Attention Training in Autism as a Potential Approach to Improving Academic Performance: A School-Based Pilot Study.

Muller’s team tested a computer game that trains attention in kids with autism.

Eight elementary students with ASD played CPAT twice a week for eight weeks at school.

A control group played regular computer games for the same time.

Both groups kept their usual classes and services.

The CPAT group scored higher on memory and math tests after eight weeks.

The control group did not improve on those tests.

Both groups had fewer behavior problems, so the game did not harm class conduct.

Tamm et al. (2024) later used the same school setup with older kids.

Their AIMS program gave middle-schoolers with autism even bigger gains in planning and grades.

Tabeshian et al. (2022) ran a different after-school program—Tai Chi—and also saw small gains, but in less stereotypy, not school work.

The three studies show you can help autistic students by training either mind or body; the key is picking the target you care about.

You already have computers in class. Adding a short, game-based attention drill twice a week could give a small math and memory boost without extra staff.

Try CPAT while you plan the next tier of support; if the child reaches middle school, switch to AIMS-style executive-function groups for bigger pay-offs.