Useful facts about attention spans and video games

People with ADHD tend to enjoy video games, but there's scant evidence that the games cause or contribute to the condition. Here's why.

• It's a good question, and one that hasn't been completely answered.
• There have been several small studies investigating the issue, and most haven't found any causal link between video games and ADHD.

• There's a definite chicken-and-egg conundrum when it comes to video games and ADHD.
• One recent study found that those who played video games for more than one hour a day showed more symptoms of ADHD than those who played for less time.
• On the other hand, experts know that children and teens with ADHD tend to enjoy the rapid stimulation of playing video games. This could explain the connection.
• An important note on the study: only two kids involved actually were actually diagnosed with ADHD.

• More severe symptoms of inattention and ADHD behaviour were found in students who played video games for more than one hour.
• But the connection between video games and ADHD is still unclear.
• Research has found that heavy internet users are more likely to exhibit ADHD symptoms, but again, studies haven't pinned down any causal effect.

• Limit your video game time to less than an hour a day, and set similar limits for youngsters.
• The heavy gamers in one study of high school students also got worse grades and had poorer social relationships than those who played video games less than an hour a day.
• There is one benefit to video games: playing them does seem to produce better hand-eye coordination.

Video-game haters like to blame many of society's ills on Pong and its spawn. But the highly lamented "short attention span" of the most recent generations may not be video games' fault. Either way, regulating video game time is never a bad idea, for you or the kids.