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ADHD

How to Engineer Better Environments for a Child with Sensory Processing Disorder and ADHD

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How to Engineer Better Environments for a Child with Sensory Processing Disorder and ADHD

written by Carol Stock Kranowitz, M.A., Lindsey Biel, M.A., OTR/L

All children thrive in environments engineered for their specific needs. This principle applies especially to children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and even more so when it is accompanied by sensory processing disorder (SPD), a neurological condition characterized by challenges with stimuli and the senses.

What are the Signs of Sensory Processing Disorder?

A child with SPD has trouble interpreting and managing sensations delivered by the environment and his or her own body. Different children experience SPD in different ways — some may be easily overwhelmed by sensations while others are under-responsive to them; some may experience sensory discrimination and perception problems while others have sensory-motor challenges.

ADHD and SPD influence one another in no small way. A bothersome tag in a child’s shirt, or the classroom lighting, could contribute significantly to inattention and difficulties with concentration. A food sensitivity or a vision problem could heighten a child’s impulsivity.

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How to Overcome Procrastination in 4 Steps

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How to Overcome Procrastination in 4 Steps

written by Beth Kurland Ph.D., published on Psychology Today

The other day at a friend’s house I watched a squirrel as she tried for an hour or so to get at the seeds in the hanging bird feeder, where an array of stunning birds were enjoying their dinner. She was persistent, determined, persevering and purposeful, even though she never succeeded at getting an ongoing mouthful of tasty seeds that she clearly wanted. I marveled at her determination in the face of a situation in which most humans would surely have given up long ago or maybe wouldn’t have tried in the first place. What made her pursue her goal with such passion and commitment?

I imagine she may have had two things going for her:

First, she likely didn’t have an inner dialogue in her head about the whole event (e.g, “Oh boy, this is going to be a lot of work, this isn’t going to be fun and what if I don’t succeed? Eh forget it, I’d rather sit in the sun and watch the grass so I can avoid the effort of the whole thing.”) And she likely didn’t have a self-critical narrative (e.g., “What’s wrong with me that I can’t do this? Some of the other squirrels have figured out how to hack into bird feeders so why can’t I? What will the other squirrels think of me? This is too difficult so I’m just going to give up. What’s wrong with me anyway?”)

Second, because of her persistence, she occasionally knocked a seed or two out of the bird feeder and onto the ground. This intermittent reinforcement (once in a while getting a “win” — even if a partial one, in the face of many unsuccessful tries) is one of the most powerful motivators of behavior (think no further than a casino to grasp this concept).

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ADHD: Creating a To-Do-List that Really Works

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Create a To-Do List That Really Works

posted on totallyadd.com

To-Do lists!  We all have them!  There are paper to-do lists, digital to-do lists, apps to create lists, voice notes to-do lists, post-its with your to-do lists…. The options are endless!

But how do you make a to-do list that actually works? How do you successfully use a to-do list where you can tick off items, and feel the satisfaction of getting things done?

For the ADHD brain, getting things done can be challenging!  Getting started with tasks, prioritizing, struggling to be motivated, feeling overwhelmed – all of these are relatively common for individuals with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

The part of the brain looking after these executive functions is in charge of many organizational aspects needed to take action, get things done, and clear items off the to-do list. It is the conductor in an orchestra, supervising all the other actions and behaviors. But this often does not work so well when you have ADHD.

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Product Review: Joon App

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Product Review: Joon App

written by Dr. Liz Matheis

Joon is an app for parents of children with ADHD. This app has been created with the intent to motivate children to engage in everyday tasks that are not necessarily exciting and to build executive functioning skills that are often too difficult to teach. This app also takes away the “nagging” that our children have learned to ignore which creates even more nagging.

Joon is a great app for children ages 4-10. Tasks are easy to add and the motivation to keep your pet alive and moving is simple enough for a child to get it done. The tasks are easy to add within the day.  Overall, it is helpful in building a bit of separation between mom and child, creating independence while also maintaining a level of motivation.

Click here to download Joon

Does My Child Have Inattentive ADHD?

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Does My Child Have Inattentive ADHD?

Posted on iadhd.org

How is ADHD Diagnosed?

Healthcare providers use the guidelines in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) to help diagnose ADHD. Here are the criteria in shortened form. Please note that they are presented just for your information. Only trained healthcare providers can diagnose or treat ADHD.

DSM-5 Criteria for Inattentive ADHD

Six or more symptoms of inattention for children up to age 16 years, or five or more for adolescents age 17 years and older and adults; symptoms of inattention have been present for at least 6 months, and they are inappropriate for developmental level:

  • Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or with other activities.

