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Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

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191–200 of 243 posts

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#191
post #188

To acquire strategies to alleviate some problems, this might be helpful, similar to coaching and therapy. I have, however, serious doubts that it can be a substitute for stimulants. ADHD affects so many parts of one's life such that attention sometimes seem a very small part of the disorder. Miraculously, at least for some people, stimulants create a kind of automatic improvement in other areas too. I hope that gener…

> please don't speculate about ADHD, especially about people who suspect they might have it.

Is this a joke? This is a discussion platform for speculating. Plus half the people on HN probably have ADD or ADHD

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#192
post #10

I've been on this for about a month and a half now. The game itself isn't engaging at all. It was a struggle to get myself to actually play the game regularly, for the allotted time (30 minutes, 5 days a week). It feels like a pretty big flaw with the game - after all, one of the challenges that people with ADHD face is forcing themselves to do things they don't want to do. This game is a complete bore, and I can't i…

Could it be that the boring part is part of the treatment? If a game was exciting and engaging, wouldn't someone with ADHD be drawn in and be focused naturally, like that isn't different from any game. But the problem with ADHD is paying attention to things in life that are boring, so forcing someone to focus on a game for some 30min/day is training them to focus on boring? IF it was a good game, then it would just b…

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Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#193
post #188

To acquire strategies to alleviate some problems, this might be helpful, similar to coaching and therapy. I have, however, serious doubts that it can be a substitute for stimulants. ADHD affects so many parts of one's life such that attention sometimes seem a very small part of the disorder. Miraculously, at least for some people, stimulants create a kind of automatic improvement in other areas too. I hope that gener…

> please don't speculate about ADHD, especially about people who suspect they might have it. Is this a joke? This is a discussion platform for speculating. Plus half the people on HN probably have ADD or ADHD

Love this comment. As someone with ADHD, I am drawn to technology and made a career out of it. I suspect many people here are the same, diagnosed or not.

By the way, the "ADD" diagnosis has been removed from the DSM, there's no longer a medical distinction between the two.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#194
post #188

To acquire strategies to alleviate some problems, this might be helpful, similar to coaching and therapy. I have, however, serious doubts that it can be a substitute for stimulants. ADHD affects so many parts of one's life such that attention sometimes seem a very small part of the disorder. Miraculously, at least for some people, stimulants create a kind of automatic improvement in other areas too. I hope that gener…

> please don't speculate about ADHD, especially about people who suspect they might have it. Is this a joke? This is a discussion platform for speculating. Plus half the people on HN probably have ADD or ADHD

> Plus half the people on HN probably have ADD or ADHD

They've convinced themselves they have it. Please ignore the prevalence of obesity, lack of exercise, poor diet, and anti-social nature of tech workers plz. They are suffering from a natural affliction.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#195
post #188

To acquire strategies to alleviate some problems, this might be helpful, similar to coaching and therapy. I have, however, serious doubts that it can be a substitute for stimulants. ADHD affects so many parts of one's life such that attention sometimes seem a very small part of the disorder. Miraculously, at least for some people, stimulants create a kind of automatic improvement in other areas too. I hope that gener…

I have ADHD-PI and am medicated. I too believe this cannot substitute medication in anything but less severe cases (if that even exists), but I cannot overstate the importance and usefulness of coping mechanisms and attention training. It really defines to some extent whether medication is necessary and in which form (only working hours, all waking hours, etc). Now, granted, for some even building habits and a routine is impossible (like me sometimes too), and then medication fixes some issues and one starts to almost automagically create habits and routines.

I've gone years unmedicated when I had a less demanding and more lax work environment and daily focus meditation has helped a great deal. If I'm not mistaken some video games have also vastly improved and kept alive quick reaction times and delayed reward mindset - stuff that this game seemingly also does - training being less impulsive and overriding other, negative habits.

It makes perfect sense - video games can release high amounts of dopamine on demand, while in our daily lives we lack release in key moments. Synaptic plasticity, learning and memory is dopamine dependent. In a dopamine deprived brain, if timed correctly, these sudden releases can be extremely habit-forming and beneficial.

I've read through their whole website and nowhere is mentioned that this is supposed to replace necessary medication. It's simply another tool in the toolbox, and as such should absolutely not be disregarded. I can 100% see this being extremely helpful and would love to try it out - unfortunately the apps are only available in US app stores.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#196
post #144

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I think everyone should be prescribed Elvanse. I don't have ADHD but Elvanse feels like taking NZT. I become a superhuman.

If you actually have a normal functioning brain (imo) the detriments out weigh the benefits: you will do more but the quality will be lessened and you’ll have fewer insights. (Also this is apart from the ethics of abusing a medicine that is tenuously situated in the public mind but is literally life saving for a small population of people (untreated ADHD increases risk of early death and reduces lifespan more than sm…

That's not really true. There's a reason why in many countries (including mine) medicine students take them en masse for studying/exams.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#197
post #82

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Could you share some sources on stimulants discontinuation? High discontinuation rate around stimulants aligns with my observations but I was wondering if that was only because of limited medication options where I am (not only for stimulants but in general).

Yeah, I would be surprised if it were to do with "not liking them" and not "consistently getting them is highly difficult for a person with ADHD" due to their controlled status in most countries. In the US, from what I've heard, it's particularly draconian, where you're only allowed to get a new prescription on the day the last one runs out, and then have to take a paper prescription to a pharmacy where they often do…

> In the US, from what I've heard, it's particularly draconian, where you're only allowed to get a new prescription on the day the last one runs out, and then have to take a paper prescription to a pharmacy where they often don't have stock, so you have to try many pharmacies, all the while being treated as a possible drug seeker by staff.

I live in the US and take Adderall, the only part of this that is even slightly true is that sometimes there are shortages on dosage. As in they’re back-ordered on the 20mg pills so my doctor writes me a prescription for 10mg and I double up for a week until I can get the 20mg pills.

My prescriptions are all digital, come to me at least a week before I run out, and nobody has ever even batted an eye when I fill it, which always happens at the same pharmacy.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#198
Difficult to say for sure without the ability to try a demo (seriously??), but I'd bet there are at least fifty games on Steam that "address" ADHD along the same pathways as this one, with the added benefit of actually being fun.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#199

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If it works, then that’s not a bad price at all. ADHD attentional issues will suck orders of magnitude more money out of your life if left untreated in some people.

If it works. If it doesn't, then that's just another $99/month money hole that people with ADHD have a particular difficulty digging themselves out of - subscriptions are like a kryptonite to them.

So long as cancellation is as easy signing up, I think they’ll be okay.

Re: Doctor-prescribed videogame for ADHD

#200

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is it like possible that they thought it through to take advantage of individuals with conditions like ADHD?

It's meant for kids so parents would be the ones paying. Obviously they're trying to profit and it does seem a bit overpriced (though there are extra logistical costs for anything to be medically approved, so it's not comparable to a normal game). But I highly doubt there was any intent to take advantage of people here.

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