Entries by Terry - Focused Distractions

Thursday, March 6. 2008

Cogmed Working Memory Training

From time to time I like to pass along ADHD related information, tools and resources that I have found to be helpful and that I think you might enjoy knowing about. Much is happening in the area of brain research and memory training programs; something I personally am very interested in learning more about.

In fact, after talking to a number of highly esteemed colleagues, including Dr. David Rabiner, senior researcher at Duke University, I contacted a company called Cogmed, after hearing how impressed these professionals were with the positive outcomes their clients experienced in using their Cogmed Working Memory Training. Intrigued, I have started my own personal training and have so far become impressed enough to want to share this interesting resource with you.

Cogmed Working Memory Training is a software-based intervention designed to improve working memory in children and adults. Through active and engaging exercises, children and adults train at home five days a week for five weeks. Every participant has a Personal Coach at a Cogmed Qualified Practice who leads the training, analyzes results and provides encouragement through weekly phone calls.

Published, peer-reviewed and controlled clinical studies have demonstrated that, upon completion of Cogmed Working Memory Training, 80% of participants have significantly improved their ability to concentrate and use complex reasoning skills over the long term.

Since beginning my own Cogmed Working Memory Training and noticing early positive results, I have become involved with some small projects involving Cogmed as a paid consultant. Of course, there is always the potential to bias, so though I’ve reviewed the research and am excited at what I see both in the research, talking to colleagues and through my own personal experience, I would urge you to draw your own conclusions.

To learn more about the Cogmed Working Memory Training, visit their website at www.cogmed.com

Posted by Terry at 12:51 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)

Thursday, January 10. 2008

Lumosity Brain Fitness Program: Improve Attention, Memory and Cognition

This is interesting; a brain fitness program which is designed to improve memory, attention and cognitive function through a series of web-based games and exercises. Now I LOVE computer games and have been playing Brain Gym on my Nintendo DS. But this is different-

It's developed by some of the leading neuroscientists in the country, and according to their website, Lumosity users have experienced:

Clearer and quicker thinking
Improved memory for names, numbers, directions, etc.
Increased alertness and awareness
Elevated mood
Better concentration at work or while driving

There's a free trial, so I'm going to check it out. If you do, too, let me know what you think.

The free trial can be accessed HERE.

Posted by Terry at 21:24 | Comments (3) | Trackbacks (0)

Monday, December 31. 2007

New Year's Resolution Challenge!

Yikes- it's almost here!

Please join me at www.ADHDcentral.com where I have a New Year's Resolution Challenge going. Basically, it's a place where anyone can post a resolution AND get support while working on achieving your goal.

Maybe you want to start a diet. Or de-clutter a closet. Or unpack your suitcase from your summer trip. We don't care; we just want you to move forward and get ONE thing accomplished.

So, join me - post your resolution HERE.

Posted by Terry at 00:41 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Saturday, December 22. 2007

Terry Goes to the Eye Doctor: An ADD Nightmare

Is it just me, or is going to the eye doctor an ADD nightmare?

First, oh my...here it comes- the...EYE DROPS FROM HELL. With my sensory issues, they feel like blow darts hitting my eyeballs. I want to duck, to run, but no, I try to stay still. Inevitably, the tech has to re-do them because sure enough, I can't stop from blinking.

As the exam begins, and the doctor presses the metal gizmo to my face, I get totally distracted from the view outside my peripheral vision; so much so, that I can't concentrate on looking at the letters in front of me. It's more than a little awkward to use the side of your hand to block out the visual distractions off the side of your eyes. But hey, I have no choice.

Then comes the biggest nightmare: --Opthomology Bingo--

Doctor: Which is better, 1 or 2?

Me: 1!

Doctor: Which is better: 2 or 3?

Me: 2!

Doctor: Which is better:1 or 2?

Me: Er...umm...can you do it again?

Doctor: Sure, which is better?

Me: I think 1. But I'm not sure- can you do it one more time? I'm really sorry...

Doctor: <trying to remain patient> Ok, no problem- WHICH IS BETTER, 1 or 2??

Me: <lying> 2! Yes, 2 is much better. Mmhmm!

Doctor repeats same torture on other eye.

