Improving performance: How to deal with ADHD

In a reality where many people, both children and adults, face attention and concentration challenges, technological solutions have emerged in recent years to improve quality of life. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is considered a neurological disorder that affects concentration, planning, and time management.

One of the advanced technological developments in this field is SPARKLES, designed to improve attention and concentration using advanced visual stimuli. The glasses aim to reduce distractions and help users stay focused on activities such as reading, studying, and everyday tasks.

"ADHD is a neurological disorder characterized by a wide range of symptoms," explains Tova Katz, an evaluator and expert in treating learning and attention disorders, and a longtime lecturer on learning disabilities and adapted teaching at Levinsky and Wingate Colleges. "The disorder focuses on difficulties in maintaining attention, along with challenges in executive functions such as organization and planning, as well as memory problems. It impacts many aspects of life – from the ability to concentrate in school to social, professional, and marital functioning. Sometimes, it affects long-term memory, task organization, and social relationships, with a person being perceived as inattentive or disorganized."

"It is a genetic disorder," she adds, "but external factors can trigger or exacerbate its symptoms. Children with ADHD often struggle to concentrate and follow what is happening during class, which can lead to poor achievements, low self-esteem, and frustration. Some function as 'underachievers', which increases the frustration of those around them who fail to understand the gap between the child's abilities and their actual achievements."

Katz emphasizes that children with ADHD may have difficulty learning and focusing over time and discusses several treatment methods: "From cognitive interventions that teach time and organization management, to medication."

Tova first heard about SPARKLES in a lecture about the product. After hearing about the research behind it, she decided to test it herself and recognized its potential. "The glasses are designed to reduce spatial distractions and enhance sustained focus on tasks like reading and learning," she explains. "It works on the visual field and affects brain areas impacted by attention disorders. It’s not just a fashionable solution, but also a tool that can significantly improve performance."

She reports being impressed with the product. "I had several patients who tried SPARKLES and reported amazing improvements," she says. "A student who struggled with reading was able to improve her reading speed and accuracy. A university student told me that the glasses helped him concentrate in lectures and study for extended periods without feeling distracted.

One of the boys even told me: 'I feel too focused' – he was able to concentrate on one task in an extraordinary way, which improved his learning quality."

"It is an innovative product, based on groundbreaking technology," explains Dr. Yael Richter, Vice President of Clinical Development and Regulation at SPARKLES. She explains how the glasses work, their benefits, and how they integrate into existing treatments for ADHD.

According to her, SPARKLES "work through an arousal mechanism, where visual stimuli that appear in the peripheral vision area increase the alertness and vigilance of the brain over time. As a result, users are able to maintain higher levels of attention and concentration for longer periods." In relation to medication, Dr. Richter explains that SPARKLES are a non-invasive solution that does not involve side effects like medication does.

"With the glasses, there may be minor side effects that usually pass after a week of adjustment," she emphasizes. "Another advantage is the immediate control over the effect. The user can put on or take off the glasses as needed, thus controlling when to be focused and when not. Additionally, they can be used as a primary treatment tool or combined with other treatments to improve attention."

Dr. Richter emphasizes that the personalized fitting process for SPARKLES is a central part of the product, with each customer undergoing two fitting sessions that include collecting facial metrics and data from cognitive tasks in order to create a personalized configuration of stimuli. After receiving the glasses, the customer has 30 days to try them out, with a full return option (according to the company’s policy) if no improvement is felt. She also notes that the product has received approval from the Ministry of Health with an indication for improving attention.

Katz also recommends using the innovative product for those who need it. "I recommend it primarily for students who struggle with reading, concentration, or suffer from high distractions while learning, but not only," she emphasizes. "It’s a great solution for people looking for alternatives that are not medication-based. The advantage is also in the design – the glasses look like regular glasses, so there is no social stigma."