which had been diagnosed with ADHD. The participants were examined on how movement correlated with the accuracy of cognitive performance. By the end of the study, researchers found that participants with ADHD who intensely moved exhibited better learning performance.
ADHD is fuel for #adventure - some of the best medicine for kids with #adhd is the outdoors https://t.co/JVDaXqSbnk pic.twitter.com/uNuHj5Y5kM
— Trail Daze (@traildaze) Marso 25, 2016
"Our research indicates that targeting reduced movement in children with ADHD may not be in their best interest," Dr. Mark Rapport, the lead author of the study, said to The Huffington Post. "They need to move more than other children when engaged in learning tasks that require the use of critical executive functions such as working memory."
Treatments for ADHD
For the past years, numerous studies have been launched in a bid to fully understand childhood ADHD. Likewise, the studies aim to find the right treatment for ADHD. So far, only three treatments have been proven to be safe and effective for ADHD: behavior modification, medication, and the combination of the two treatments, according to My ADHD.
The treatments have been proven to be safe and effective on children with ADHD. This is evidenced by documentation that showed positive effects, including increased work production, increased accuracy of work, reduced distractibility and decreased anger, better self-control. Nonetheless, the study suggested, parents and caregivers should allow children with ADHD to move around while having a test to help them perform better.
How are kids with ADHD different? https://t.co/Gkunlimmkn https://t.co/48f6BD5ejA — Stephen Grcevich, MD (@drgrcevich) Marso 22, 2016
How to help children with ADHD?
Symptoms of ADHD normally become an issue when a child goes to school. Many teachers cannot handle the situation, especially if the child refused to stay in the seat and pay attention. But Rapport said, instead of forcing the children with ADHD to sit quietly in the chairs, parents and teachers should allow kids with ADHD "to sit on activity balls or at exercise bikes while they work."