  • Often has trouble holding attention on tasks or play activities.

  • Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.

  • Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (e.g., loses focus, side-tracked).

  • Often has trouble organizing tasks and activities.

  • Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to do tasks that require mental effort over a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).

  • Often loses things necessary for tasks and activities (e.g. school materials, pencils, books, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, mobile telephones).

  • Is often easily distracted

  • Is often forgetful in daily activities.

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Product Review: Zenimal for Mindfulness

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Product Review: Zenimal for Mindfulness

by Deborah Tiel Millard

I began my search for a unique way to develop mindfulness, when my 11-year-old son was struggling to regulate big emotions and settle himself to go to sleep at night. My goal is similar to that of most parents, to see my son become independent and capable of self-regulation.

I was looking for a screen-less option, as I wanted something to help develop regulation and self-calming before bed. This ruled out all the great apps for devices like phones or tablets. This search led me to Zenimal.

A Zenimal is a screen-free device that assists children with developing mindfulness through nine mediations. The nine meditations cover the following areas: sleep, gratitude, stillness, breath, creativity, relaxation, empathy, feelings and warmth (healing). The device also offers three options for white noise to soothe and help a child fall asleep and stay asleep.

I did my research and went ahead and ordered one. My son thought the unboxing experience was pretty cool and the turtle-shaped device was cute. We plugged it in and read about the options. That night he chose the sleep meditation and fell right to sleep. Ever since, my son has been using his turtle at night either through the sleep meditation or one of the white noise settings to help him sleep.

As a Mom, I love many of the features that Zenimal offers. The device can be plugged in and white noise played all night, or left unplugged, it will play for an hour. It is cute and cleverly designed. It’s easy to find the buttons by feeling in the dark. I also really appreciate the many meditation options and I’ve used several of them myself. Speaking of that, there is also an option for adults! You can even purchase additional meditation cartridges.

I have been really impressed with Zenimal both for my son and myself. I may just go ahead and order one for myself, so I don’t keep stealing his!

 

Learn more about Zenimal

Transitioning to STEM Toolkit for Students and Adults With ADHD or Learning Disabilities

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Transitioning to STEM Toolkit for Students and Adults With ADHD or Learning Disabilities

posted on The University of Texas at Austin’s Website

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, almost 9 percent of U.S. children suffer from attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Current researchalso indicates 70% of children with ADHD also have learning disabilities, which may hinder academic and career success. However, this difference in the way these children process information may be why many thrive in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) education.

The basic principles that inform STEM education – design thinking and creative problem-solving — are also conducive to successfully working with children who have ADHD, says Parentology. This is in part because students with ADHD tend to be able to reason problems out intuitively, without having to practice a conscious reasoning process, according to Study.com. Moreover, the creative and design-oriented nature typically seen in children with ADHD and learning disabilities may lend itself well to STEM’s core methodologies.

Using the resources in this article, parents, caregivers, teachers, and early childhood educators can connect youth with ADHD or learning disabilities with STEM education opportunities. Additionally, resources are available to help adults with ADHD and learning disabilities transition to the STEM workforce.

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25 Tips, Tricks, and Tools To Get Sleep with ADHD

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25 Tips, Tricks, and Tools To Get Sleep with ADHD

Written by Slumber Yard Team

If you or someone you love has ADHD, you know just how many areas of everyday life can be affected. In addition to the hallmark challenges of focusing at work or school, the majority of people affected by ADHD face irregular sleep patterns. According to Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), three out of four children and four out of five adults with the condition also struggle with some type of sleep disorder.

So what causes those with ADHD to have such a hard time sleeping? Experts mostly point to the hyperactivity component of the condition, which can also manifest as fidgetiness, difficulty sitting still, and talking excessively or over others. Hyperactivity can also make it extremely difficult to wind down at night if the body and mind continue to race instead of quieting in preparation for sleep.

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60 Books About Disabilities and Differences for Kids

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60 Books About Disabilities & Differences for Kids

Published on mrsdscorner.com

As a teacher, or parent, who works in education… we meet a lot of students with different abilities and specialties. And sure, we have Autism Awareness month and disability awareness… but it’s so much more than just being aware.

Below you’ll find a curated list of books on special needs, acceptance, and tolerance. There are also books that describe children who have other differences that may make life a little challenging, like walking, hearing, seeing, understanding social cues, and more. These are books that you can use to introduce the topics presented to other children, teachers, and adults.

 

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