[Computer assisted training of attention and concentration with healthy children]

The intention of this study was to analyze in how far a computer assisted training for brain damaged adults can be used for the practice with children. Healthy children of different ages were trained with this attention and concentration programme. The results should help to adapt the training programme for the use in brain damaged children. Age-groups differed significantly in level of performance. Data showed that in comparison to Kindergarten-children, first-grade children showed a higher benefit from the training. Implications for modifications of the training-programme are discussed. Other parameter of performance (reaction-time, errors) in relation to school age provide clues to the distribution of structure of difficulty in the programmes. A questionnaire assessing motivation before and during the training, intelligibility of the task, feasibility of the computer and adequacy of the test in children showed that sustained motivation can be achieved provided the training is used in an adaptive way. Thereby demotivating with too easy tasks as well as frustration caused by difficult tasks can be avoided. In general, there was good acceptance of the computerised cognitive training. The presence of a therapist during every training session proved to be necessary in children under the age of 6 years.