ADHD or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a brain based neurological disorder that begins in childhood. Despite being one of the most commonly studied and diagnosed mental health conditions in children, its causes are still unknown.
Symptoms of ADHD
The symptoms of ADHD such as poor focus to tasks, being highly distractible, disorganized, excessively fidgety and impulsive are usually seen in children before the age of twelve.
Typically, these symptoms are seen at home and in school or other settings. Often, delays or deficits might be present in language, social and motor development.
While the symptoms stabilize for many children during adolescence, many adults continue to show significant impairments such as inattention, restlessness, impulsivity and poor planning.
These symptoms interfere with academic achievement and skill acquisition during schooling and have devastating long term consequences on vocational success, self-esteem and relationships.
ADHD TESTING & DIAGNOSIS
At Psynaptica, we provide comprehensive ADHD assessment that includes standardized psychological tests for the child (or adult as the case may be), questionnaires for parents/teachers (or significant others), interviews and observations. Our assessment not only involves testing of attention, but also includes a comprehensive battery that also looks into areas such as achievement / capabilities, IQ and behavioral problems.
At Psynaptica, intervention for children with ADHD is usually carefully planned around the assessment findings.
Our approach to intervention for children with ADHD is based on Positive Behaviour Support, skills training and play-based strategies along with cognitive behaviour therapy as appropriate and as the child matures and develops over time.
Intervention targets any/all of the following depending on the severity of the problem, needs of the child and available resources in the family:
- Specific attention disorder symptoms, such as enhancing task effectiveness through problem-solving, coaching and other relevant problems such as reducing distractibility or building cognitive stamina
- Enhancing/working with motivation, especially for ‘boring’, easy tasks or schoolwork
- Improve self-awareness, especially around ADHD related problems and behaviours
- Improve self-regulation of behaviours and emotions
- Improve relationships, with family and peers
- Improve body awareness
- Parents will be supported with strategies for managing behaviours such as resistance to and avoidance of work and low frustration tolerance or anger outbursts. I will also work with parents to advocate for the child at school and will do so myself by corresponding with teachers, if necessary to ensure support at school.
We would recommend weekly face-to-face sessions initially; online sessions are not great for a child with ADHD.
Our Clinical Psychologists will also work with parents quite a bit to change relationship dynamics and restructure the home environment. We may also recommend sessions with Occupational Therapist, if necessary.
From time to time, we also run ADEPT, which is an integrated social, emotional and cognitive skills training group for children with ADHD-related behavioural problems. Its is a strength-based fun training group that helps your child achieve personal and academic success and experience happiness despite challenges.
We see a significant progress of children who undergo these interventions over a period of time.
Other common treatment involves use of medication and we work with specialist doctors who can provide medical review and treatment where necessary.
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