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Autistic people can benefit from attention training – new study

aidie

this is an interesting study of how the autistic brain can be improved

Attention training in young people with autism can lead to significant improvements in academic performance, according to a new study.

Researchers at the University of Birmingham in the UK along with institutions in São Paolo, in Brazil, tested a computer programme designed to train basic attention skills among a group of autistic children aged between eight and 14 years old.

They found participants achieved improvements in maths, reading, writing and overall attention both immediately after undergoing the training and at a three-month follow up assessment

www.spectrumnews.org/.../

https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/aur.2566

Has anyone here improved themselves in anyway and how ?

was it self help or through a training course ?

Please share any experience no matter how small

Parents

  • I agree it's interesting but here's the thing - I can honestly say that my own autistic mind has improved no end since I (mostly!) gave up on the continual perceived need to improve myself, fit in and be accepted!  All of the striving and perfectionism over the years was wearing me out and it turned out that an ounce of acceptance went a lot further than ten tons of self improvement.  

    I guess it depends on your benchmarks though.  Mine are unlikely to be the same as those of these researchers.  Were any of the researcher themselves autistic, I wonder?  Did they work largely from a deficit-based model?  And were changes to the environment considered, in line with the needs indicated by any attention differences? 

    I sort of feel uneasy that there might be the unspoken assumption that it's autistic people who always need to improve and adapt when really it could be made easier for us (and others) if environments and teaching methods were made more autism-friendly.  Sure, all brains can be "improved" or used to maximum effect, but who gets to choose what counts as an improvement and why?    

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  • I agree it's interesting but here's the thing - I can honestly say that my own autistic mind has improved no end since I (mostly!) gave up on the continual perceived need to improve myself, fit in and be accepted!  All of the striving and perfectionism over the years was wearing me out and it turned out that an ounce of acceptance went a lot further than ten tons of self improvement.  

    I guess it depends on your benchmarks though.  Mine are unlikely to be the same as those of these researchers.  Were any of the researcher themselves autistic, I wonder?  Did they work largely from a deficit-based model?  And were changes to the environment considered, in line with the needs indicated by any attention differences? 

    I sort of feel uneasy that there might be the unspoken assumption that it's autistic people who always need to improve and adapt when really it could be made easier for us (and others) if environments and teaching methods were made more autism-friendly.  Sure, all brains can be "improved" or used to maximum effect, but who gets to choose what counts as an improvement and why?    

Children
  • in reply to Jenny Butterfly

    yes i do wonder sometimes  why are they doing it. 

    having said that I was interested because i have improved in that area (attention) myself.

    you are correct to stop the striving for someone or something out there to fix you. ( that part of buddhism  ).

    That acceptance u talk of is so correct and I am gald youare applying way better than me Slight smile

    I guess if it does work it can be delivered within schools to teach kids skills they need to get through examinations and indeed later the work environment.

    also there research would help those with autism + ADHD where the ADHD is more disruptive than the autism.

    yea its hard to decide want u should / should not be doing at times so thanks for your input.

    I was talking to "Adele M" yesterday and she may be coming back to this forum. i cant remember if you know her but she is a really nice and good person to know. So look out or her.