OT and ADHD

The number of children diagnosed with ADHD has been steadily increasing. Now it is estimated that 1/10 children will be diagnosed with ADHD at some point.

Even though about half of these children receive some type of behavioral treatment, there has been a lack of studies around OT-specific support for ADHDer children.

In this one hour OT CEU course, we will look at a study of an OT program for ADHD that features:

• Children setting their own goals

• A focus on daily time management

• Time-assisted devices

This program led to significant improvement in performance and satisfaction!

After we review the article, we’re excited to discuss this research with ADHDer and pediatric OT, Bryden Carlson-Giving, OTD, OTR/L. He and I will discuss the practical implications of this research for OTs.

1. You will be able to recognize neurodiversity affirming assessment to utilize with ADHDer children.

2. You will be able to identify strengths-based approaches you can utilize in treatment.

• Intro

• Breakdown and analysis of journal article

  • ADHD and time perception

  • Time perception and daily time management

  • Current treatments for ADHD

  • What’s missing from the current research?

  • Intent of this research

  • Research methods

  • Research Results

  • Implications for OT practice

• Discussion on practical implications for OTs (with Bryden Carlson-Giving)

  1. Why Bryden prefers identity-first language

  2. “Vaster” and strengths related to ADHD

  3. Article impressions

  4. Explaining ADHD to an adult

  5. Explaining ADHD to a child

  6. OT assessments and ADHD

  7. Strengths-based OT supports and treatments

  8. ADHD resources

  9. Future vision of OTs supporting neurodivergent individuals

  10. Final thoughts

Primary

• Occupational performance goals and outcomes of time-related interventions for children with ADHD

Additional

• The role of occupational therapy with children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): A Canadian National Survey

• Recommendations for occupational therapy interventions for adults with ADHD: A consensus statement from the UK adult ADHD network

OT and ADHD Resources

Neurodiversity-Affirming Assessments

• Canadian Occupational Performance Measure (COPM)

• Child Occupational Self Assessment (COSA)

• Dynamic Assessment of Social Emotional Learning (DASEL)

• Heart Drawing Tool

• Pediatric Interest Profiles (PIP)

• Perceived Efficacy and Goal Setting System (PEGS)

• Self Perception Profile for Children (SPPC)

• Sensory Profile™ 2

• Visual Activity Sort

• Young Child and Participation and Environment Measure (YC-PEM)

Websites Related to OT and ADHD

• Autism Level Up!

• OTs for Neurodiversity

• ADDitude Magazine

• Neurodivergent Nexus

It is the policy of OT Potential to disclose any financial and non-financial interest the provider or instructor may have in a product or service mentioned during an activity. This is to ensure that the audience is made aware of any bias of the speaker.

OT Potential pays guest speakers an honorarium for their participation, either directly or to an institution of the speaker's choosing at their request. We invite guests whose expertise often comes from practices, programs, or building products in their field. Where a speaker has a financial interest in the subject of a course, we disclose it below so you can weigh it for yourself.

OT Potential's interest in this topic: We have no financial stake in this topic. Our Resources section links to Neurodivergent Nexus, created by our speaker; we receive no compensation for that link.

Speaker interests: Bryden Carlson-Giving is the creator of Neurodivergent Nexus, an online resource hub for practitioners using neurodiversity-affirming strategies, and editor of the forthcoming book Neurodiversity-Affirming Occupational Therapy.