Recognizing and Managing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD Therapy in Toronto
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a common behavioural disorder affecting children and adults. An individual with ADHD may have difficulty controlling their behaviours (impulsivity), keeping their focus (inattention), and/or be overly active (hyperactivity). These symptoms are seen across multiple settings (i.e. at school and at home) and interfere with their daily functioning. There are many effective virtual and in-person treatments in Toronto that can help children improve their focus, and control their impulsive behaviours and hyperactivity.
What are Common ADHD Symptoms?
Children with ADHD may exhibit the following symptoms:
Be overly energetic (i.e. squirm, fidget, or move around a lot)
Make careless mistakes in their school work due to difficulty following instructions
Forget things such as chores or homework, or lose things often (i.e. school materials, eyeglasses)
Have a short attention span or trouble focusing
Be disorganized, have poor time management skills
Have trouble regulating their emotions (i.e. have outbursts of anger at inappropriate times)
Daydream or ignore what is happening around them
As a result of these symptoms, individuals may face additional challenges, including:
Social isolation due to being rejected by their peers
Increased risk of accidental injury
Academic and learning difficulties
Negative relationships with adults due to being perceived as “noncompliant” and “uncooperative”
Increased aggression, which may lead to antisocial behaviour
Difficulty with cognitive processing (i.e. taking in new information – catching all instructions, copying down information, remembering information)
How does ADHD Present in Children, Youth and Adults?
Individuals with ADHD may present differently and have different combinations of symptoms. There are three major types of ADHD, including:
Predominantly inattentive – show primarily symptoms of inattention, but not hyperactivity-impulsivity
Example: This is the child who has a hard time focusing in class (i.e. a child who stares out the window in class with their unfinished assignment on their desk)
May have difficulty organizing or completing a task, following instructions
May have difficulty paying attention to details, becomes easily distracted
May be forgetful (i.e. forgets about homework)
Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive – show primarily symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity, but not inattention
Example: This is the child who has difficulties with impulsivity and sitting still; “driven by a motor” (i.e. a child who bounces out of their chair, consistently forgets to raise their hand in class)
Hyperactivity:
May fidget or move around a lot; constantly on the go
May talk excessively
Impulsivity:
May interrupt others or speak at inappropriate times
May struggle with waiting for their turn (i.e. while waiting in line, while speaking in conversations)
May be prone to accidental injuries due to impulsive behaviours
Combined - show equal symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity
How to Support Children with ADHD?
For distractibility:
Have a cool down zone, and allow for frequent body breaks
For impulsivity:
Use “Stop, Think, and Act” to teach them to think about their decisions before acting on them, and have it on a poster in the room where it is easily readable
For hyperactivity:
Create a hands-on learning environment by using role-play, partner/group activities, or props to teach lessons
For emotional/social skills:
Use role-playing to practice positive body language, active listening, and reading social cues
Teach the child how to identify their emotions and provide them with self-regulation strategies (i.e. deep breathing)
ADHD Support for Families
For individuals and families in Toronto struggling with ADHD, there are a variety of treatments that may be beneficial, including:
ADHD programs and groups for kids that focus on behaviour and self regulation
Social skills training
Emotional regulation training
Cognitive behavioural therapy
ADHD behavioural therapy for kids
ADHD parent training in behaviour management for kids
Online ADHD programs