1. Technology and the Special Needs Learner: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Group Members: Lorraine Constantine Sara Ramcharan Alicia Webster

2. Learn About: What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder? Modern Technologies that can be used to aid the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) About ADHD Technology Concentration and ADHD References

3. Common symptoms of ADHD can include Failing to give close attention to details or making careless mistakes Difficulty sustaining attention to tasks Appearing not to listen when spoken to directly Failing to follow instructions carefully and completely Losing or forgetting important things Feeling restless or fidgeting Talking excessively or blurting out answers before hearing the entire question.

4. At present, ADHD is a diagnosis made in people who demonstrate chronic, unchanging and persistent symptoms across a number of settings. Although people identify with some of these symptoms at different times in their lives, ADHD is a disorder starting in childhood that may persist into adulthood. Childhood onset is the cornerstone of the diagnosis. There is no such disorder as "adult-onset ADHD."

5. What is it? According to Hallahan, Kauffman and Puller Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition characterized by severe problems of inattention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity which is often found in people with learning disabilities.

6. Modern Technologies that can be used to aid the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Electronic math worksheet software Talking calculators Audio books and reading software Portable word processors Speech-recognition programs Word-prediction software

7. About ADHD Technology Electronic math worksheet software – This software is where the student would be able to do math problems. They would be able to organize their work much easier and be able to concentrate on the task at hand. Other products to consider are the Mathpad and Math Talk. Talking calculators – as the name suggests these calculators read aloud each number, symbol and operation key as well as the answers.

8. Audio books and reading software – these programs would enable the students to have text read to them in a number of ways, CDs, MP3 and special playback units which would allow users to go through. This would help the students with their reading and they will also be able to be attentive and learn something.

9. Audio books and reading software. Recorded books allow users to listen to text, and they are available in a variety of formats: audiocassette, CD, and MP3 download. Special playback units allow users to search and bookmark pages and chapters. Products and services to consider:Audible.com and bookshare.org allow students to listen to books on the computer or to download and burn on CDs. Kurzweil 3000 (kurzweiledu.com ) improves reading speed and comprehension by enabling a student to convert print to electronic text. This program includes both visual and auditory feedback to help an attention deficit student understand and retain what he is reading.

10. Optical character recognition (OCR) programs allow a student to scan printed material into a computer or handheld unit. The scanned text is then read aloud by a speech synthesis/screen reading system. OCR is available in stand-alone units, as software, and as portable, pocket-sized devices that display words on an easy-to-read screen. Scanning pens are perfect for library research and other reading that doesn’t involve a computer. This device scans text as it’s dragged along the page. The pen displays the words on an easy-to-read screen, speaks them aloud, and provides definitions.

11. Products to consider: WYNN Literacy Software Solution (freedomscientific.com), Quicktionary 2 Scanning Translator and Reading pen Basic Edition (both available at wizcomtech.com).

12. Speech synthesizers/screen reader systems can display and read aloud text on a computer screen, including text that has been typed by a student, scanned in from printed pages (books, letters), or material from the Internet. Products to consider: Aspire Reader 4.0 (axistive.com), ClassMate Reader (humanware.com), and Read&Write Gold (texthelp.com).

13. Audio books and reading software. Recorded books allow users to listen to text, and they are available in a variety of formats: audiocassette, CD, and MP3 download. Special playback units allow users to search and bookmark pages and chapters. Products and services to consider:Audible.comand bookshare.org allow students to listen to books on the computer or to download and burn on CDs. Kurzweil 3000 (kurzweiledu.com ) improves reading speed and comprehension by enabling a student to convert print to electronic text. This program includes both visual and auditory feedback to help an attention deficit student understand and retain what he is reading.

14. Portable word processors -are lightweight devices that look like a computer keyboard with a screen. They can be helpful to ADHD children who have trouble with handwriting. These battery-powered machines can be brought to school for note-taking and writing assignments. At home, files can be transferred to a PC or Mac. Some portable word processors come pre-loaded with word prediction and text-to-speech software. Products to consider:AlphaSmart Writer Learning Neo (renlearn.com), Fusion (writerlearning.com), and QuickPad (quickpad.com).

