As October marks ADHD Awareness Month, attention is turning to the everyday challenges faced by the estimated 2.6 million people in the UK living with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. For many, the constant pings of smartphones and the never-ending scroll of social media can make life significantly harder.
But in Burton, a local innovation is gaining interest as a possible solution to the growing issue of digital overwhelm, especially for those with ADHD.
Off-Switch, a new tech product created by Burton resident Terence Smith, wasn’t originally designed with ADHD in mind. Terence, an accountant and father of two young children, simply wanted to spend less time on his phone and more time being present with his family.
However, the tool he developed, a combination of a physical device and a smartphone app, has turned out to offer real potential for supporting people with ADHD. The Off-Switch device allows users to physically tap it in order to disable selected apps and notifications, helping to reduce digital distractions.
What makes it especially useful for people with ADHD is the physical interaction it requires. To unlock those blocked apps again, users must tap the device a second time. This built-in pause, often referred to by psychologists as a “moment of choice,” gives users a chance to reflect before diving back into potentially distracting content.
For those living with ADHD, smartphones can present a perfect storm. The condition is associated with difficulties in attention regulation and impulse control, both of which are constantly tested by modern apps designed to keep us hooked. Social media, gaming, and even messaging platforms often use the same dopamine-triggering feedback loops found in gambling.
This can lead to worsening symptoms, from increased anxiety and poor sleep to difficulty maintaining focus at work or school. Terence’s Off-Switch tool aims to create external structure and accountability, especially for users who struggle with willpower-based approaches to phone use.
We’re not trying to ban phones or remove apps, We’re trying to give people more control over when and how they use them.
While Off-Switch is already being used by individuals across the UK, its origins in Burton make it particularly relevant to the local community. ADHD is estimated to affect around 2.5% of adults and 5% of children. With Burton’s population sitting at roughly 72,000, that means over 1,800 residents may be living with the condition. We’re exploring partnerships with local schools and support groups, Rather than punishing young people for their phone use, we want to offer tools that build healthy habits and long-term self-regulation skills.
This preventative approach matches well with current best practices in ADHD care, which focus on building internal strategies rather than imposing external controls. Off-Switch could help not only students but also adults navigating distractions at work, in the gym, or during study sessions at local libraries.
A 2024 study published in the journal Brain and Behavior found a strong link between smartphone addiction and ADHD symptoms. The researchers noted that individuals with ADHD are more vulnerable to addictive patterns of phone use, due in part to difficulties with self-control and impulse regulation.
This is precisely the challenge Off-Switch seeks to address. By offering a simple, user-controlled solution that doesn’t rely on sheer willpower, the product is gaining interest from neurodiversity advocates, educators, and mental health professionals.
As ADHD Awareness Month continues, Terence is encouraging more local businesses, schools, and community spaces to consider how they can support those living with neurodivergent conditions. From employers offering Off-Switch as part of workplace wellness programs to local gyms helping members stay focused during workouts, the possibilities are wide-ranging.
Off-Switch may have started as one father’s effort to be more present at home, but it has grown into something with the potential to make a meaningful difference to thousands. In a world filled with tech that demands our attention, this Burton-born innovation is doing the opposite, giving it back.
