Brain Games for ADHD: Do They Actually Help Focus?

There are countless brain games for ADHD that promise to improve attention and focus.  Although these can boost performance on tasks that are practiced using the software, the proof that the resulting skills effectively reduce the symptoms of ADHD in everyday life is scarce and inconclusive.

Based on the existing science, brain-training games should be regarded as an addition to but not as a substitute for medication, behavioral treatment, and professional consultation. The biggest value of the best brain training games and apps for brains is likely their ability to make attention practice more entertaining, thus motivating people to practice daily rather than quitting after several sessions.

Let’s take a look at what the science really tells us about the subject, discuss widely used programs such as Cogmed, EndeavorRx, BrainHQ, and NeuroTracker, and see how relevant they are for the treatment of ADHD. 

Brain Games vs. Medication vs. Behavioral Therapy – Where Do Games Actually Fit?

Brain games for ADHD are often discussed alongside medication and behavioral therapy, even though they play a very different role in treatment. Among evidence-based ADHD treatments, medication and behavioral interventions remain the most effective. Decades of research have shown that these approaches improve attention and reduce impulsivity in both children and adults. 

As for ADHD brain training, it has a narrower sphere of application. As the research shows, such programs help achieve certain improvement in the performance of the activities practiced, and even show some benefits for working memory, processing speed, and sustained attention. However, there is not much evidence about the transfer of such skills to real-life situations related to ADHD, such as organization, task completion, and concentration.

To understand the role of such games in the treatment of ADHD correctly, one should treat them only as an additional tool, but not a primary one. Short and regular training can motivate patients to practice their attention skills, and also fit perfectly into a healthy routine together with behavioral techniques and, if necessary, medication. Consult a specialist before applying brain games for treatment.

7 Brain Games and Apps Reviewed for ADHD Focus

First, it is important to establish reasonable expectations.

None of the software listed below should be considered an alternative to professional treatment for ADHD. Rather, they represent different positions on the spectrum of evidence. While some are backed by stronger clinical evidence, others will help users become better at performing specific tasks, and some can be seen as tools for facilitating regular training.

Some products target different age groups. While brain games for kids were created with children suffering from ADHD in mind, others focus on cognitive processes such as processing speed, working memory, or sustained attention.

EndeavorRx – FDA-Cleared, But Read the Fine Print

Among all brain games for ADHD, EndeavorRx is a unique one since, unlike other games, it is not sold as a wellness app. It is an FDA-cleared prescription digital therapeutic designed to be used by children aged 8-17 with ADHD.

This app is a game that involves sensory and motor components that force a player to split attention, ignore distractions, and react to changing tasks. Training sessions are to take about 25 minutes per day for several weeks.

It is reasonable that FDA clearance of the app gets much attention. However, the meaning of such clearance must be understood correctly. The app was cleared by the FDA, meaning that it has satisfied the criteria of safety and effectiveness set by the agency but not that it has cured ADHD or proved to be better than other methods of treatment. 

Furthermore, independent experts have noticed that regardless of FDA clearance, the amount of evidence of the app’s efficiency is rather small compared with established methods of ADHD treatment.

It might be useful for the family that works with a health care provider to discuss this app as another method of dealing with the disorder.

Cogmed – Structured Working-Memory Training

Cogmed ADHD is an ADHD training program guided by clinicians that concentrates on working memory. The user must undertake specific 30–40 minute training sessions a few times a week during a period of five weeks.

Research demonstrates positive results in working memory tasks of Cogmed. However, experts have found little evidence that these improvements make a noticeable difference in everyday ADHD challenges, such as staying focused, getting organized, or finishing tasks. 

Who should use it? Suitable for families or individuals looking for a supervised working memory training program.

BrainHQ – The Strongest Standalone Research Base

In case you care about the science behind it, BrainHQ is the way to go. It was designed with advice from neuroscientist Michael Merzenich, and it trains processing speed, visual attention, memory, and decision-making, but not specifically ADHD.

The greatest thing about BrainHQ is its science. Randomized controlled trials show that it actually improves processing speed, which makes BrainHQ the brain-training app with the most scientific backing.

A session takes around 20 minutes, and a subscription costs around $14 per month. Even though BrainHQ does not treat ADHD, it is the legitimate choice when it comes to scientifically proven brain training.

It is best for adults who are interested in evidence-based processing-speed and attention training.

NeuroTracker – Fast Daily Attention Practice

The NeuroTracker software works differently from other memory improvement software.

Unlike traditional memory games and tests, NeuroTracker requires the user to follow moving objects in a 3D space and focus on specific targets. This training exercise involves challenging your sustained attention, visual tracking, divided attention, and information processing abilities through an increased level of difficulty.

One thing that makes NeuroTracker attractive to most individuals is that you will spend six minutes per day working out, which is much shorter than most cognitive training programs.

Unlike BrainHQ, which has been tested in numerous research studies, NeuroTracker has not been studied extensively in terms of its use with the ADD/ADHD population.

