ADHD and Video Games – The Pros and Cons of Electronic Gaming

These days, there is a lot of controversy over ADHD and video games. Is it okay to let a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder play these games? Are there any potential benefits? In this article, you’ll learn about the pros and cons, so you can make the best decision for your child.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and video games were the subject in a recent news story where a boy who had been playing a violent video game shot and killed his father. Did the violence in the video game worsen the aggressive urges of the boy and drive him over the edge or was it much more likely that there was an abusive element in the home and the father-son dynamic? Since the single father is dead and the boy was only ten years old, we may never fully know the truth.

What we do know about ADHD and video games is that these games can worsen hyperactivity and foster aggression, especially when a child is playing violent games. The fast-changing, ever-flickering images on the monitor may heighten a child’s need for constant simulation. Worse yet, playing video games can also lead to addiction. In fact, countries like Korea actually have addiction treatment centers designed to treat this growing problem. Although addiction is usually characterized by a substance that causes physical withdrawal symptoms when removed from the addict’s life, gaming is considered addictive because it significantly increases dopamine production (the feel-good neurotransmitter) in the brain. When kids are forced to stop playing these games, they may experience something akin to feeling depressed.

Of course there are two sides to any controversy. Supporters of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and video games say playing them can help kids with ADHD learn how to focus and sit still while they play. They also believe that gamers develop excellent hand-eye coordination that may serve them well in technology related jobs in the future.

Whatever your beliefs, here are some suggestions if you intend your child to play these games. First of all, impose a time limit. Some parents only allow children to play video games on weekends and only if their school work has been done. Second, keep your child away from violent games and pay attention to their ratings.

One thing that works for many parents who believe that gaming can be beneficial is giving their children a natural remedy to enhance the increased focus and hand-eye coordination that is often developed through this type of play. Unlike drugs, natural remedies have no side effects and don’t interact negatively with any other medications that your child might need to take. They work by giving the brain the nutrients it needs to increase concentration, memory and the ability to stay on task while reducing hyperactivity, impulsivity, aggression and outbursts. If you believe that ADHD and video games can benefit each other, giving your child a natural remedy is a good way to ensure that this is so.

Make sure to do your research and find a remedy that has been FDA-approved and that is made from proven ingredients like Tuberculinum, Arson Iod and Verta Alb which are quality, herbal ingredients that soothe and calm the nervous system, increase focus and memory and decrease fidgeting, outbursts and the like.