U.S. Air Force Academy Research Helping Visual Attention Disorder

Main Category: ADHD
Also Included In: Autism;  Psychology / Psychiatry;  Mental Health
Article Date: 07 Dec 2006 - 9:00 PDT

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PointScribe, a cadet-designed computer program, combines interactive software with a touch-screen computer to help children with visual attention disorders stay focused on the task of learning how to write. Children with visual attention disorder have difficulty converging their eyes and hand on the writing surface.  This problem is common with autism, attention deficit disorder, cerebral palsy and Downs syndrome.

  The patent-pending PointScribe system uses sounds and animation to draw the child's eyes to the writing surface and keep the child focused on the task.  The software also allows parents to download the lesson plans and continue their child's lessons after school, thereby combining the efforts of the therapist and parent.

  The system was tested locally in Colorado Springs, Colo. The first child with cerebral palsy to test the system increased her attention span from one minute using the paper method to 15 minutes by simply using PointScribe. 

  "This is a revolutionary new product that will really help both the students and the occupational therapists," said Katie Zellmer, an Occupational Therapist with Academy School District 20.

  The program is currently being used in Illinois, Arkansas, Washington and Colorado.

The Research work being done at the U.S. Air Force Academy, at an undergraduate level, is currently benefiting children with autism enormously, say the researchers.

http://www.falconworks.org

United States Air Force Academy

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