Me, sweating now: Doctor, I was just, er..wondering...are there some placebos in this exam? I mean, sometimes they just all look the same. (What I'm really saying is, "After the first "1", they ALL look the same)

Doctor: Smiles evilly.

Exam is over. I drag myself out of the chair- exhausted from the ordeal- eyes dilated, and miraculously drive home without slamming into the back of a truck. (shouldn't there be a law against dilated driving?). Once home, I know that I'll be back at least twice for re-exams because for the life of me, I cannot tell the difference between 1 and 2 or 2 and 3.

You too?

Posted by Terry at 21:56 | Comments (7) | Trackbacks (0)

Thursday, December 20. 2007

Visit Me At www.adhdCentral.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

December 11, 2007

Prominent Therapist and Author Brings Expert Advice to Readers atHealthCentral’s ADHD Site

ARLINGTON, VA— The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.HealthCentral.com) today announced that Terry Matlen, prominent therapist, writer and advocate, is joining the team of experts on www.ADHDCentral.com . In addition to writing twice-weekly blogs and articles focusing on the latest research and tips for living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Matlen will be pioneering a weekly Q&A in which she will respond directly to users’ questions.

Matlen, a practicing psychotherapist who specializes in ADHD counseling, will be writing with the unique perspective of living with ADHD and raising a daughter with the condition.

“I'm excited and incredibly honored to have joined the staff at ADHDCentral.com,” Matlen said. “As an adult with ADHD parenting a child with ADHD, I feel I can see the big picture -- and thus be in the position of offering insight and empathy, while disseminating information to help parents, ADHD adults, educators, clinicians and other professionals looking to ADHDCentral for resources.”

"Terry is a huge asset to the ADHD community, and we’re delighted to have her join ADHDCentral.com," said Chris Schroeder, CEO and President of The HealthCentral Network. "HealthCentral’s mission to provide honest information about living with lifechanging conditions is realized in Terry, who is both a trained expert on ADHD, a caregiver, and living with it herself.”

About The HealthCentral Network

The HealthCentral Network, Inc. (www.healthcentral.com) is a new and unique online offering, comprised of over 30 general health and highly specific condition and wellness web properties, each committed to offering a voice in everyday and personal language people can understand and connect with at critical points in their lives. Each site provides timely, interactive, in-depth and trusted medical information (from Harvard Health Publications among others), and connections to leading experts and thousands of people who share their related experiences and inspiration.

The HealthCentral Network recently launched personal health tools including the most comprehensive web solution for caregivers managing their communities of friends and families (www.carecentral.com). The company also produces the nationally syndicated television show, "Medical Breakthroughs with Dr. Dean Edell," and has a library of nearly 1,000 short-form, condition-specific videos throughout its network.

The HealthCentral Network was acquired in 2005 by Polaris Ventures, Sequoia Capital, The Carlyle Group and Allen & Company, and has built a management team that combines decades of experience in interactive media and medical, science and news journalism. The company received top recognition from The International Health and Medical Media Awards with a 2006 FREDDIE Award for MyDiabetesCentral.com and the Health Care Standard of Excellence WebAward from the Web Marketing Association.

Contact: The HealthCentral Network

Lucie Leblois, Director of Marketing

leblois@THCN.com

703.302.1053

###

Posted by Terry at 23:56 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Wednesday, December 12. 2007

I am NOT an ADDer

Ok, I'm prepared to take the heat on this one. But I have to speak up. The truth is...

I HATE the term "ADDer."

I am a woman who happens to have ADHD. I'm a mother with ADHD. I'm a clinician with ADHD. However, I am not an ADDer. I know many of my friends and colleagues use that term and each time I read it, I cringe.

Just like someone with depression is not a depressionER, or one with bipolar is not a bipolarER, I am not an ADDer. I don't like being defined by my condition, period. To me, it makes light of it and also makes it sound trendy and almost cultish.

So, flame away. I put it out there, I can take your comments, good or bad. Gulp.

Posted by Terry at 23:22 | Comments (9) | Trackbacks (0)

Thursday, December 6. 2007

Test Your Brain

I've gotten more interested in brain science these days. Maybe because I'm getting older and notice that my memory is getting worse..and worse..and worse. And having ADHD only accentuates the loss even more.

I found a neat website where you can test various brain functions- working memory, differentiating spoken words from background noises, and more. They even offer a computer program to improve your cognitive functioning.

