What is Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a persistent pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity and impulsivity that significantly interferes with basic functioning or development. Although many individuals with ADHD have symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity, it is possible to have ADHD with primarily inattentive or primarily hyperactive symptoms alone. Approximately 5% of children and 2.5% of adults are believed to have ADHD.
Although hyperactivity is the most visible difficulty in ADHD, the more serious functional deficits of the disorder are both more complicated and harder to observe. ADHD frequently involves deficits in a group of neurological processes referred to as Executive Function, and includes such abilities as planning and organization, a sense of time, understanding how much effort is needed to complete a task, and the ability to sustain effort, among other areas.
As a result of these and other deficits, children and adolescents with ADHD are more likely to have problems with behavior and develop disorders of conduct, are more likely to develop substance-use disorders, are more likely to have physical injuries and traffic accidents, and more. Difficulties with attention, planning, and effort can lead others to view them as lazy, irresponsible, or uncooperative. Social functioning is frequently marked by peer rejection, neglect, and being the victim of teasing. Overall, children, adolescents, and adults with ADHD tend to obtain less schooling and have poorer vocational achievement.
Accurate diagnosis and effective treatment of ADHD is essential in order to minimize long-term effects and maximise social, academic, and occupational functioning.
Treatment for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
The most effective treatments for ADHD include medication and behavioral treatments. CEH can provide referrals to specialist physicians for medication issues, and CEH directly provides an array of effective behavioral treatment options for ADHD. These include:
Organizational Skills Training: Direct organizational skills training has been found to be beneficial in terms of academic success and reduction of family conflict for children with ADHD. At CEH, we offer organizational skills training in both group and individual formats.
TOPS – The TOPS program (Teen Organization, Planning, and Study Skills) at CEH is an 8-week group therapy program to help middle and high school students with ADHD or general executive functioning difficulties improve their time management, planning, organization of materials, and ability to study and remember information for tests. TOPS also includes a parent session to provide information about helping students apply strategies in the home setting.
Parent Management Training: Parents meet with a therapist to learn the basics of behavior management for children with ADHD, including identification of antecedents to or causes of behaviors, defining of specific behaviors to improve, and appropriate use of positive and negative consequences. Parent training also includes analysis of parental beliefs, values, and expectations to determine what is most appropriate for your child with ADHD and how to move toward behavioral improvement over time. School consultation may be included to help improve home/school collaboration to improve school behavior.