Fidget Spinners Are Useful for Children with ADHD, Autism & Anxiety, Say Majority of Doctors who Treat Children

But first-ever survey of doctors also shows disconnect as same percentage consider gadget a toy

BOSTON--()--Like most parents and educators, doctors don’t seem to know what to make of fidget spinners and whether these gadgets offer any benefits. Almost two-thirds of doctors who treat children say the gadget can be helpful for those with ADHD, anxiety, and autism, while the same percentage consider fidget spinners a toy.

Those are among the key findings in a new survey from InCrowd, pioneer of real-time market intelligence to the life sciences and healthcare industries, which polled 302 physicians around the country who treat children.

Other survey findings include:

  • 12% of doctors say fidget spinners have definite benefits
  • 17% of doctors say fidget spinners definitely do not have benefits
  • Almost half of doctors (44%) say they have received inquiries from parents about fidget spinners
  • More than a third (37%) of doctors consider them a useful tool
  • Interestingly, almost two-thirds of doctors (63%) considered fidget spinners a toy. The same number of doctors (63%) says they provide benefits for ADHD, anxiety, autism, and/or PTSD

There were a variety of reactions on the effectiveness of the fidget spinner, with one Mississippi doctor saying, “The patients that I have had use it have really seen some success in focus and attention and reduction in anxiety with them." Conversely, a California pediatrician had this to say: “They can be a useful tool IF in the correct person's hands. Often, it is just another distraction, like cell phones."

Overall, the survey suggests fidget spinners can be more than just a toy.

“While many physicians see the potential in fidget spinners and similar objects, the majority of physicians are hesitant to make a judgement on their effectiveness due to the lack of research on the topic,” said Danielle Schroth, Director of Crowd Development at InCrowd. “It seems it could be a useful tool if utilized properly but the extent of how useful remains to be seen; further research is needed.”

About InCrowd
InCrowd provides a mobile microsurvey methodology and analytics engine that enables clients to reach targeted specialists and stakeholders easily among our extensive and diverse “Crowd” of healthcare professionals. These experts are available on-demand throughout the United States and around the globe, through the InCrowd platform, which is offered in 20 different languages. The brevity, speed, and simplicity of InCrowd’s approach has fundamentally changed the industry by providing quality data in situations where it was previously impossible to get timely market information. Nineteen of the top 20 pharmaceutical firms have relied upon InCrowd’s robust quality processes and verified experts to make fast, validated business decisions. For more information, visit www.incrowdnow.com.

Contacts

InCrowd Media Contact:
Sean Hennessey, 617-943-4323
shennessey@schneiderpr.com

Release Summary

New survey from InCrowd finds majority of US doctors who treat children say fidget spinners are useful for children with ADHD, autism & anxiety.

Contacts

InCrowd Media Contact:
Sean Hennessey, 617-943-4323
shennessey@schneiderpr.com