A non-drug therapeutic strategy, cognitive remediation is a rehabilitation technique aimed at children with ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder with or without Hyperactivity). Supervised by a professional and carried out after a neuropsychological assessment, it aims to reduce the impact of their difficulties through repeated exercises, targeted at the deficit most accessible to rehabilitation. An overview.
What is cognitive remediation?
Just as speech and language therapy techniques ease language or writing disorders, cognitive remediation techniques can help retrain the cognitive functions impaired by attention deficit disorder (ADHD). The main cognitive functions being attention, memory, working memory, executive functions, visuospatial functions, and social cognition.
Cognitive remediation brings together therapeutic tools aimed at reducing the difficulties faced by children with ADHD. To do this, it uses fun exercises or group games, organised into a programme, with expected results for a given patient profile. Each programme then targets one or more cognitive processes to work on.
How are cognitive remediation programmes designed?
While cognitive remediation is a technique that can be carried out remotely, it must be supervised by a professional. Normally, the rehabilitation programme is built based on a neuropsychological assessment, which highlights the deficits of a child with ADHD.
After reviewing it, the neuropsychologist establishes a strategy with precise parameters, in terms of content and duration. While the exercises can be done on a computer or on paper, it’s essential to adapt their level to the child’s needs, so as not to set them up for immediate difficulty with overly ambitious goals, which could lead to failure and discouragement.
Generally, parents are asked to help their child go over the exercises done and carry over their benefits into everyday life. The same can apply to teachers, regarding the child’s schooling.
What exercises can children with ADHD practise?
There is a whole range of exercises and activities for cognitive remediation aimed at children with ADHD. On computer, there are programmes such as COGMED® or NeuronUp. The latter mainly offers activities focused on executive functions and attention.
For example, with “Let the match begin,” the child with ADHD must sort the footballs to one side and the basketballs to the other, while they remain constantly moving. This works on planning, sustained selective attention, as well as processing speed and hemineglect (the inability or slowness to direct attention to the side opposite a brain lesion).
With “letter hide-and-seek,” the child must search exclusively for the requested letter among a wide range of other letters. With “find the different picture” among 3 choices, they work on processing speed. With “numbers out of order,” they must sort them by value, actively working on their reasoning. And so on.
Don’t hesitate to reach out to the professionals on the Ora-Visio platform, to discuss cognitive remediation with them and, if appropriate, set it up for your child with ADHD.
