Impact of fidget devices on anxiety and physiological responses in adults with ADHD.
Heather Elahi, Ha Min Son, Catrina A Calub and 7 others
PMID 39946958WHAT IT FOUND
Using a fidget ball did not reduce anxiety or change heart rate variability in adults with ADHD during a stressful speech task.
While stress markers shifted for everyone, the ball made no difference to self-rated anxiety or physiological responses compared to not having it.
Key findings
01Participants who held a fidget ball showed no significant difference in self-rated anxiety compared to those who did not.
02The presence of the fidget ball did not significantly change heart rate, heart rate variability, or intrinsic fidgeting behaviors at the group level.
03Statistical analysis confirmed no differences in physiological responses between the fidget ball and no-fidget ball groups.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample size was small, which reduces the ability to detect subtle effects or differences between subgroups. The study used a specific, relatively large fidget ball, so results may not apply to smaller or self-selected fidget tools. The group was predominantly female, limiting generalizability to male adults with ADHD. Participants were required to be medication-free during testing, which may not reflect how fidget devices work for those taking stimulants.
Declared interests
No specific funding sources or conflicts of interest were declared in the provided text.
The easy way to misread this
Do not conclude that fidget devices are ineffective for all adults with ADHD. This study tested one specific device in a controlled lab setting during a speech task; it does not rule out benefits from other tools, in other contexts, or for different outcomes like attention.