Try the tests HERE and see what you think. But don't despair; my guess is that many with ADHD will have problems with these. I really struggled on some of these tests.

Posted by Terry at 23:00 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)

Saturday, December 1. 2007

Who Invented the Dashboard?

We with ADHD know how important visual cues are. Especially visual cues that you can prominently see, right? So when I realized - almost too late - that I was about to run out of gas, I wondered who in the world designed some of the dashboards in our cars today. In my case, I can hardly see the gas gauge. It was a close call....

www.addconsults.com

Posted by Terry at 21:19 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)

Friday, November 30. 2007

Being Bored is the Enemy

Torture. Being bored = being tortured. That's why I always have to be doing something even if there's nothing to do. I'm constantly taking my daughter to variou appointments, which means hours waiting in offices. So what's an ADD brain to do? I bring my Gameboy, books, magazines, etc.

But I just heard about this little gadget and thought I'd share it here. It's Amazon's new Kindle, a wireless, portable reading device. What's cool about it is that it "connects" like a cell phone. Meaning, you can download books, magazines, etc etc ANYWHERE that a cell phone works. Check it out HERE:

Your bored days are over! Check it out HERE

Posted by Terry at 09:23 | Comments (2) | Trackbacks (0)

Sunday, November 25. 2007

Zowie! Have your Holiday Cards sent FOR You!

A task many of us hate to do or..forget TO do. Never again, though. Have your cards sent out FOR you- holiday, birthday, you name it. Check it out HERE.

Posted by Terry at 17:22 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Wednesday, November 21. 2007

...Just Bring Some Cheese

cheese www.addconsults.com

The request seemed easy enough. After all, she didn't ask me to bring a turkey. Or stuffing. Or even the no-brainer green bean casserole. And I was more than capable of bringing desserts (IOW, asking my daughter to bake something).

No...my mother, sweet thing, thought she was doing me a favor by asking me to "only" bring the cheese for Thanksgiving appetizers. Did she hear the hesitancy in my voice when I said..."sure, mom- no problem."

I then had a nightmare unfolding in my head, thinking about all the MILLIONS of types of cheese available at even the dinkiest grocery stores. Since I don't eat cheese unless it's tossed on a hamburger, I have no idea what type one would bring for a holiday appetizer.

The next day, I was shopping at the supermarket with said daughter, when we landed at the cheese department. I broke out in a sweat. "Holy cow, Mackenzie! What kind of cheese should we bring to grandma's??"

I remember reading somewhere that it's nice to choose some hard, some soft. But...which ones? Some labels said "good for fondue (people still fondue??). Others said "good for cooking."

God help me.

In the end, we went with a block of cheddar and a soft brie.

Mom, next time, ask me to bring the green bean casserole. In my book, there's only one way to make that. And it's right on the soup can.

Posted by Terry at 18:02 | Comment (1) | Trackbacks (0)

Tuesday, November 13. 2007

Look at the Mouth!

The news was important- he needed to tell me, to share his day. But I was in major distraction mode. Sound familiar?

I recalled how I got through college; by sitting in the front row so that I could see my professor's mouth moving. If I couldn't see, I couldn't hear. If I can't hear, I can't learn.

So next time you find yourself drifting, remind yourself: LOOK AT THE MOUTH!

Posted by Terry at 09:29 | Comments (4) | Trackbacks (0)

Friday, November 9. 2007

Dog Days

...of summer are over. I could cry. So to cheer myself up- and anyone else who hates winter, here's a photo I took a few years back at our annual Basset Hound Parade. Yes, this is true- and they were all in costume, like this little fellow. Enjoy-

Posted by Terry at 22:48 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Thursday, November 8. 2007

New Organizing Magazine- WOW!

Finally..! I think I'm going to check this one out. If any of you receive this (it's new!), let us know what you think. Check it out HERE

Posted by Terry at 08:50 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

Monday, November 5. 2007

Exercise your Brain; End World Hunger

Caution: this is addicting. But in a good way. Play this vocabulary game and for every correct answer you get, they donate 10 grains of rice to the United Nations.

Feed the hungry, while exercising your brain:

http://www.freerice.com/index.php

Posted by Terry at 10:27 | Comments (0) | Trackbacks (0)

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