There is preliminary research suggesting some benefits with NeuroTracker, but it is not as extensive as BrainHQ’s research base.

There is a free version that allows you to do the basic exercise before paying for the premium features.

Individuals interested in a short daily attention training exercise can benefit from it. 

Interactive Metronome – Training Through Movement

Not every attention-training program happens on a screen.

Interactive Metronome combines bodily movement and exercises aimed at improving timing abilities. People clap, tap, or follow other movements while trying to coordinate their movements precisely with the sounds given by the system, which tracks their accuracy of timing to the millisecond level and makes exercises more difficult as the user improves.

The rationale behind the program is that improving timing and coordination may improve some attention-related abilities.

Nevertheless, compared to larger cognitive-training websites, the evidence base is relatively small and requires further independent research.

The program sessions typically take 15-20 minutes, and total duration depends on the provider.

It is suitable for those who prefer attention training through movement rather than using computer games.

Play Attention – Wearable-Supported Focus Training

Play Attention uses computer games that are linked to an armband that measures attention signals while performing the training. The games respond to the users’ attentiveness by giving feedback in real time during each training session.

This program is focused on improving skills like sustained attention, organization, executive functioning, and completion of tasks. There are programs available for both children and adults; however, most families utilize it for their school-aged children.

Typically, each training session lasts from 15 to 20 minutes.

While it looks like a promising tool, there is not as much evidence about Play Attention’s effectiveness from independent research as for BrainHQ or therapy interventions. There is some indication about the benefits of this program, but the evidence available is not sufficient to make a conclusion regarding its effectiveness in ADHD.

This program is best for school-aged children, adolescents, and adults who appreciate technology-based training.

The memoryOS App – Building Consistency Through Daily Practice

Unlike many programs discussed above, memoryOS does not present itself as a cure for ADHD.

Rather, its primary goal is to make the experience of practicing memory and attention so interesting that people will want to come back the following day. This difference might seem trivial, but it highlights one of the most difficult problems any individual faces in improving their cognitive skills – consistency.

The site offers free memory games, and thus, this makes it easy to build a study routine without spending money upfront.

As it has been demonstrated in various studies on cognitive training, there is little to nothing that can be gained from one particular session. Even those small gains tend to come from a series of sessions.

That’s where a memory app/brain game using the principles of gamification comes in handy. Short sessions, instant feedback, visible progress, and tangible goals decrease the amount of effort needed to adhere to a routine. Even ten minutes a day is easier to incorporate into your schedule than hour-long training sessions that are hard to stick to.

The memoryOS games complement existing learning routines well without substituting them entirely. One can do a quick session of an attention or memory game before going on with studies, like reviewing flashcards or working through homework assignments. In this case, the games will just be another element of the routine, not its whole replacement.

The memoryOS app is best for those who need a realistic daily cognitive warm-up.

Comparison Table

In all seven options, there is one clear trend that can be observed. The tools that have the most research done on them never claim to transform one’s life significantly, while those tools that make the boldest marketing promises depend on less research. Making a choice based on realistic expectations is much more likely to result in satisfaction than expecting anything from brain games for ADHD.

Brain Games vs. Medication vs. Behavioral Therapy – Where Do Games Actually Fit?

Brain games for ADHD may be viewed through the prism of the contrast with the means that have an entirely different purpose. Medications and behavioral therapy have always been the most scientifically backed methods of coping with ADHD since there is plenty of evidence that these means help enhance attention, reduce impulsiveness, and enhance one’s general functioning.

In turn, ADHD brain training plays a somewhat different role. Research proves that there are a number of programs that enhance the level of performance during training, improve working memory, processing speed, or attention. At the same time, there is not much evidence that these improvements lead to a decrease in the number of symptoms of the disorder.

The most reasonable way to treat brain games is to treat them as a cognitive addition but not as a substitution. Daily practice can help strengthen attention, but it should be combined with behavioral therapy and, if needed, medication. Before starting to use any brain training program, you should consult your healthcare provider.

How to Use Brain Games Safely and Effectively

For those who consider using focus games for ADHD, it is more important to have real expectations than to choose the “perfect” application.

Go step by step.

A short session done regularly is usually better than a big plan that does not last even a week. It is recommended to spend 5 to 20 minutes per day on cognitive exercises according to the program.

Do not concentrate solely on your in-game score; pay attention to what happens around you.

You should ask yourself the following questions:

Is it easier now to start doing challenging things?

Are you less distracted while working or studying?

Can you concentrate longer than before?

Have your daily activities become easier to perform?

These are the results that matter much more than passing to another level in a game.

Moreover, it can be beneficial to combine the brain games with some habits that are based on solid science. Exercise regularly, get enough sleep, take frequent movement breaks, structure your work sessions, and deal with your stress effectively.

If you are trying out a memory app that can be used to train your cognition, select an app that will make you really interested in working with it. Engagement is quite important when we speak about training that could produce any result.

In general, consistency rather than novelty is the key to success.