Gamertell

It’s difficult for the parents of a child diagnosed with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) to find ways to control their child’s disorder and help him or her live a normal childhood.

PopCap Games recently contracted Information Solutions Group to conduct a unique survey in April 2008 in which 2,728 respondents (of the 13,296 casual gamers surveyed) indicated they or someone they are caring for has a disability (and of the 2,728 respondents, 422 claimed to be taking care of children ranging from 5 to 17 years old). Some claimed that the person they are caring does have ADHD.

The reason for PopCap’s survey is that casual games may offer a way to help ADHD children and parents control the disorder. According to the survey, children with ADHD appear to benefit by playing casual games.

The following is a list of short-term and long-term benefits of casual gaming based on responses from 220 children diagnosed with ADHD who participated in the survey through their caregivers. According to the survey, respondents claimed that after playing casual games:

• 83% of the children claimed their concentration and attention spans have improved.
• 70% claimed their hand-eye coordination and manual dexterity have improved.
• 64% said they are relaxed and feel relieved of stress.
• 60% claimed they are able to learn and perform basic skills such as (pattern recognition, resource allocation, spelling and typing skills.) 
• 56% claimed the games offered mental workouts, strengthens memory and kept them mentally sharp and focused.
• 55% claimed casual gaming was mood-lifting.
• 51% claimed they received positive affirmation, have increased confidence and sense of accomplishment for themselves.

Forty-three (43) percent of the respondents claimed they played at least two to three times per week, 43 percent claimed they played daily and the remaining 8 percent play only once a week. The length of each game session varied between those surveyed.
Of the children interviewed, 24 percent seemed to enjoy puzzle games like PopCap’s Bejeweled and Tetris while 16 percent of the children showed interest in games like Platypus and Diner Dash and 13 percent of the children were drawn to araade-style games such as Peggle which seems to be the favorite.

Site [PopCap Games]  Read [Develop]