Has anyone here used PlayAttention?

[JABarney]

Results, likes, dislikes, etc. ?

Thanks!

[Laurie4b]

http://www.myomancy.com/2005/10/play_attention_

Here's a short blurb from a blog that includes the price.

For that price, you might consider looking into Cogmed instead. All Cogmed providers are professionals (PhD's or MD's predominate.) The Cogmed program actually has several double-blind studies published in peer-reviewed journals. The studies were done by a Swedish researcher and the program before the program was made public. When we finish Brainware Safari, our plans are to move on to Cogmed.

(If you haven't tried Brainware, it is available through the Homeschool Buyer's Coop for somewhere in the $50-60 range. It normally retails for $349, but because of the group purchase power, the price is low through the co-op.) I have seen very noticeable differences in my son's ability to concentrate since we really got serious with Brainware (ie 20-30 min 5 days per week.)

[JABarney]

Thanks for the Cogmed suggestion. After a tremendous amount of research etc, we have decided to purchase Play Attention. I will keep you all updated with our progress or lack there of. Keep your fingers crossed for us, this was was not cheap and will require a lot of work on our part. (though seeing we are "do it yourselfers" anyway, whats one more thing right?!):w00t:

[JABarney]

laurie4b, thanks for the brainware safari suggestion too. At that price we are not going to pass it up. We will likely do the opposite of you folks though and start Brainware after Playattention. Thanks again for the Cogmed suggestion. It gave me something solid to compare playattention to. They are both very expensive, backed by scientific research, look very promising etc however play attention came with four home user licences and Cogmed only one. If you want more info I am happy to share what I have learned. Thanks again!

[Laurie4b]

Where did you find research on it? I didn't see any peer-reviewed stuff when I looked at it, but would be interested to know.

[Tara from Florida]

We have Play Attention. The best part of the program is the section where the blocks keep building when you concentrate and go back when you are not. This is always a good way to see how much focus is being given to a particular project (just have the child read or do whatever without looking at the screen).

I have to say that my child did find it a little boring and at times loudly complained that she really was paying attention when it wasn't showing that on the screen.

Having said all that, the biofeed back component, while not claiming to be medical in quality, is very sound science.

The only real draw back we had was with the helmet and the need to wet the contacts. My daughter has sensory processing disorder and has tactile defensiveness. She was not too keen on the wet sensation and that was a big distracter for her and often played a part in her not getting the scores she thought she deserved.

In the past we did PACE and I was very impressed with the results of that program (much more so than Play Attention), so much so, in fact that I became a PACE trainer. Nonetheless, I am always on the lookout for new science and technology. We have had very good results from AIT (Auditory Integration Training).

We did the homeschool buy in for Brainware Safari and although my daughter will do the activities, since there is no structure approaching the activities she, and other students I know, tend to do only those activities they are strongest in and leave the very ones they need to work on to the side. Parental coersion sometime has to come into play:tongue_smilie:

Currently I am working on something new that I think is the next best thing to PACE without the price tag. It is the online BrainSkills program. They also now offer on-line skills testing for only $29.95.

I have just up dated my web site with information and have a brand new blog entry discussing these programs.

I wish you well with whatever you do. I personally feel that there is no one program fits all, but some are better than others and some suite individuals better than others.

Sincerely,