fidget to focus sensory system impact on adhd minnesota
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How our Sensory System impactsADHD and Executive Functions
Roland Rotz, PhDwww.DocRotz.com
Education Minnesota Professional Conference
October 15, 2009
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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Sit Still and Pay Attention~ Outdated!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
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Recent Innovations in
movement for the Classroom
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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
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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
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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
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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!
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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)
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ADHD: Brief Definition
Symptoms of Executive Function
Inattention
Impulse Control Hyperactivity
We understand the neurology ofinattention and impulse control, but
why do we fidget?
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Why Do We Fidget?
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Just one more
round of Nintendo
and Ill be donewith my
homework!
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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.
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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
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Allen Zametkin, NIMH
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BOREDOM vs. INTEREST
IMPORTANT
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Fidget Strategy at its Worst
Fidget by default
Unplanned and unintended
Interrupts rather than focuses
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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.
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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.
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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
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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
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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
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Sound Strategies
Music: familiar, often with a beat
Drumming
White noise
Water fountains, waterfalls
Whistling
Humming
Reading outloud
Hearing passing cars
Overhead fans
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Taste Strategies
Sweet/sour candies
Mint flavors
Spices in foods, like ginger Taste of Starbucks
Flavored teas
Taste of adrenaline
Taste of fear
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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
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Time Strategies
I will never be the tortoise!
Procrastination
Time sprints
Count down timers Timers on your computer
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Companion Strategies
Body double
Study buddy, tutor
Workout partner Family or parent
Teacher
Personal assistant Coach or Therapist or Organizer
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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
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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
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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
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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.
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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
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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
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Why do
we fidget?
Because
we can!
www.FidgetToFocus.com
Roland Rotz, PhD
http://www.fidgettofocus.com/http://www.fidgettofocus.com/ -
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www.FidgetToFocus.com
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