Recently, I wrote about the difficulties that some children have in regulating their attention. I noted that we all have times in which we struggle to remain focused on the task at hand. However, some children (and adults) find this to be the case most of the time. Their inability to regulate their attention and their behavior is so limited that they have difficulty at home and at school, they struggle to maintain friendships, and they often get into trouble.

Peter Wolinksy

Some of these children may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) which is characterized by difficulty concentrating on schoolwork, failing to give close attention to details, making careless errors, constantly interrupting conversations, having difficulty remaining seated, etc. Children with ADHD are at great risk of school failure, and they often give their parents a difficult time at home due to the fact that they do not follow through on parent requests, and in fact tend to become argumentative.

What can be done? First, it is critical to understand the importance of the child’s environment. Because these children struggle to stay organized, to set limits and goals, and to manage their time, they need adults to provide an environment that offers this level of support. They will do better when rules and expectations are clearly understood, when there are well defined rewards and consequences for behaviors, and when the world around them is orderly and predictable. Routines are important. Bedtime, homework, television time, etc., should all be carefully monitored. There are many simple positive behavior plans that can be implemented at home, some of which I described in an earlier column.

In school, there are many accommodations that might be helpful. For example, these children should have ‘preferred’ seating in class. They should sit near the teacher so that she can help to redirect them when they drift off task. They should be seated where there are fewer distractions. They might need help getting started on assignments. The teacher can offer this help, or the child can be teamed up with a classmate who can act as a peer mentor. Another important accommodation that is often effective is to shorten some of the assignments. Stress quality versus quantity. Because these children often have difficulty with organizational skills, it is important to give them tools, such as homework planners, to stay organized. It is also important for teacher to quickly check each day to see if the child has correctly written down the assignment, and to ensure that s/he takes home the proper books and materials. It is often helpful, especially in the upper grades, to allow these children to take important tests in a quieter environment.

It is important to realize that children with ADHD can be quite successful in school with the correct supports. This is not a disorder that affects intelligence.

I listed some helpful web site addresses in the last column. If you have questions, or would like more suggestions for interventions, contact me at peter.wolinsky@gov.ai.

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