McKinna Cobb

7th period
Can a video game-based 'digital medicine' help children with
autism and co-occurring ADHD?
January 3, 2019

Summary: Researchers at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOMP) has designed a

digital medication to help those suffering with ADHD and autism. It allows the children to have
the thrill of experiencing a video game like simulation that helps calm down their autism and
ADHD. The device is geared toward children with both ADHD and ASD because the regular
ADHD medications don’t work as effectively on them. Those who participated in the study to
find the effects of this “digital” medication showed high satisfaction with the results. The study
included 19 children aged 9-13 and every single one of their parents showed high satisfaction
with the results and the effects their children showed. At least 95% of those who tested the
machine said they will be coming back for more treatments and definitely will recommend this
form of treatment to others who are suffering with the same medical disability as their own
children. The researchers will be conducting a larger follow up study to further test the effects
of this “video-game” simulation treatment. The game requires the children to test their
focusing skills and it engages their memory process. It’s a fun and creative way to enforce
children to take their medicine and allows the parents a way to escape from the harsh realities
of their child’s disabilities. Although if the FDA approves it it won’t be considered a medication,
it would be a great therapeutic way to allow the child to direct their focus is a fun and engaging
way.
Project topic connections: This has to do with my project because it’s about how you can
control your child’s ADHD. It gives a new way that scientists are experimenting with that is out
of the ordinary. Throughout reading this article, I was shocked to discover that if you are on
more than one medication, the typical ADHD medications don’t work as well as they’re
designed too. I haven’t researched too much into alternative forms of medications and I
haven’t thought about therapeutic ways to make a child’s ADHD less prevalent. I am currently
working in a pediatric office and we see a lot of children who are diagnosed with ADHD. I am
thrilled to be informed that there’re is becoming to be more of an effort to help these children
who were born with a focusing and learning disability that they can’t help.
Personal response: Through out this article I was happy to learn that trained professionals are
beginning to find a way that not only has the same effect as years of medications, but interacts
with the child in a way that a pill can’t. Many children are scared of taking medications because
of the fact that they don’t taste good and that they are putting an unknown substance in their
body. This digital medication allows the child to incorporate doing something they love and
keeps them entertained while being geared toward solving the child’s focusing disability.
MLA citation: “Can a Video Game-Based 'Digital Medicine' Help Children with Autism and Co-
Occurring ADHD?” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 3 Jan. 2019,
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/01/190103110909.htm.