Attention Deficit : The Brain Syndrome Of Our Era Essay

In “Attention Deficit: The Brain Syndrome of Our Era,” Richard Restak considers the effect of technology on our brains. As we process increasing amounts of information at ever-faster speeds, Restak argues that our brains are undergoing “profound alterations” in order to adapt to the changing needs of our modern world. As technology connects us to more people, places, and information than ever before, Restak warns that we are losing important cognitive functions, in particular our ability to focus and concentrate. However Restak fails to mention that technology has created significant affordances as well. Allowing society to advance as a whole, via social media, e-mail, cell phones, and other various communications. Technology is reshaping our habits of mind.Yes technology created a slight defect to the mind but many advantages came about using technology as an asset.

We rely heavily on technology because it has altered our brains to only be able to think in the way that technology presents information. This presentation is a rapid, surface level feeding of information. A study on multi-tasking, video games, and learning preformed at UCLA stated that “most visual media sources are real-time media that do not allow time for reflection, analysis or imagination — those do not get developed by real-time media such as television or video games” (Wolpert). This means that because visual media is live, people are unable to think critically about what is being displayed, therefore their comprehension on the subject is lower. The extent of influence technology has had on our generation is especially apparent to me because of the age gap between my parents and I. I constantly have my parents making fun of me for taking too many selfies, criticizing me for having my phone with me when I go to eat, and even making me put my phone in my purse when I drive to and from places for safety precautions. They have made me much more aware of how I constantly need a distraction or think I can multi task by being on my phone when I am trying to complete an assignment. Ultimately, my parents have made me more aware of my habits but because of the society I am living in, these habits will be hard to

There are many celebrities who struggle with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Justin Timberlake, Karina Smirnoff, Will Smith, Michael Phelps, Ty Pennington, Paris Hilton, Howie Mandel, and Bruce Jenner are among the eleven percent of Americans diagnosed with ADHD. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders found in children, but it is sometimes found in adults too. ADHD is a problem of not being able to focus, being overactive, having uncontrollable behavior, or a combination of both of these.

Whether or not society recognizes it, there is a gravitational pull amongst all, towards technology. Within that pull, lies the loss of an ability to focus and to connect with one another. Close friendships fade, romantic relationships dissolve, and family dynamics dim. At the root of the heartaches, lies technology—whether it be cellphones, laptops, television, or tablets. In Daniel Goleman’s book, Focus, he examines the the correlation and causation of technology and the effects it has on the human brain. Goleman spends plenty of time discussing the lack of human connection being resulted in the era of technology and how it effects individuals. As one of those individuals, Goleman’s writing reflected my own life with technology.

Kids, teens and adults are now constantly navigating the internet or using some sort of technology. In the article “Is the Onslaught Making Us Crazy” by Tony Dokoupil, different psychologist claim that technology has a bad influence on the human mind. Throughout the text, real life examples, showing psychological breakdowns, are used to support the statement.

Technology in today's world affect everyone about the same since we can not live without. The amount of different activities and possibilities to do on the internet using different devices is immense . Whatever you want if it is food,games, or researching something anyone can receive in a matter of seconds. Tammy Kennon who is the author of , “ 5 New Brain Disorders that Were Born Out of the Digital Age” states the negatives about the technology devices that run the world. She tells us about how our patience, attention spans, and memory are all affected due to that fact that we are obsessed with electronics. In today’s world everyone relies on web searches like google to answer a question or do something for them. When a research was conducted by researchers they found out that”[O]ne -Third of them did not even try, reaching for google immediately” this shows how much people rely

In “Attention Deficit: The Brain Syndrome of Our Era,” Restak expresses his theory of how in this age, the brain’s attention is constantly being divided by our advancing technology so often that our brains may be rewiring themselves to multitask excessively,therefore dampen its ability to focus. This is his way of explaining the spike of people being diagnosed with ADD and ADHD. These “disorders” could be the latest way of life, although this is widely doubted due to the fact that this is an aboriginally fresh change from the norm and it can be nearly impossible to convince a mass of people to stray from the familiar. Within the years, the number of people with ADD and ADHD will likely keep rising, resulting in life will slowly adjusting to

The author addresses the undeniable issues of society’s constant connection to technology. The brain can develop imbalances, for example, deficits in ability to concentrate, short attention, memory span, and emotional disturbances, such as depression (Gwinn

107-108). One to two percent of adult men and women in the United States have been

Correctly diagnosing ADHD continues to be challenging. One of the reasons it is challenging is because there is no single test that can be used to diagnose ADHD. Another reason is because there are several different disorders and conditions that can have similar symptoms. These other disorders and conditions must be ruled out before an ADHD diagnosis can be made.

Attention deficit disorder, also called ADD, is defined as 'a disorder primarily a characteristic of childhood, marked by a consistent problem in paying attention,' in the book, The Lifespan by Guy R. Lefrancois (1999). It is more common among boys than girls but can effect all ages. Focusing on children between the ages of five thru ten, it is estimated that three to five percent, which is 1.35 - 2.25 million, of all children are living with ADD. When accompanied by serious hyperactivity, ADD is labeled as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. This disorder makes it very challenging for educators to deal with. Understanding the characteristics of this disorder, how to treat the disorder

In classrooms across America, students are being forced to sit in uncomfortable and unsupportive chairs. With longer days in classrooms, children are also having a greater difficulty of focusing. There has been great growth in children’s diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, making the long days at school difficult. Along with a higher frequency of diagnoses, childhood obesity has grown tremendously across the country. With little time being designated for children to release energy, as well as few opportunities to practice active lifestyles, schools are seeing more wiggly and inattentive students.

In classrooms across America, students are being forced to sit in uncomfortable and unsupportive chairs. With longer days in classrooms, children are also having a greater difficulty of focusing. There has been great growth in children’s diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, making the long days at school difficult. Along with a higher frequency of diagnoses, childhood obesity has grown tremendously across the country. With little time being designated for children to release energy, as well as few opportunities to practice active lifestyles, schools are seeing more wiggly and inattentive students.

Since the beginning of time, the human population has strived to live simpler lives. We have spent generations, creating innovations within technology to ensure our lives would always be more simplistic than those who lived centuries before us. People now have the ability to update their Facebook status’, map the human genome to target strands of DNA that can be disastrous to one’s health, send out amber alerts nationwide, and create plants that are resistant to pesticides. Many fields, such as medicine, law enforcement, and entertainment have benefited greatly from advancements in technology which has inevitably changed the way society operates. However, with the abundance of technology available, society has developed an unhealthy relationship where we now rely on technology too heavily. Technology has rendered our minds incapable of the ability to play, communicate, and live our lives in the moment, despite its positive additions to our society.

Growing up as a millennial technology has continued to evolve. It has become an issue though, because many individuals are constantly abusing and overusing it. It is hard not to use technology because it’s used for just about everything including work, school, and for our own personal use. It has become a very reliable source of communication, however, it is way too over used. This type of communication can cause us to distance ourselves from the outside world and cause physical and psychological harm to our bodies. “ “Digital Dementia”, is a term coined by top German neuroscientist Manfred Spitzer in his 2012 book of the same name, it is used to describe how the overuse of digital technology is resulting in the breakdown of cognitive abilities in a way that is more commonly seen in people who have suffered a head injury or psychiatric illness” (Gwinn). If people continue to rely on technology without