How can a Children’s Occupational Therapist help my child who has (or might have) ADHD?
Let’s first disband any negative thoughts about ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder). ADHD is not an illness and does not mean your child is lazy, crazy or weird and certainly does not mean they are naughty! Simply put, ADHD is part of who your child is and whether they have a diagnosis (‘label’) or not, they may quite possibly need help to learn how to navigate aspects of daily life. I believe children and young people with ADHD are incredible.
Our job as Children's Occupational Therapists (OT) is to help an ADHD child in various ways by addressing challenges related to their attention, emotions and behaviour, sensory processing, and daily functioning; sometimes this help is needed at different ages and stages as the child grows older. Here are several ways an OT can support your child:
Sensory Processing: We help children with ADHD who might have sensory processing differences. Evidence now suggests that 47% of those with ADHD experience sensory differences, but if the associated needs are not met then difficulties can appear. By explaining a child’s unique sensory strengths and needs better understanding is gained for parents and teachers and this helps expectations to be modified. We can also coach the child him or herself to learn to recognise differing sensory triggers so they can maintain focus and self-regulation.
Self-Regulation Skills: We teach strategies to help children manage their emotions and behaviours, which in turn improves their ability to stay calm, focused, and able to handle frustration with fewer impulsive outbursts (if impulsivity is a feature).
Attention and Focus: We use activities, strategies and exercises designed to improve attention and concentration. We might use play-based ideas that are engaging and motivating for your child.
Executive Functioning Skills: These skills include planning, organising, time management, and task completion. As OTs we can provide tools and techniques to enhance these skills, helping children manage their daily routines more effectively.
Fine Motor Skills: If a child with ADHD has difficulty with tasks requiring fine motor coordination (not uncommon), such as writing or using utensils, an OT can work on improving these skills through targeted exercises, activities and strategies.
Social Skills: We can help children develop better social interactions and communication skills through coaching, one-to-one or group activities and use of social stories, with the aim of enhancing his or her ability to form and maintain relationships.
Environmental changes: We can recommend changes in the child's environment at home or school to reduce distractions and create a more supportive setting for learning and playing; including for exam scenarios.
Daily Living Skills: We help with developing routines for daily activities like dressing, eating, and hygiene and self care, making these tasks more manageable and less overwhelming for the child.
Parental Guidance: As OTs we often work closely with parents, providing strategies and support to help you manage your child's ADHD strengths and challenges at home.
Adaptive Strategies: We can introduce tools and techniques, such as proactively used fidget toys and visual schedules and movement breaks, to help your child stay focused and organized.
As Children’s Occupational Therapists we always start with a comprehensive assessment to understand your child's specific strengths and needs, in order to then provide a plan to support their development and daily functioning.
Emma Puttock
Children’s Occupational Therapist