Tuesday, June 16th 2020
American FDA Approves Video Game as ADHD Treatment, Makes it Available as a Prescription
With debates around the nature of video games' influence on psyches and behavior usually being surrounded with violence-related claims, it is certainly refreshing to see something like this happening. The American FDA (Federal Drug Administration) has recently permitted marketing of the first specifically-developed video game designed with the intention of serving as a treatment for ADHD. Under the slogan "it's time to play your medicine", the game, EndeavorRx (AKL-T01), is being marketed for children between the ages of eight and 12. It was designed to "to directly target and activate neural systems through the presentation of sensory stimuli and motor challenges to improve cognitive functioning."
The FDA has issued this permit on the basis of five different studies involving more than 600 children diagnosed with ADHD, where they were encouraged to play this particular video game. Following the test results, a measurable decrease or even dissipation of attention deficit levels in a number of ADHD-related benchmarks were seen. However, not all is green on this side of the pasture: the FDA in its approval also mentioned some verifiable, but not serious, adverse effects after the children were exposed to the EndeavorRx-based therapy, such as frustration, headache, dizziness, emotional reaction, and aggression. The FDA themselves say that the clinical trial results do not suggest this videogame prescription could be an alternative to ADHD drug-specific prescriptions, however. But it could be a first step between an ADHD diagnosis and drug-based treatments. Check out a video of the game after the break.
Sources:
FDA.gov, via TechSpot
The FDA has issued this permit on the basis of five different studies involving more than 600 children diagnosed with ADHD, where they were encouraged to play this particular video game. Following the test results, a measurable decrease or even dissipation of attention deficit levels in a number of ADHD-related benchmarks were seen. However, not all is green on this side of the pasture: the FDA in its approval also mentioned some verifiable, but not serious, adverse effects after the children were exposed to the EndeavorRx-based therapy, such as frustration, headache, dizziness, emotional reaction, and aggression. The FDA themselves say that the clinical trial results do not suggest this videogame prescription could be an alternative to ADHD drug-specific prescriptions, however. But it could be a first step between an ADHD diagnosis and drug-based treatments. Check out a video of the game after the break.
55 Comments on American FDA Approves Video Game as ADHD Treatment, Makes it Available as a Prescription
In hindsight, I believe I was very lucky to get to grow up on the countryside, as I could roam around freely and do pretty much whatever I wanted without any concern. Back then, I wished I lived in a village or town, as there weren't that many friends around, just a couple of neighbour's kids, but at the same time, there was also close to zero risk that something bad would happen.
I think it's wrong to feed kids a bunch of drugs, just so they behave the way their parents want them to behave. We're not made to fit into cookie cutter moulds, but this seems to be what "society" expects from us.
I remember when I first learned to ride a bike, I fell down. I bled. But you know what? I got back up on that bike and I learned.
There is a lot more to ADHD than that. I was against the diagnosis with my first born. I didn't believe in it.
It's not just a behavior issue either as it relates to their ability to learn or not learn. My son, who is now 28, at 8 his grades were abysmal, his behavior was great, good manners, followed rules, made friends easily etc. He just could not pay attention in school. I went to a trusted Dr. and friend and he assured me the meds would not hurt him and within one hour, we would know. Sure enough, first dose and I got a call from the teacher and she stated he was attentive, focused on her and was in effect, a different child. Before, he was looking out the window, looking at the bottom of his desk, rolling a pencil on his desk, whatever distraction there was, would have him paying attention to anything other than the teacher. His grades immediately improved the rest of his school life. The cool thing is we didn't give it to him on the weekends when he wasn't in school or in the summer and let him play outside and be a "normal" boy.
This is how most parent deal with these issues.
So, you can have the attitude of "sit down little drone" and watch them receive a good education or you can ignore it and they won't because they cannot.
Edit: why the frownie face? lol
Summer care program through the YMCA over the past years meant the kids were active - running around with friends, going on 2-3 field trips a week and doing creative activities. The kids were burnt out by the time they got home, had dinner and vegged until they would be falling asleep around 7:30-8pm and would go off to bed.
