Technology and the Special Needs Learner:

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Group Members:

Lorraine Constantine

Sara RamcharanAlicia Webster

Learn About:

Modern Technologies that can be used to

aid the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder (ADHD)

What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder?

About ADHD Technology

Concentration and ADHD

References

Failing to give close attention to details or making careless mistakes

Difficulty sustaining attention to tasks

Appearing not to listen when spoken to directly

Failing to follow instructions carefully and completely

Losing or forgetting important things

Feeling restless or fidgeting

Talking excessively or blurting out answers before hearing the entire

question.

Common symptoms of ADHD can include

At present, ADHD is a diagnosis made in people who demonstrate chronic, unchanging and persistent symptoms across a number of settings. Although people identify with some of these symptoms at different times in their lives, ADHD is a disorder starting in childhood that may persist into adulthood. Childhood onset is the cornerstone of the diagnosis. There is no such disorder as "adult-onset ADHD."

What is it?

According to Hallahan, Kauffman and Puller Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder (ADHD) is a condition characterized by severe problems of

inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity which is often found in

people with learning disabilities.

Electronic math worksheet software

Talking calculators

Audio books and reading software

Portable word processors

Speech-recognition programs

Word-prediction software

Modern Technologies that can be used to aid the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder (ADHD)

Electronic math worksheet software – This software is where the student would be able to do math problems. They would be able to organize their work much easier and be able to concentrate on the task at hand. Other products to consider are the Mathpad and Math Talk.Talking calculators – as the name suggests these calculators read aloud each number, symbol and operation key as well as the answers.

About ADHD Technology

Audio books and reading software – these programs would enable the students to have text read to them in a number of ways, CDs, MP3 and special playback units which would allow users to go through. This would help the students with their reading and they will also be able to be attentive and learn something.

Audio books and reading software. Recorded books allow users to listen to text, and they are available in a variety of formats: audiocassette, CD, and MP3 download. Special playback units allow users to search and bookmark pages and chapters. Products and services to consider: Audible.com and bookshare.org allow students to listen to books on the computer or to download and burn on CDs. Kurzweil 3000 (kurzweiledu.com ) improves reading speed and comprehension by enabling a student to convert print to electronic text. This program includes both visual and auditory feedback to help an attention deficit student understand and retain what he is reading.

Optical character recognition (OCR) programs allow a student to scan printed material into a computer or handheld unit. The scanned text is then read aloud by a speech synthesis/screen reading system. OCR is available in stand-alone units, as software, and as portable, pocket-sized devices that display words on an easy-to-read screen. Scanning pens are perfect for library research and other reading that doesn’t involve a computer. This device scans text as it’s dragged along the page. The pen displays the words on an easy-to-read screen, speaks them aloud, and provides definitions.

Products to consider: WYNN Literacy Software Solution (freedomscientific.com), Quicktionary 2 Scanning Translator and Reading pen Basic Edition (both available at wizcomtech.com).

Speech synthesizers/screen reader systems can display and read aloud text on a computer screen, including text that has been typed by a student, scanned in from printed pages (books, letters), or material from the Internet. Products to consider: Aspire Reader 4.0 (axistive.com), ClassMate Reader (humanware.com), and Read&Write Gold (texthelp.com).

Audio books and reading software. Recorded books allow users to listen

to text, and they are available in a variety of formats: audiocassette, CD, and MP3 download. Special playback

units allow users to search and bookmark pages and chapters.

Products and services to consider: Audible.com and bookshare.org allow

students to listen to books on the computer or to download and burn on

CDs. Kurzweil 3000 (kurzweiledu.com ) improves reading

speed and comprehension by enabling a student to convert print to electronic

text. This program includes both visual and auditory feedback to help

an attention deficit student understand and retain what he is reading.

Portable word processors -are lightweight devices that look like a computer keyboard with a screen. They can be helpful to ADHD children who have trouble with handwriting. These battery-powered machines can be brought to school for note-taking and writing assignments. At home, files can be transferred to a PC or Mac. Some portable word processors come pre-loaded with word prediction and text-to-speech software. Products to consider: AlphaSmart Writer Learning Neo (renlearn.com), Fusion (writerlearning.com), and QuickPad (quickpad.com).

