ADHD Treatment - Brain Training 4+

If you’re unaware, this app is essentially a series of games designed to help people with ADHD focus. The gameplay consists of grid with 9 squares between which various shapes of various colors jump. Users must press a button on the screen each time the color, shape, or grid location changes. At the start of each level the user is given a specific set of instruction (e.g. don’t tap blue or orange shapes, don’t tap after a square or circle, etc.). Users are given a score based on their accuracy and timing, and users need to attain a minimum score (usually 65%) to move onto the next level. Users do not have the ability to skip levels. The recommended way to achieve the best results with this app is to complete a certain number of levels each day. It works out to roughly 15-20 minutes depending on accuracy.

For the most part, I think this game is helpful. It forces users to shut out distractions and focus on the game.

However, towards later levels (>level 60), the game introduces a new challenge. For certain levels, users are told ahead of time that the shape will be static and only the grid location of the shape (a drum) and color will change. Users are also told that the shape will change ever x.x seconds. The goal of these levels are to anticipate the timing of the change and tap the on-screen button as quickly as possible.

For me, this represents a huge problem. Because while I have been forcing myself to focus on the game, I have zero sense of timing or rhythm. What’s worse is that these levels have a very high bar to pass. It typically takes me between .2 and .3 seconds to tap the screen after the drum shape changes color or location. Even without making any mistakes (I.e. pressing the button too soon) I can only score 59% with .2-.3 second response times. For me, this isn’t an issue of focus, which is what I believe this game is meant to test and improve, I am completely focused on the game.

It has been taking me upwards of 20 times to pass each rhythm level, so what was 15-20 minutes of play has become 45-60 minutes. It is so frustrating and discouraging to play these levels. My frustration is compounded by the inability to skip problem levels. I don’t know if I will be able to continue playing the game. And I can’t recommend this game until a change to scoring/the ability to skip levels is made.

If the goal is to use the app daily, the required reaction time of 0.09 seconds on level 90 has made it impossible to advance and ruined an otherwise good app for me.

I just spent $5 and the app doesn’t even work. There is nowhere to click to start the game. Am I missing something. All I can click on are settings and the “ADHD” button that describes the disorder.