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    Fidget To Focus Sensory System Impact On ADHD Minnesota

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    Martín Flei
    1) The document discusses how sensory strategies can help improve attention and focus for those with ADHD by providing optimal stimulation. 2) It explains that people with ADHD often fidget and seek novelty/stimulation due to underactivity in critical brain areas, and certain sensory strategies can help modulate this system. 3) The document provides many examples of "facilitating focusing fidgets" across different senses like touch, sound, taste, and movement that can be used to increase attention when bored.

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    Fidget To Focus Sensory System Impact On ADHD Minnesota

    Uploaded by

    Martín Flei
    397 views34 pages
    1) The document discusses how sensory strategies can help improve attention and focus for those with ADHD by providing optimal stimulation. 2) It explains that people with ADHD often fidget and seek novelty/stimulation due to underactivity in critical brain areas, and certain sensory strategies can help modulate this system. 3) The document provides many examples of "facilitating focusing fidgets" across different senses like touch, sound, taste, and movement that can be used to increase attention when bored.

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    Fidget to Focus Sensory System Impact on ADHD Minnesota

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    1) The document discusses how sensory strategies can help improve attention and focus for those with ADHD by providing optimal stimulation. 2) It explains that people with ADHD often fidget and seek novelty/stimulation due to underactivity in critical brain areas, and certain sensory strategies can help modulate this system. 3) The document provides many examples of "facilitating focusing fidgets" across different senses like touch, sound, taste, and movement that can be used to increase attention when bored.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    397 views34 pages

    Fidget To Focus Sensory System Impact On ADHD Minnesota

    Uploaded by

    Martín Flei
    1) The document discusses how sensory strategies can help improve attention and focus for those with ADHD by providing optimal stimulation. 2) It explains that people with ADHD often fidget and seek novelty/stimulation due to underactivity in critical brain areas, and certain sensory strategies can help modulate this system. 3) The document provides many examples of "facilitating focusing fidgets" across different senses like touch, sound, taste, and movement that can be used to increase attention when bored.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
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    The document discusses how sensory input and movement can positively impact learning and attention. Traditional ideas of stillness and passive learning are outdated.

    The document discusses how learning is influenced by sensory system activity and how a shift towards more active, mindful learning has occurred. Movement and varying perspectives can improve attention and memory.

    Some strategies discussed for increasing attention and memory include chewing gum, exercise, doodling, and using fidget toys. Movement in general is proposed to help focus, especially for those with ADHD.

    How our Sensory System impacts ADHD and Executive Functions

    Roland Rotz, PhD www.DocRotz.com


    Education Minnesota Professional Conference October 15, 2009

    Overview
    Learning is heavily influenced by activity in our sensory system. A gradual shift in the way children learn has changed how we teach.
    Sit Still and Pay Attention~ Outdated! Mindful Learning: A shift in how to learn

    Fidget to Focus: Sensory strategies for attention and learning

    Recent Innovations in movement for the Classroom

    Traditional Learning
    Stillness is an essential element of attention Movement and variation of perspective hamper attention and concentration Repetition and Just give me the facts! Governed by rule and routine Depends upon impressions drawn by others Passive vs. Active Learning

    Rising Tide of Passive Learning


    Television and movies replace reading as primary source of entertainment Less practice actively imagining More practice passively watching Reading Comprehension scores decline Children everywhere: Im Bored! Simply sitting still and listening no longer engages the childs imagination

    Mindful Learning (E. Langer,1997)


    The simple act of drawing novel distinctions A flexible state of mind Actively engaged in the present Noticing new things Sensitive to context Seeking alternative ways of knowing Rules and routine guide but do not predetermine behavior

    Movement to Increase Attention

    Carson,Shih,Langer, 2001, J of Adult Dev.

    Study: Sit Still and Pay Attention? Students were asked to view and remember landmarks and locations on a world map 3 groups: Sit Still, Shuffle, and Walk Kids in the Walk group identified sig. more landmarks than kids in the Sit Still group 24% of Sit Still group reported: Distracted By varying perspectives attention & memory improve! ADHD moving kids did best!

    Movement improves Attention and Memory


    Chewing gum improves memory and working memory. Wilkinson, L., Scholey, A. &
    Wesnes, K. (2002), Baker, J. R., et.al. (2004)

    Cardiovascular exercise improves attention, memory and many other functions.


    Ratey, J. Spark (2008)

    Doodling while listening helps memory recall. Andrade, J. (2009)


    Tangles in the classroom: Found to help focus and improve concentration. Zawitz, R. (2009)

    ADHD: Brief Definition


    Symptoms of Executive Function Inattention Impulse Control Hyperactivity
    We understand the neurology of inattention and impulse control, but why do we fidget?

    Why Do We Fidget?

    Just one more round of Nintendo and Ill be done with my homework!

