also how long must you not watch tv or use the computer to have it stop causing an effect.What effect are you assuming it causes?
You've lost me...
It's a common myth in some areas that watching too much TV or using the computer too much "causes" or "worsens" ADHD, whatever that means. Pretty sure that is what's being referred to here.
Some researchers claim that early exposure to television (like excessive TV watching as an INFANT or TODDLER) may increase the risk of developing ADHD by 7 years of age. However, the studies have only showed a corrolation between the amount of TV a young child watches and the child's chances of being diagnosed with ADHD later on. It doesn't take into account that maybe youngsters with ADHD might be more attracted to watching television than those without.
Yeah, I have read that study about TV and ADHD that was reported on CNN, and their methods are VERY questionable and widely criticized. Nearly all credible ADHD research says that TV watching/computer use does not effect ADHD at all! I would agree that TV/Computer does not case ADHD - but too much TV/Computer is not a good thing for my ADHD daughter. It can be over stimulating. In my daughter's case, she become more argumentative and irritable when she has too much screen time. The things she enjoys watching/playing aren't even agressive in nature. Her overall behavior is WAY better when her screen time is greatly reduced.
The TV/Computer will also suck my ADHD husband in. He'll spend HOURS in a glued to the screens and not even realizes how much time has gone by. It frustrates me to no end...
Horsemom:
TV doesn't do it for me. I haven't owned one since my first computer. It's too passive and I miss most of the show because I don't focus well.
Video is better because I can stop and start.
Tell hubby to get Remind Me from spacejock. It's a free program from a SciFi writer.
It's the only program I've seen that will disrupt right through a game or any other program to keep him on track.
The reason for game junkiness and internet junkiness in ADHD is simple. Because the sense of "rewarded-ness" is so small for us compared with "normies" games and quick answers are addictive because they provide consistent rewards that we don't get in real life.
I know--I'm a junkie
This totally happens: I'll be watching somehting, get up to grab a snack/drink/bathroom break/something else that popped into my mind, then twenty minutes later, i hear noises coming from the living room... oh right, the TV, I guess I was watching that...
I also find it's helpful to put on a show like Mythbusters or Man Vs. Wild or something equally plotless so that I have something to actively ignore/something to take up the idle part of my mind in order to focus better on my homework. The academic strategist keeps telling me I should do my homework in a quiet space away from distractions, but the quieter and more distraction-free a place is, the more likely I am to invent my own distractions.
I think the tendency to get "sucked in" or stuck on activities like video games is not only about the immediate reward, it's related to the ability to hyper-focus on something interesting. We want to do "just one more thing" and then holy carp, it's 4am! How the heck did that happen?
Kal - I do that too. But it's usually the news. I'll be watching away and then I get up (almost always) when the weather comes on - the very thing I wanted to see! I guess I just can't sit there anymore or my mind becomes distracted. I don't know.
I like being able to tape shows because then I can FF thru the commercials. I don't have the patience for them.
I don't know the statistics but reading the posts on this topic made me think of all those famous people (from ages ago) who didn't HAVE television or any other type of electronics but had ADD. Television, computers, video games can not possibly cause ADD. I'm sure they don't help with distractability and focus issues but I think if we limit those activities, they can be less of a problem.
[QUOTE=kalstolyn]That whole ability to pause and rewind is the reason I ONLY watch downloaded television. I need to be able to go back to where I left off if I randomly wander out of the room.
This totally happens: I'll be watching somehting, get up to grab a snack/drink/bathroom break/something else that popped into my mind, then twenty minutes later, i hear noises coming from the living room... oh right, the TV, I guess I was watching that...
I am SO there
I also find it's helpful to put on a show like Mythbusters or Man Vs. Wild or something equally plotless so that I have something to actively ignore/something to take up the idle part of my mind in order to focus better on my homework. The academic strategist keeps telling me I should do my homework in a quiet space away from distractions, but the quieter and more distraction-free a place is, the more likely I am to invent my own distractions.
Been there, done that--it's the only way to do dishes.
Re-runs of favorite SciFi is good too
I think the tendency to get "sucked in" or stuck on activities like video games is not only about the immediate reward, it's related to the ability to hyper-focus on something interesting. We want to do "just one more thing" and then holy carp, it's 4am! How the heck did that happen?
[/QUOTE]
I'm so THERE!
[QUOTE=kjl2691]Kal - I do that too. But it's usually the news. I'll be watching away and then I get up (almost always) when the weather comes on - the very thing I wanted to see! I guess I just can't sit there anymore or my mind becomes distracted. I don't know.
I like being able to tape shows because then I can FF thru the commercials. I don't have the patience for them.
I don't know the statistics but reading the posts on this topic made me think of all those famous people (from ages ago) who didn't HAVE television or any other type of electronics but had ADD. Television, computers, video games can not possibly cause ADD. I'm sure they don't help with distractability and focus issues but I think if we limit those activities, they can be less of a problem.
[/QUOTE]
I lived in a cabin/tent squat for a year and I could see what the difference was between that and "modern" life.
When you're hauling wood/water and building all day and such--it's a very different ADHD world. Because distraction doesn't matter. You pet a dog, talk to someone whatever--and then mosey on to the job.
Plus you're moving all day long, cutting down the hyper factor. I came out of it, solid muscle.
In modern life--space is limited. We live in houses, apartments, noise pollution, we have to "remember" to visit instead of wandering by and stopping at someone's place etc.
Housework is easier because it's simplified. I had the cleanest place in the squat.
Socializing is easier and we don't stand out as much. Socializing is "in the moment" not planned. Your friend's boyfriend is a jerk today? You sit down to a cuppa and talk right then, right there.
You'd truly be amazed our functioning in such an environment. It skyrockets.
Its funny that you put up this post on television. I have fairly severe ADD innatentive and have tried many different experiments with limiting my tv and computer usage. What seems to work for me the best in regards to keeping my daily focus is no television at all, just dvds and dowloaded programs. And if I do decide to watch television its usually at a friends house. Also Ive watched programs and muted the commercials. I'm sure some adders watch some of these commercials and are almost offended by the redundant idiocy or uncreativeness that 90% of them are feeding us- especially during NFL games. Try it, watch all the commercials during a football game, you might end up mentally retarded! For internet, I just try to get on for a specific purpose or I'll be on there for countless hours. For me I had my Sat TV turned off. It was just causing me too many problems. I get more done now
and my anxiety has improved. I don't get online as much either. I would say that TV can cause more
problems for somebody who has ADHD than somebody who dose'nt.
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