In 2003, a total of 4.4 million children between 4 and 17 had been diagnosed with ADHD at some point in their lives, according to the center for Disease Control and Prevention. Youngsters with deficits in working memory may exhibit many of the following:

• Rarely following instructions carefully and completely losing or forgetting things like
  toys, or pencils, books, and tools needed for a task;
  
• Will often skip from one uncompleted activity to another;
  
• Don’t write down assignments; forget or lose needed materials; forget to hand in
  completed work;
  
• Can’t hold multiple things in mind so are poor at abstract reasoning, math calculation,
  and understanding and retaining what they read;
  
• Tend to be easily distracted;
  
• Procrastinate, because beginning a complex task is so aversive.
  
• Daydream instead of listening during school;
  
• Is easily distracted by irrelevant sights and sounds;
  
• When completing homework will fail to pay attention to details and make
  careless mistakes.

Cogmed Working Memory Training is a research based program developed in conjunction with the Karolinska Institute, one of Europe’s leading researchers. Their research, published in leading scientific journals, show it is helpful for at least 80% of those who complete the program - now over 1,000 youngsters. Recently, their results were replicated in a pilot study at Notre Dame and further studies are underway at Harvard, Stanford, and NYU.

Karolinska Institute - Sweden

The program is software-based training for 30-45 minutes every weekday for five weeks. A parent or “training aide” provides support for all sessions and there is a weekly telephone coaching session to maximize effects of training. The software application, called RoboMemo©, features a series of 8 rotating exercises. As a child improves the exercises, RoboMemo dynamically increases the level of difficulty. Please be advised, training is difficult and demands a great deal of adult participation and coaching.The program has been used with ADHD individuals both on and off medication with equally good results, so we encourage young people who derive benefit from medication to continue to take medication while undergoing training.Results have been very gratifying, with 80% of those who complete the training showing good to outstanding results. Parents have reported the following gains:

• Better organized; room neater; better personal grooming.
  
• Remembers directions, routines (e.g. takes medication without reminders; learned locker
  combination and class schedule first day of school).
  
• Can “re-group” when frustrated. Seems to think twice before reacting. Fewer “meltdowns.”
  
• Better able to focus and sustain attention. Is able to re-focus if attention starts to wander.
  
• School routines, including homework are easier to manage.
  
• Is able to complete assignment, remember books, and turn in homework.
  
• Better able to understand and retain what he reads.
  
• Able to master math facts more easily.
  
• Greater self-confidence, overall maturity.
  
• Better social skills.
  
• Self-initiates tasks, chores, homework.

The most exciting aspect of the program is that results seem to be long-lasting with 40% stating they think the effects have increased and 42% reporting the effects remain over time 5 months after training is completed. For more information on how to start your child’s training, (contact).