Speech-recognition programs allow a student to read aloud into a microphone and see his words appear on a computer screen. The software is especially helpful for students whose oral language skills are superior to their writing skills.Products to consider: Dragon NaturallySpeaking (nuance.com), Simply Speaking (simplyspeakinginc.com), ViaVoice (nuance.com), and MacSpeech (macspeech.com).

(simplyspeakinginc.com), ViaVoice (nuance.com), and MacSpeech (macspeech.com). Word-prediction software “predicts” the word the user intends to type, expanding his vocabulary and improving written expression. These programs can assist attention deficit students in producing grammatically correct and topic-specific sentences and paragraphs on a word processor. Products to consider: Aurora Suite (aurora-systems.com), Co:Writer (donjohnston.com), EZ Keys (words-plus.com), and WordQ (wordq.com).

By Kristin Stanberry and Marshall H. Raskind, Ph.D., GreatSchools.net staff. This piece is reprinted with permission from greatschools.net, Copyright 2009.

According to Oldroyd Carole (2011)

Brainwaves, when digitally

converted into music as done at the

Brain Music Therapy Center in New

York, resemble classical piano

music. This type of sound is reported

to increase concentration and help

curb Attention Deficit Hyperactivity

Disorder (ADHD) symptoms,

according to Dr. Galina Mindlin,

who participated in the center's

research.

Concentration and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Classical music is shown to have a

calming effect on students suffering

from ADHD, which could help them

focus better on study material

Concentration and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

http://de.ioffer.com/si/audio+books?price=2http://www.acciinc.com/Test/test/Software/Calculator_Skills.htmhttp://www.buzzle.com/articles/behaviors-of-adhd-kids-in-the-classroom.htmlhttp://www.engadget.com/2004/08/31/the-alphasmart-neo-portable-word-processor/http://www.pharmacytimes.com/issue/pharmacy/2009/2009-06/RxfocusADHD-0609Oldroyd Carole (2011). Concentration and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Retreived on March 05th 2011 from: http://www.ehow.com/list_6572315_effects-music-study-habits-students.htmlADHD--Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (2011). Retrieved on March 05th 2011 from: http://www.livestrong.com/article/14272-adhd-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/

Reference

Oldroyd Carole (2011). Concentration and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Retreived on March 05th 2011 from: http://www.ehow.com/list_6572315_effects-music-study-habits-students.htmlADHD--Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (2011). Retrieved on March 05th 2011 from: http://www.livestrong.com/article/14272-adhd-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/

Reference

Reference•2011. Argumentative Communication Consultants Inc. Retrieved on March 03 2011 from: http://www.acciinc.com/Test/test/Software/Calculator_Skills.htm•2011.Behaviors of ADHD Kids in the Classroom. Retrieved on March 03rd 2011 from: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/behaviors-of-adhd-kids-in-the-classroom.html•Hieber Robin (2009). Let’s focus on ADHD. Retrieved on March 03rd 2011 from: http://www.engadget.com/2004/08/31/the-alphasmart-neo-portable-word-processor/•Rojas Peter (2011). The AlphaSmart Neo portable word processor. Retrieved on March 03rd 2011 from: http://www.engadget.com/2004/08/31/the-alphasmart-neo-portable-word-processor/•http://de.ioffer.com/si/audio+books?price=2

Reference

Let’s focus on ADHD. Retrieved on March 03rd 2011 from: http://www.pharmacytimes.com/issue/pharmacy/2009/2009-06/RxfocusADHD-0609 2011.Behaviors of ADHD Kids in the Classroom. Retrieved on March 03rd 2011 from: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/behaviors-of-adhd-kids-in-the-classroom.html2011. Argumentative Communication Consultants Inc. Retrieved on March 03 2011 from: http://www.acciinc.com/Test/test/Software/Calculator_Skills.htmhttp://de.ioffer.com/si/audio+books?price=2Rojas Peter (2011). The AlphaSmart Neo portable word processor. Retrieved on March 03rd 2011 from: http://www.engadget.com/2004/08/31/the-alphasmart-neo-portable-word-processo

Reference

Hieber Robin (2009r/

Questions

1. What is ADHD?

2. State 3 technologies that can be used in teaching ADHD students. Briefly describe each.

3. Where can these technologies be used?

4. State any other ADHA technologies you may know of.

5. Do you think that ADHA students can benefit from inclusive education?