Investigating Current State-of-The-Art Applications of Supportive Technologies for Individuals with ADHD (2005.09993v1)

Abstract: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a chronic mental and behavioral disorder that interferes with everyday activities and has three core symptoms: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. To help in reducing the effects of ADHD symptoms, there are multiple treatments, but none of them help in curing ADHD. Assistive technologies offer great opportunities in delivering treatments, especially those related to behavioral interventions, monitoring, and changing in a more flexible, acceptable and accessible way. Focusing on assistive technology for children with ADHD is very important as early support during childhood prevents the manifestation of its symptoms before entering adulthood. This systematic literature review paper investigates the available studies covering assistive technologies for children with ADHD. The contribution of this paper can help Human-Computer Interaction researchers to identify the procedures and research methods used throughout requirements, design, and evaluation phases in developing assistive technology for children with ADHD. Moreover, it provides researchers with information regarding frameworks and protocols of conducting studies on ADHD, current available solutions, and their limitations.

• The paper conducts a Systematic Literature Review using the Kitchenham model to analyze trends and challenges in assistive technologies for individuals with ADHD in HCI literature.
• Findings highlight a strong focus on children and adolescents with ADHD, identifying key challenges but noting a research gap for adults and caregivers.
• The review categorizes diverse technological solutions and emphasizes user-centered design methods like prototyping and participatory design, highlighting the need for empirically-grounded interventions.

The paper "Investigating Current State-of-The-Art Applications of Supportive Technologies for Individuals with ADHD" conducts a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) to evaluate the current trends, challenges, and technological solutions designed for individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), within the domain of Human-Computer Interaction (HCI). The paper aims to provide a comprehensive analysis of assistive technologies targeted at ADHD, focusing explicitly on their application to individuals' needs across different contexts, design methodologies, and populations.

Key Focus Areas and Methodology

1. Systematic Literature Review (SLR) Methodology:
   • The review follows the Kitchenham model, known for rigorously outlining the process phases: planning, conducting, and documenting the review. The paper extracted literature from the Association for Computing Machinery Digital Library (ACM DL), evaluating scientific contributions from January 2007 to December 2017.
   • The research questions guide the SLR to address the inclusion of individuals with ADHD in design processes, methodologies employed, target populations, types of developed technologies, and descriptive design frameworks.
2. Challenges and Target Populations:
   • Predominantly focuses on children and adolescents with ADHD, reflecting the need for early intervention strategies to mitigate lifelong impacts.
   • Identified themes impacting individuals with ADHD include attention deficits, executive functioning, sensory processing disorders, learning deficits, and stress management.
   • Frameworks frequently highlighted children with ADHD as the primary population, albeit noting a research gap in addressing the needs of adults with ADHD and caregivers.
3. Technological Solutions and Design Frameworks:
   • The paper categorizes solutions into diverse technological interventions including wearable systems, mobile applications, tangible interfaces, and interactive gaming elements.
   • Innovative design frameworks such as Tangible User Interfaces (TUI), audio reward systems, and behavioral change methodologies are employed to enhance user engagement and effectiveness.
   • Prototyping emerges as a crucial tool during design phases, accentuating user-centered principles like Participatory Design (PD) and User-Centered Design (UCD).
4. Design Methods and Evaluation Techniques:
   • Participation of children in design methods enhances the utility of developed systems. Applied methods include prototyping, creative sessions, user testing, and questionnaires.
   • Evaluative studies often involve small sample sizes due to the niche nature and accessibility challenges, complicating replicability yet offering critical insights into real-world applicability.

Findings and Implications

• The paper reveals substantial efforts in exploring assistive technologies for ADHD, yet acknowledges significant gaps, particularly in addressing broader behavioral disorders and co-occurring conditions.
• Successful designs are typically grounded in existing empirical research, highlighting the necessity for integrating structured rewards, minimizing distractions, and leveraging multi-sensory feedback.

Limitations

• The investigation reveals a significant bias towards ACM publications, limiting broader academic perspective insights. Crucial demographic variables, such as socio-economic and racial profiles, go unreported, though they possess a pervasive influence on ADHD diagnosis and management strategies.
• The reviewed studies often lack control groups and sufficient heterogeneity among subjects, which may impact the generalizability of findings.

Conclusion

The paper emphasizes the vital role that assistive technologies play in improving daily and academic activities for individuals with ADHD, suggesting pathways for future research that expand beyond the predominant child-focused paradigm. There's a strong call for HCI researchers to address these existing gaps and utilize comprehensive design and evaluation methods that resonate with the lived experiences of individuals with ADHD. This paper provides a foundational framework for directing future research efforts in the domain, serving as a keystone for technology design aimed at ADHD intervention.