    Optimal Stimulation Theory Sydney Zentall


    Theory suggests: people actively seek some optimal levels of stimulation. ADHD children and adults require more stimulation and novelty than others. They seek heightened levels of activity or stimulation through their environment. She conducted a series of tests demonstrating that adding environmental and task stimulation improved the performance and behavior of children with ADHD.

    Fidget to Focus: A Shift in Understanding!


    Critical areas of the brain are underactive and dysregulated Underactivity is experienced as boring or tedious Underactivity is intolerable Boredom is avoided by seeking stimulation Looks like Attention Surplus Disorder Some sensory strategies facilitate focus while other strategies interrupt focus

    Allen Zametkin, NIMH

    BOREDOM vs. INTEREST

    IMPORTANT

    Fidget Strategy at its Worst

    Fidget by default Unplanned and unintended Interrupts rather than focuses

    Facilitating Focusing Fidgets


    Simultaneous Sensory Stimulation Strategies Short term modulation of a disregulated system: Usually when bored! Rhythmic Recent evidence of sustained change from persistent use of some of these strategies.

    Facilitating Focusing Fidgets


    Which of your senses works best and which is worst for information gathering? Best sensory method = interest. Worst sensory method = boredom. Simultaneous application of worst and best senses improves focus during tedious or underwhelming event.

    Movement Strategies
    Running, walking, yoga, guided imagery Tapping fingers, wiggling legs or toes Rhythm of rocking, knitting Chewing, biting, sucking, smoking Doodling, spinning drumsticks Challenging Gravity Movements: Standing up or pacing Balancing on back two legs of a chair An arm extended in the air to fall asleep

    Touch Strategies
    Tactile, Textural, or Temperature Quality Fidgeting with hair, skin, coins or keys Fidgeting with toys like Tangles Clicking a pen, mechanical pencil Tapping, drumming or rubbing fingers Knitting, sewing Cooking, kneading, stirring Silkies, blankies or favorite old shirt Cold showers or cool/warm air

    Sight Strategies
    Television Video games Channel surfing Noticing details in a room Glancing out a window Watching a flickering candle or fireplace Watching a pendulum Using colorful tools ie. markers

    Sound Strategies
    Music: familiar, often with a beat Drumming White noise Water fountains, waterfalls Whistling Humming Reading outloud Hearing passing cars Overhead fans

    Taste Strategies
    Sweet/sour candies Mint flavors Spices in foods, like ginger Taste of Starbucks Flavored teas Taste of adrenaline Taste of fear

    Smell Strategies
    Flavored pens Fresh crisp air Ammonia in smelling salts Aroma Therapy
    Lavender oil vs Lemon oil

    Perfumes and cologne Cinnamon rolls in the mall Smoke

    Time Strategies I will never be the tortoise!

    Procrastination Time sprints Count down timers Timers on your computer

    Companion Strategies
    Body double Study buddy, tutor Workout partner Family or parent Teacher Personal assistant Coach or Therapist or Organizer

    Fidget Strategies: Parents


    Choose to be Interested and Interesting Blend to create the ideal vacation Be curious daily! Keep your promises in focus: Intensify them Walk and talk Markers on the mirror to communicate Family calendars Encourage passion: Daily

    Fidget Strategies: School


    Multi-sensory teaching Reading to background music Standup desks or sitting on exercise balls Standing, swaying or chewing gum Respectful fidgeting with Tangle toys Reading aloud with enthusiasm Anticipating arousal shifts in transitions Brain Gym exercises Sprint strategies to manage time/projects Teach self-monitoring and self-regulation

    Fidget Strategies: Falling Asleep


    Listen to iPod or CD: familiar music Listen to TV, fan, white noise Read a mildly interesting book Silkies or wrinklies Gentle, repetitive movements Guided imagery or Pzizz.com Arm balanced in the air Vibrating pillows, beds

    Fidget Strategies: Waking Up


    Multiple alarms placed in strategic places Alarm to take medication hour early Nagging parent Vibrating, rolling, or flying alarm clock 2 glasses of water at bedtime Promise to awaken a friend or ask a friend to wake you up.

    Fidget Strategies: Summing Up


    Notice the natural rhythms around you Find your personal rhythm Listen to the rhythm of your senses, find your strength and your struggle Blend your senses to create focus Chose effective and respectful fidgets The selective rhythm of sensory movement is exercising for your brain

    Fidget Strategies: Summing Up


    Living life with ADD is to be creatively eccentric
    Embrace the passion Notice the differences Expect the unexpected Find the rhythm in the chaos

    Fidget with Attitude Do it with respect for yourself and others Welcome to the fraternity of those who
    Fidget to Focus

    Why do we fidget? Because we can!


    www.FidgetToFocus.com Roland Rotz, PhD

    www.FidgetToFocus.com

    Join our blog at Fidget to Focus.com [email protected]

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