AI App Helps People with ADHD
2024-09-03
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1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report.
2Becky Litvintchouk did not think she would be able to finish the many tasks needed to start her own business.
3She has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD.
4It affects every part of her life and hurts her ability to focus on one thing at a time.
5So, two years ago, she turned to artificial intelligence, or AI.
6She uses an app called Claude.
7It helps her decide which contracts are the best for her cleaning-wipes business, GetDirty.
8Using the app means she does not need to read each contract, word for word.
9She also created business plans by telling the generative AI bot what her goals were.
10It then created steps for her to reach them.
11"It's been just massively instrumental. I probably would not be where I am today," Litvintchouk said of using AI.
12People with ADHD experience difficulties with focusing, organizing and controlling urges.
13Experts say generative AI tools can help them finish tasks more quickly.
14However, they also warn that such tools should not replace traditional treatments for ADHD.
15Some experts also have concerns about possibly using AI too much.
16They also worry about privacy risks.
17John Mitchell is an associate professor at Duke University School of Medicine in North Carolina.
18He said that AI apps should be used as "one tool in a toolbox."
19AI should not take the place of traditional treatments, such as developing organizational skills or taking medications.
20He compared using AI to help ADHD with swimming and staying alive in the water.
21"If you're kind of treading water in your job and AI's a life preserver, well, that's great you're staying above water."
22But, he added, "you still don't know how to swim."
23Litvintchouk, a married mother of four living in New York City, dropped out of high school and left the workforce.
24Research shows that these things are more likely to happen to people with ADHD.
25Aside from helping with her business, she uses ChatGPT to help with food shopping.
26Food shopping and meal planning are tasks that can be difficult for people with ADHD because these tasks require organizational skills.
27After sharing her method with another mom with ADHD, she decided more people needed to know about it.
28She started making videos on TikTok about the AI tools she uses to help with her ADHD struggles.
29Generative AI tools can help people with ADHD break down big tasks into smaller, more doable steps.
30Chatbots can offer advice for specific things and make people feel like they are talking with a real person.
31Some AI apps can also help with reminders and productivity.
32Software engineer Bram de Buyser said he created Goblin.tools with his neurodivergent friends in mind.
33The tool's most popular feature is the "magic to-do."
34A user can enter a task and the bot will create a to-do list.
35It can even break down large items on the list into smaller tasks.
36"I'm not trying to build a cure," de Buyser said, "but something that helps them out (for) two minutes out of the day that they would otherwise struggle with."
37Russell Fulmer is a professor at Husson University in the northeastern state of Maine.
38He described the research around AI and ADHD as "inconclusive."
39In other words, the results of its usefulness are still not known.
40Experts say they see how AI can have a positive effect on the lives of people with anxiety and ADHD.
41But, Fulmer said, such tools may not work well for everyone, including people of color with ADHD.
42He pointed to chatbot responses that have been racist and unfair toward certain groups of people at times.
43Valese Jones is a publicist and founder of Sincerely Nicole Media.
44She was diagnosed with ADHD as a child.
45She uses AI bots to help with reading and responding to emails as well as proofreading public relations plans.
46But chatbot responses do not always go along with who she really is.
47"There are cadences in my writing where you can kind of pick up on the fact that I'm southern, and that's on purpose," said Jones, who is Black.
48She purposefully writes in a way that shows her culture.
49However, the responses she gets back from bots often do not show that.
50Software engineer de Buyser said that using AI chatbots as a personal assistant has a big upside: They are never tired and never sleep.
51The downside? They also create privacy issues.
52When you give an AI chatbot your personal information, emails, calendar and personal writings, you are giving it to a big company, he warned.
53And that's the Health & Lifestyle report.
54I'm Anna Matteo.
55And I'm Andrew Smith.