15. Speech-recognition programs allow a student to read aloud into a microphone and see his words appear on a computer screen. The software is especially helpful for students whose oral language skills are superior to their writing skills.Products to consider: Dragon NaturallySpeaking (nuance.com), Simply Speaking (simplyspeakinginc.com), ViaVoice (nuance.com), and MacSpeech (macspeech.com).

16. (simplyspeakinginc.com), ViaVoice (nuance.com), and MacSpeech (macspeech.com). Word-prediction software “predicts” the word the user intends to type, expanding his vocabulary and improving written expression. These programs can assist attention deficit students in producing grammatically correct and topic-specific sentences and paragraphs on a word processor. Products to consider: Aurora Suite (aurora-systems.com), Co:Writer (donjohnston.com), EZ Keys (words-plus.com), and WordQ (wordq.com).

17. By Kristin Stanberry and Marshall H. Raskind, Ph.D., GreatSchools.net staff. This piece is reprinted with permission from greatschools.net, Copyright 2009.

18. Concentration and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder According to Oldroyd Carole (2011) Brainwaves, when digitally converted into music as done at the Brain Music Therapy Center in New York, resemble classical piano music. This type of sound is reported to increase concentration and help curb Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms, according to Dr. Galina Mindlin, who participated in the center's research.

19. Concentration and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Classical music is shown to have a calming effect on students suffering from ADHD, which could help them focus better on study material

20. http://de.ioffer.com/si/audio+books?price=2 http://www.acciinc.com/Test/test/Software/Calculator_Skills.htm http://www.buzzle.com/articles/behaviors-of-adhd-kids-in-the-classroom.html http://www.engadget.com/2004/08/31/the-alphasmart-neo-portable-word-processor/ http://www.pharmacytimes.com/issue/pharmacy/2009/2009-06/RxfocusADHD-0609 Oldroyd Carole (2011). Concentration and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Retreived on March 05th 2011 from: http://www.ehow.com/list_6572315_effects-music-study-habits-students.html ADHD--Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (2011). Retrieved on March 05th 2011 from: http://www.livestrong.com/article/14272-adhd-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/ Reference

21. Oldroyd Carole (2011). Concentration and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Retreived on March 05th 2011 from: http://www.ehow.com/list_6572315_effects-music-study-habits-students.html ADHD--Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (2011). Retrieved on March 05th 2011 from: http://www.livestrong.com/article/14272-adhd-attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder/ Reference

23. 2011.Behaviors of ADHD Kids in the Classroom. Retrieved on March 03rd 2011 from: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/behaviors-of-adhd-kids-in-the-classroom.html

24. Hieber Robin (2009). Let’s focus on ADHD. Retrieved on March 03rd 2011 from: http://www.engadget.com/2004/08/31/the-alphasmart-neo-portable-word-processor/

25. Rojas Peter (2011). The AlphaSmart Neo portable word processor. Retrieved on March 03rd 2011 from: http://www.engadget.com/2004/08/31/the-alphasmart-neo-portable-word-processor/

26. http://de.ioffer.com/si/audio+books?price=2Reference

27. Hieber Robin (2009r/ Let’s focus on ADHD. Retrieved on March 03rd 2011 from: http://www.pharmacytimes.com/issue/pharmacy/2009/2009-06/RxfocusADHD-0609 2011.Behaviors of ADHD Kids in the Classroom. Retrieved on March 03rd 2011 from: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/behaviors-of-adhd-kids-in-the-classroom.html 2011. Argumentative Communication Consultants Inc. Retrieved on March 03 2011 from: http://www.acciinc.com/Test/test/Software/Calculator_Skills.htm http://de.ioffer.com/si/audio+books?price=2 Rojas Peter (2011). The AlphaSmart Neo portable word processor. Retrieved on March 03rd 2011 from: http://www.engadget.com/2004/08/31/the-alphasmart-neo-portable-word-processo Reference

28. Questions What is ADHD? 2. State 3 technologies that can be used in teaching ADHD students. Briefly describe each. 3. Where can these technologies be used? 4. State any other ADHA technologies you may know of. 5. Do you think that ADHA students can benefit from inclusive education?