Now they don't get that this year and they've become accustomed to being digitally entertained by games or shows from streaming Netflix and such. The 7 year old has nervous breakdowns when he can't be playing his tablet or streaming shows during the weekend because we won't let them. Straight up, fucking meltdowns - like a two year old. An almost 8 year old that may only weigh about 50 pounds is surprisingly strong, especially when they lock their joints. I used to wrestle all through elementary school and through middle school, so I know how to handle myself in taking someone down and restraining them if needs be.....but when this kid has his meltdown and starts lashing out and hitting, throwing things....trying to restrain him is harder then any wrestling match I ever remember having.
My just turned 12 year old daughter, she's not as dependent on the electronics, probably because she's older. She gets a bit teary eyed and upset, but she doesn't act out.
We try to get the kids out as much as possible on the weekends to let them run and burn off energy, but outside doing the same thing every weekend is dull. Going on a bike ride, walking the dog, kicking the soccer ball around, finding a park/playground that's not "closed".....when the weather is crummy and we can't go anywhere, it becomes very hard for the kids to be entertained without electronics. You can only play so many board games or card games during the bad weather days before you want to gouge your eyes out.
I don't think prescribing video games is a good idea solely based off my experience. Yeah....yeah....yeah, use in moderation, but when you have no other available options due to the stupidity of society you're kind of painted into a corner.
When my 7 year old son has proper channels to direct his energy, any ADHD like symptom he displays just melts away. However, the past 4 months of lockdown crap has been really, really hard on him.
My 7 year old always has a lot of energy, but with no proper methods to focus his energy he comes off as appearing to have ADHD - constantly moving, not listening, being disruptive, easily frustrated and so on.....sure, the electronics feed his mind, but when they feel they need to be dependent on them and you take them away, be ready for a bigger fight.
Although physiologically and psychologically different, Autism is the same way in some of the kids on the spectrum are super intelligent. The ones I know that have been nurtured and medicated properly grow up to be productive members of society.
I have a friend that has an Autistic child that likes video games. his Mom used certain video games to help calm him and educate him. (makes me wonder) He is now finishing college, has a regular job and drives a car by himself.
Playing with the other kids on the street and also biking around, our parents never really mind that. 'I had to ask mine for a while if I can go out or not and thats about it'
Summer camp or whatever you call them nowadays wasn't a thing here, we spent the summer the same way just us kids playing outside and go home before dark.
I was introduced to gaming/PC rather early with a 486 and also showed interest in it in elementary school.
Things escalated when I started playing Diablo 2 cause I really enjoyed the grinding/farming aspect of the game and I could farm the same boss for hours.
After that I started to spend more time at home than before but my parents never told me to stop since I wasn't showing any 'bad' side effects and I still went outside just not as much.
Even when I wasn't able to play or use the PC I wasn't throwing tantrums or anything, in general I was a peaceful/silent kid. 'never had behaviour issues in school either'
I used to come home when I was hungry... Or when my old man whistled if it was a more organised meal.
Being into computers doesn't also mean you can't be outdoorsy. I used to go out on my own accord and pick mushrooms and berries, since I liked to eat them. I even collected a lot of money for a class trip by picking mushrooms and selling them.
We all have different upbringings, but my point was, a lot of kids are both forced to do things that they aren't really keen on, while at the same time, not being allowed to be kids. But see, this was my point, what adults consider good behaviour isn't always good for the child.
School is also a place where you're expected to behave in a certain way, as it's where the moulding process to fit into society starts.
I wasn't very interested in school and I wasn't all that focused on studies, for the most part, but I had a few teachers that made me interested. I also had a few that made me not pay attention at all and a few that dissed me as I didn't meet their standards. For example, I had an English teacher that gave me a lower grade in English than I deserved, as I spoke too american English back then and I was too talkative and argumentative in class. Yet, somehow, I managed to make a living as a professional tech journalist for over a decade of my life, go figure.
I still have problems focusing on things I'm not interested in, whereas I can spend hours on things I'm interested in, that really aren't that important at times. I can research work projects for hours to find the right solution and to write customer presentations etc., but I want to spend as little time as possible to deal with paperwork related to my business.
A good education is not what most kids get in school, what they get, is the same information that all the other kids get. Not all kids need the same information and many of us process information differently. However, school is not made for outliers, which is really a shame as some of the outliers end up being some of the smartest people around.
