study: TV watching and attention deficit

[sojourner52]

Possible explanations for the findings may be that the world portrayed on television makes real-life tasks seem boring in comparison, or that watching TV displaces the activities that encourage attention such as reading and playing games, the researchers said.
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,295686,00.html

this study focusses on children and the impact of their tv habits.

but I have found since giving up TV myself, that my own thinking is clearer and more focussed.
there are so many voices competing for our attention today - and most of them want to sell us something that we dont need or that is not beneficial. not just talking about commercials, either. we are constantly having our thoughts and emotions manipulated and dont even realize it. (the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, the pride of life.)
I am amazed at the difference it has made for me.

[Andy]

Re: study: TV watching and attention deficit

That may be true in some studies but I can assure you there really IS ADD that is just plain ADD. As a child I struggled BIG time with focus/concentration and this was long before they even knew ADD existed. Struggling to be a "C-Average" student it was frustrating, to say the least.

BTW, I was raised in a VERY strict home where we did NOT HAVE:

1. TV
2. Radio
3. Newspaper
4. ANY "worldy" source of entertainment or reading materials.

This to say: Some forms of ADD are true ADD and not brought on by environment alone. Yes, I admit (and have proven in my own life) that environment AFFECTS the ADD symptoms but it's not the only thing that drives it.

[sojourner52]

Re: study: TV watching and attention deficit

I have also heard that it has to do with the learning styles.

my son was diagnosed ADD but I never put him on the recommended drugs. which made the teacher and the doctor mad.

ADD and ritalin were new words back then (late 80s/early 90s) - they were still unsure of side effects, etc. and I just dont like chemicals being added to the body unnecessarily.

my son and I both knew his problem was organization. he needed structure and discipline - as well as less distraction. he made up his mind that he was going to turn his grades around and he did, on his own. without drugs.

he became a marine shortly after graduation and spent 8 yrs in the corps. talk about structure and discipline!

but that is what he thrives on.

[fmcginn]

Re: study: TV watching and attention deficit

HOWEVER I did find this -- heard this a while back:

For decades doctors have used biofeedback as a way to help control stress and tension. Now NASA technology adds a new twist by combining this mind-over-matter technique with the hand-eye coordination of video games.
http://oea.larc.nasa.gov/news_rels/2000/00-063.html

ALSO:

Video Games to treat ADD?

Can your child attend better in school by playing video games? NASA research on brain waves may soon have practical applications in this area. Alan Pope, Ph.D. and Olafur Pallson, Psy.D. have invented a way for Nintendo and Play Station games to be used to treat Attention Deficit Disorder. Pope is the NASA psychologist and electrical engineer who invented virtual reality biofeedback. In his research into human factors in aerospace he has studied ways to help pilots keep their attention focused during the sometimes monotonous task of flying a plane.
http://mentalhealth.about.com/cs/bio...a/videoadd.htm

Interesting however I would have them consume it 24/7

My boys play it but limited times and My oldest son has ADD, He can remember every detail and place in a gave w/in 1 hour of playing time.

Now Homework -- A different story after explaining to him 15 times, "Taylor, Explain what an equation is" for example....that is.

Cannot do it.
I don't get it.


Yet I don't have TV Cable or Dish of anytime type of that matter do to garbage I don't want my kids to see. So therefore we watch movies my husband and I approve of (also limited)

Felicia