fidget to focus sensory system impact on adhd minnesota

7/30/2019 Fidget to Focus Sensory System Impact on ADHD Minnesota

1/34

How our Sensory System impactsADHD and Executive Functions

Roland Rotz, PhDwww.DocRotz.com

Education Minnesota Professional Conference

October 15, 2009


2/34

Overview Learning is heavily influenced by activity in

our sensory system.

A gradual shift in the way children learn haschanged 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Sit Still and Pay Attention~ Outdated!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


3/34

Recent Innovations in

movement for the Classroom


4/34

Traditional Learning

Stillness is an essential element of attention

Movement and variation of perspectivehamper 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


5/34

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


6/34

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


7/34

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!


8/34

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 memoryrecall.Andrade, J. (2009)

Tanglesin the classroom: Found to help focus and

improve concentration. Zawitz, R. (2009)


9/34

ADHD: Brief Definition

Symptoms of Executive Function

Inattention

Impulse Control Hyperactivity

We understand the neurology ofinattention and impulse control, but

why do we fidget?


10/34

Why Do We Fidget?


11/34

Just one more

round of Nintendo

and Ill be donewith my

homework!


12/34

Optimal Stimulation Theory

Sydney Zentall Theory suggests: people actively seek someoptimal 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 demonstratingthat adding environmental and task stimulation

improved the performance and behavior of

children with ADHD.


13/34

Fidget to Focus:

A Shift in Understanding! Critical areas of the brain are underactive

and dysregulated

Underactivity is experienced as boring ortedious

Underactivity is intolerable

Boredom is avoided by seeking stimulation Looks like Attention Surplus Disorder

Some sensory strategies facilitate focus

while other strategies interrupt focus


14/34

Allen Zametkin, NIMH


15/34

BOREDOM vs. INTEREST

IMPORTANT


16/34

Fidget Strategy at its Worst

Fidget by default

Unplanned and unintended

Interrupts rather than focuses


17/34

Facilitating

Focusing Fidgets

Simultaneous Sensory Stimulation

Strategies Short term modulation of a disregulatedsystem: Usually when bored!

Rhythmic

Recent evidence of sustained changefrom persistent use of some of thesestrategies.


18/34

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 andbest senses improves focus during tediousor underwhelming event.


19/34

Movement Strategies

Running, walking, yoga, guided imagery

Tapping fingers, wiggling legs or toes

Rhythm of rocking, knitting

Chewing, biting, sucking, smoking

Doodling, spinning drumsticks

Challeng ing Gravi ty Movements :

Standing up or pacing

Balancing on back two legs of a chair

An arm extended in the air to fall asleep


20/34

Touch Strategies

Tac ti le, Tex tu ral, or Temperatu re Quali ty

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


21/34

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


22/34

Sound Strategies

Music: familiar, often with a beat

Drumming

White noise

Water fountains, waterfalls

Whistling

Humming

Reading outloud

Hearing passing cars

Overhead fans


23/34

Taste Strategies

Sweet/sour candies

Mint flavors

Spices in foods, like ginger Taste of Starbucks

Flavored teas

Taste of adrenaline

Taste of fear


24/34

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


25/34

Time Strategies

I will never be the tortoise!

Procrastination

Time sprints

Count down timers Timers on your computer


26/34

Companion Strategies

Body double

Study buddy, tutor

Workout partner Family or parent

Teacher

Personal assistant Coach or Therapist or Organizer


27/34

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


28/34

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


29/34

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


30/34

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.


31/34

Fidget Strategies:

Summing Up

Notice the natural rhythms around you

Find your personal rhythm

Listen to the rhythm of your senses, find yourstrength 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


32/34

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


33/34

Why do

we fidget?

Because

we can!

www.FidgetToFocus.com

Roland Rotz, PhD
http://www.fidgettofocus.com/http://www.fidgettofocus.com/


34/34

www.FidgetToFocus.com

Join our blog at Fidget to [email protected]

fidget to focus sensory system impact on adhd minnesota

Documents