Anyhow, glad it worked out for your kid, but even the meds don't work for all kids. Just looking at my older sisters four kids, they are all diagnosed with something and the meds don't seem to have helped.
I mean, I loved my gran to bits, but she was already quite old and she wasn't exactly a good play mate...
Much of the time was spent picking berries and making jam, I guess I was being used as child labour...
I was lucky, as my old man bought a PC for me when I was 15, as he realised I was interested in computers. It costed a small fortune at the time, but I pretty much learnt everything I've ever worked with based on that one single purchase. Over the years, he also had plenty of new computers that I built for him on my own budget, so I guess you can call it a wise investment, as it was paid back several times over.
I also believe that thanks to the "typing" games at the times, mainly from Sierra, but also some other publishers, I expanded my English vocabulary and my spelling much more than I could've done simply by going to English class in school. I would go as far as to say that computers forced me to improve my English skills. Sorry, that's not what I meant. Not talking about ADHD kids specifically, more about kids that get dragged off to violin class or soccer training against their will. On the other hand, I'm sure a lot of kids want to go out and play with their friends, but aren't allowed for their parents. Maybe living in a big city in Asia has my views a bit skewed these days, but parents are insanely overprotective in Asia and it's scary.
And swinging outside by a sheet tied up though the window is a no no today.
Same here, it was my father who got me and my brother into the whole PC thing and I have a feeling that he regret that later cause of the costs.:oops: 'until we could afford our own hardware or at least partially'
I had no option to study English in elementary school cause we only had German and started English in high school.
Most of my English 'knowledge' is from gaming since I had to be able to communicate with ppl when I started playing D2 online so I slowly started to learn it on my own even before high school. 'this helped me a lot with that class'
I'm glad that my parents never forced anything like that on me or anything I did not feel like doing.
Sure I could be a more successful adult now 'maybe' but at least I had a fun and good childhood and I wouldn't trade that.
As for the topic itself, in a way its good to see something other than the usual 'but games are bad ' thing like I always hear/read and if this really helps some kids then thats great.
When I hear old folk speak about rubbing knees in dirt, or collecting fruit - that is how childhood should be. Not indoors listening to the same sort of people. You have to engage the child in what is beyond the family protection. Nettles, stinging bees, or some other danger - you want to initiate the kid to incorporate family ties from the opposite direction, negative incentive from outside sources. Otherwise, domesticity won't develop in kid's value system. Don't systematically bear down on the kids.
Prescribing Ritalin can lead to further problems later.
But hey, you're the expert because you know one child with ADHD.
However, what we see a lot is parents not getting enough discipline in and blaming it on ADHD.
He has calmed down a bit in the past couple of weeks - not really doing any violent lash outs anymore, but still gets overly upset and argumentative when he doesn't get his way.....at least last Saturday it was sunny and fairly cool. Took the kids and dog to a lake and walked around it (daughter used her Razor - son wanted to run/walk the path) and about 2 miles into the 3 mile trek he was tired from all the running and exploring. He was pretty mellow for about half the day. But that second wind kicked in just before dinner and he was starting to bounce off the walls again. Tried getting the kids to go outside and play, but that lasted about 10 minutes because they "think" they saw a bee flying around 50ft from where they were playing......they didn't want to be outside anymore after that.
A constant work in progress to get him to burn off his excess energy to help him calm down. Plopping him in front of a TV or electronic device can calm him, but when it's time to stop using them that switch flips because he's still has bounds of energy in him that hasn't gone anywhere, it was only suppressed/ignored while his mind was entertained. Once the mind's instant gratification from the electronics goes away, that pent up energy kicks in and the battle begins.
I knew a kid with it in my middle school class, and if he didn't have it he'd have "bouncing off the walls syndrome." He was so hyper he stuck his finger in an electric pencil sharpener, literally.
RIP pinky.
But yeah, I do believe it is overdiagnosed. Just like several autism spectrum disorders. Or rather... not so much overdiagnosed as overmedicated (I believe a lot of the populace has tendencies towards one or the other, so...). But hardly all the cases need medicating, and a lot get pills anyways.
Hopefully, this should help with that.