Computerized online cognitive training of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

Objective To evaluate the therapeutic effect of computerized online cognitive training for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Methods Fifteen children with ADHD recruited from Department of Neurology in the Children′s Hospital Affiliated to Capital Institute of Pediatrics received computerized online cognitive training including attention training, visual spatial training and memory training.Cognitive neuropsychological test battery (choice reaction time, mental rotation, word semantic, simple subtraction, working memory and visual tra-cing) was used to assess the cognitive function in pre-training and post-training stages, such as basic response ability, reaction speed, visuo-spatial cognitive ability, semantic comprehension, calculation fluency, working memory and attention ability.Paired-samples t test was used to make comparison of the cognitive test results between pre-training condition and post-training condition. Results All the correction scores of cognitive tests were transformed to percentile scores.Paired-samples t test results showed that the ADHD children got higher scores in the post-training condition than in the pre-training condition in working memory test [(52.00±20.77)% vs (39.73±23.64)%, t=2.72, P 0.05). Conclusions Computerized online cognitive training can significantly improve the working memory of children with ADHD, and has no side effects on other cognitive functions.It need to further expand the sample size and follow up the training effect for a long-term. Key words: Attention deficit hyper activity disorder; Computerized online cognitive training; Cognitive function test