How early can ADHD be recognized?

How can a parent know if their 3 or 4 year old has an attention problem? Is it possible to recognize Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) before a child starts to grade school? Dr. Mark Mahone, director of the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Maryland says yes. He feels that it is important to identify ADHD as early as possible because of the impact that it has on a child’s academic performance in school. Interestingly, warning signs of this disorder frequently appear in preschool, around age 4. By school age, the Centers for Disease Control reports that one in 11 school children have been diagnosed with ADHD.

The following early signs are associated with ADHD.

1. Avoids tasks that require sustained attention for up to one to two minutes.
2. Does not maintain interest in a task after several minutes, and switches to another task.
3. Is more verbal and noisier than same-age peers.
4. Climbs on furniture and other items when directed not to.
5. Unable to hop on one foot by four years of age.
6. Is constantly restless, wiggling feet and hands and not wanting to stay seated.
7. Puts self in danger because he exhibits no fear.
8. Not cautious of strangers
9. Displays inappropriate aggression with peers.
10.  Frequent injuries (broken bones or stiches) because of impulsivity.

Of course, any time a parent has concerns related to their child’s development, they should consult with their pediatrician.

Source: Psychology Today

Sleep Problems Solved: Get Cool Koala Child-Friendly Bedtime Meditations!!!

It can be challenging, and sometimes nearly impossible, to get your kids to fall asleep quickly and get a good night's rest. Now, there is a solution to this problem! Cool Koala, created by music therapist Ryan Judd, is a program of relaxing, engaging, bedtime meditation sessions. Ryan’s intuitive and deliberate approach to his work with children is evident in this amazing product. Every evening, your child will have access to a unique, child-friendly guided meditation. With fun characters like Cool Koala, Busy Beaver, and Cranky Cat, your child will look forward to relaxing and going to bed. Not only will your nighttime routine go more smoothly, but your child will also gain skills that will help them relax, focus, and find peace on a day-to-day basis moving forward. I highly recommend Cool Koala Meditations!

 

To learn more about Ryan Judd, visit his website, The Rhythm Tree!

Teaching Counting Creatively!

Do you know a child who struggles with learning numbers and counting?  Well, here is a simple and creative way to teach counting! You will need four or five different colored cups and pom poms with corresponding colors.  Glue or tape each number and it's appropriate number of "dots" on the cup. 

Begin the activity with the pom poms mixed together on a surface in front of the cups.  Having the child place the correct number of pom poms in front of each cup pointing and using one-to-one correspondence and the dots as a guide.  Once the child has placed the correct number of pom poms in front of each cup, he can place them inside the cup. Make this task more challenging and address fine motor skills by having the child use tongs to sort and place the pom poms.

The Therapeutic Benefits of Flow: Storytelling Cards

I’m excited to tell you about this fun storytelling card game! Use the 48 beautifully illustrated cards that can be used to make up a story with your client. There are also 4 blank cards that you or your client can use to add characters, places, or objects when making up the story.

The set includes instructions for several different ways to play the game, including “creating a story chain” and “story race.”

In addition to working on storytelling, these cards are perfect for addressing additional skills, such as naming colors, objects, and shapes, as well as sequencing. They are also wonderful for language development, including using adjectives and adverbs appropriately.  The illustrations are appropriate for adult or pediatric clients. For more information, or to order a set, click HERE.

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Information about ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)- One of the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood.

There are 3 subtypes

1)    Predominantly Inattentive Type: Difficult to organize or finish a task, doesn’t pay attention to details, follow instructions or conversations. Is easily distracted, frequently forgets the details of daily routines.

2)   Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type: Fidgets and talks a lot. Can’t sit still for long. Restless, may be impulsive and interrupt. May not wait turn or listen to directions. May be accident-prone. Small children run, jump, and climb constantly.

3)   Combined Type: Symptoms of 1 & 2 are equally present.

Several Different Treatment Options

1)    Behavioral Interventions: Follow a Schedule; Get organized-put everything in the same place; Limit choices-don’t overwhelm the child on a test or at home; Give immediate feedback and consequences because the child may forget what happened. Remember, they are “in the moment.” Also- always praise effort!

2)   Medication: Parents need to consider pros and cons- side effects (weight loss & headaches)

3)   Parent Education: These kids may not respond to typical parenting approaches, so parents may need to learn about: organizational strategies, problem-solving strategies, coping skills.

4)   Teacher Education: Homework folder/binder, positive reinforcement, awareness of importance of self-esteem issues, different options for accommodations.

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Accommodations for Students with ADHD

Classroom accomodations can make a huge difference for students diagnosed with ADHD. With effective planning and a patient teacher, students with ADHD can flourish in the classroom. Parents can work with their child's IEP team to be sure that appropriate accommodations are in place for their child. Here is a list of classroom accommodations and suggestions that can may make the learning environment more manageable for students diagnosed with ADHD.

-- Seat the student near the teacher's desk avoiding distractions such as windows and doors
--Simplify complex directions and avoid multiple commands
--Have the student utilize a daily assignment notebook. It may be a good idea for the teacher to initial this notebook at the end of the day, and have the parents initial it at home
--Reduce assignments to the chid's attentional abilitiy (consider a 30-50% reduction)
--Allow additional time to complete assignments
--Allow sensory or movement breaks
--Provide a "fidget" at the student's desk such as putty or a squeeze-ball
--Break long term assignments into shorter assignments
--Give the student immediate feedback and immediate consequences
--Provide the student with an extra set of books at home
--Have extra materials/supplies available for the student in the classroom
--Provide the student with a copy of the class notes to highlight as he goes along
--Allow homework and assignments to be typed if handwriting is an issue.

These are just some suggestions. Be sure that the accommodations are appropriate and individualized to the child's specific needs. For more ideas and suggestions, check out this website. Good luck!

A Checklist for ADHD Symptoms in Children

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a treatable disorder which affects approximately 8% of the population. There are three types of ADHD:
1) Predominantly Inattentive Type- these children have problems with inattention and are easily distracted
2) Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Type- these children fidget, can't sit still, run, jump, are restless, hyper-verbal, interrupt others, and are possibly accident prone
3) Combined Type- these children present with a combination of the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms

Boys with ADHD tend to out number girls by 3 to 1, although it is believed that ADHD in girls is under-diagnosed. What follows is a checklist for ADHD symptoms in children. If a child demonstrates 5 or more of these behaviors, you may want to speak to your pediatrician:

__Excessively fidgets or squirms
__Difficulty remaining seated
__Difficulty awaiting turn in games or activities
__Easily Distracted
__Work is messy
__Blurts out answers to questions
__Difficulty following instructions
__Difficulty sustaining attention
__Daydreams or gets lost in thoughts
__Shifts quickly from one activity to another
__Difficulty playing quietly
__Often talks excessively
__Often interrupts
__Frequently doesn't listen to what is said
__Constantly loses things necessary for tasks
__Often engages in dangerous activities
__Fails to finish what he/she starts

It is important to remember that one doesn't have to be hyperactive to have ADHD. A large number of children with this disorder are not hyperactive or impulsive at all, but they still have a great deal of trouble with focusing and paying attention.

Reference: Parker et al. (1991). Medical Management of Children with ADD Commonly Asked Questions. Chadder.