A new study published in the Official Journal of the American Academy of Pediatrics strongly suggests that children who play a lot of video games might actually be doing harm to their attention spans. The survey followed 1,323 elementary school students for over a year and found that those who play games more than two hours a day are 67 % more likely to have attention problems such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which is a similar correlation as found in other studies surrounding television consumption.
However, the study concedes it can only prove correlation, not causation and goes on to say that there are holes in this theory – as video games require concentration and focus which is something someone with ADHD will lack.
Of course, this hasn’t stopped the tabloids jumping all over this like flies on poop. Metro are running with the headline ‘Video games are linked to ADHD’ – and promptly goes on to list all the negatives from the study, and none of the actual conclusions.
Speaking personally, I’ve been playing video games for twenty three years now and yet I manage to function perfectly well in society. Are these studies a valuable resource, or just a waste of money?
Source: Gamasutra
jayjay119
Wow, I didn’t realize foetuses could play video games, some amazingly advanced kids people are having there, surely that should be the focus of an inaccurate article rather than pseudo science of a condition that strikes children at birth.
DJ-Katy
Dan that article was really way too long, I lost concentration after the first paragraph.
Now I forgot what I was doing before I opened TSA.
Dexter17
Wouldn’t all this money that they spend researching this stuff be better used to research something like cancer?
MXZ
Im not insane because i game, i game because im insane
crazyoaktree
Who cares. I am still going to let my kids play games.
tinman9
We know TV was having an impact on your young son..hence the TV ban.
The change in him recently has been amazing…more alert, engaging and developing much better.