1From VOA Learning English, this is the Health & Lifestyle report. 2Becky Litvintchouk did not think she would be able to finish the many tasks needed to start her own business. She has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD. It affects every part of her life and hurts her ability to focus on one thing at a time. 3So, two years ago, she turned to artificial intelligence, or AI. She uses an app called Claude. It helps her decide which contracts are the best for her cleaning-wipes business, GetDirty. Using the app means she does not need to read each contract, word for word. She also created business plans by telling the generative AI bot what her goals were. It then created steps for her to reach them. 4"It's been just massively instrumental. I probably would not be where I am today," Litvintchouk said of using AI. 5People with ADHD experience difficulties with focusing, organizing and controlling urges. Experts say generative AI tools can help them finish tasks more quickly. 6However, they also warn that such tools should not replace traditional treatments for ADHD. Some experts also have concerns about possibly using AI too much. They also worry about privacy risks. 7Will apps replace ADHD treatment? 8John Mitchell is an associate professor at Duke University School of Medicine in North Carolina. He said that AI apps should be used as "one tool in a toolbox." AI should not take the place of traditional treatments, such as developing organizational skills or taking medications. 9He compared using AI to help ADHD with swimming and staying alive in the water. "If you're kind of treading water in your job and AI's a life preserver, well, that's great you're staying above water." But, he added, "you still don't know how to swim." 10What else can the apps do? 11Litvintchouk, a married mother of four living in New York City, dropped out of high school and left the workforce. Research shows that these things are more likely to happen to people with ADHD. 12Aside from helping with her business, she uses ChatGPT to help with food shopping. Food shopping and meal planning are tasks that can be difficult for people with ADHD because these tasks require organizational skills. 13After sharing her method with another mom with ADHD, she decided more people needed to know about it. She started making videos on TikTok about the AI tools she uses to help with her ADHD struggles. 14Generative AI tools can help people with ADHD break down big tasks into smaller, more doable steps. Chatbots can offer advice for specific things and make people feel like they are talking with a real person. Some AI apps can also help with reminders and productivity. 15Software engineer Bram de Buyser said he created Goblin.tools with his neurodivergent friends in mind. The tool's most popular feature is the "magic to-do." A user can enter a task and the bot will create a to-do list. It can even break down large items on the list into smaller tasks. 16"I'm not trying to build a cure," de Buyser said, "but something that helps them out (for) two minutes out of the day that they would otherwise struggle with." 17What kinds of problems could apps create? 18Russell Fulmer is a professor at Husson University in the northeastern state of Maine. He described the research around AI and ADHD as "inconclusive." In other words, the results of its usefulness are still not known. 19Experts say they see how AI can have a positive effect on the lives of people with anxiety and ADHD. But, Fulmer said, such tools may not work well for everyone, including people of color with ADHD. He pointed to chatbot responses that have been racist and unfair toward certain groups of people at times. 20Valese Jones is a publicist and founder of Sincerely Nicole Media. She was diagnosed with ADHD as a child. She uses AI bots to help with reading and responding to emails as well as proofreading public relations plans. But chatbot responses do not always go along with who she really is. 21"There are cadences in my writing where you can kind of pick up on the fact that I'm southern, and that's on purpose," said Jones, who is Black. She purposefully writes in a way that shows her culture. However, the responses she gets back from bots often do not show that. 22Software engineer de Buyser said that using AI chatbots as a personal assistant has a big upside: They are never tired and never sleep. 23The downside? They also create privacy issues. When you give an AI chatbot your personal information, emails, calendar and personal writings, you are giving it to a big company, he warned. 24And that's the Health & Lifestyle report. 25I'm Anna Matteo. 26And I'm Andrew Smith. 27Kenya Hunter reported this story for The Associated Press. Anna Matteo adapted the story for Learning English. 28____________________________________________ 29Words in This Story 30focus -n. a center of activity, attraction, or attention 31generative -adj. having the power or function of generating, originating, producing, or reproducing 32instrumental -adj. serving as a crucial means, agent, or tool 33tread water -v. while in deep water a person float in an upright position by moving their legs slightly 34life preserver -n. a device (such as a life jacket or life buoy) designed to save a person from drowning by providing buoyancy in water 35neurodivergent -adj. having or relating to a disorder or condition (such as autism spectrum disorder, attention deficit disorder, dyslexia, or obsessive-compulsive disorder) that impacts the way the brain processes information : exhibiting or characteristic of variations in typical neurological development 36inconclusive -adj. leading to no conclusion or definite result 37diagnose -n. to recognize (something, such as a disease) by signs and symptoms 38cadence -n. a rhythmic sequence or flow of sounds in language 39We want to hear from you. 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