Children with ADHD who spend long periods playing video games may not be honing the mental skills they need to hold their focus on less stimulating activities, such as schoolwork or household chores, a common finding that is mirrored in a recent article on the topic at Web MD.

While several other online resources show similar evidence, a few see a paradox. Caroline Miller at the Child Mind Institute mentions in her article how amazingly transfixed an ADHD child can be playing a video game where they can hold their focus on the game for hours without pause, and yet the same child may show signs of restlessness in the classroom or with less stimulating activity.

While a child’s ADHD behavior causes concern for both parents and teachers,  Dr. Natalie Weder, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Child Mind Institute says, “there is no evidence whatsoever that TV or video games cause ADHD.”

Dr. Perry Klass, a pediatrician who contributes to the New York Times states that kids who display absorption in video games isn’t the same attention that other tasks require.

He says, “There are complex behavioral and neurological connections linking screens and attention, and many experts believe that these children do spend more time playing video games and watching television than their peers.”

“Continuous activity doesn’t mean sustained attention,” points out Dr. Ron Steingard, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at the Child Mind Institute. “It looks like sustained attention, but the truth is that the task is changing so rapidly, short bursts of attention are all that’s involved. These games are constantly shifting focus, and there is instant gratification and reward.”

Read more about ADHD, Children and Video Games from The Child Mind Institute

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