Support for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Children

The symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may wane by early adulthood in some people. In other people, however, symptoms continue throughout their lives. Experts do not know why some children outgrow the condition and others do not. We offer child and family support services and resilience programs, which are provided by Sala Institute for Child and Family Centered Care, for children with ADHD and their families, as well as treatment for ADHD in adults.

School Consultation

At the Child Study Center, part of Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital, experts conduct school observations and train teachers, aides, and other school professionals in effective behavior management tools for children with ADHD. Our school consultants can also help to improve the quality of communication between the child’s family and teachers, helping to ensure that effective strategies are consistently applied at home and in school. Our specialists offer individual teacher training on an as-needed basis and frequently offer training and workshops to larger groups of educators through our relationship with school systems in the tri-state area.

Our clinicians regularly collaborate with parents, teachers, and school administrators to help ensure that a child with ADHD receives appropriate accommodations, such as extended testing time, or services, such as occupational therapy, while at school. These services may be provided through an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), which is created for each student who receives special education services in a public school and mandated by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Our specialists can provide important guidance and direction to school officials and parents during the creation and implementation of an IEP.

Organizational Skills Training

Developed at the Child Study Center, our organizational skills training program helps children in elementary school who have ADHD and other behavior disorders to improve their organizational, time management, and planning skills. Over the course of 20 sessions, your child is taught skills and routines that help them to track assignments, manage time and school materials, and learn how to plan. Children practice in individual sessions with trained clinicians, who provide direct instruction. Parents and teachers also benefit from this program by receiving guidance from our clinicians on how to encourage and reinforce the child’s organizational, time management, and planning skills at home and in school.

Organizational skills training for middle and high school students is also available. An individualized approach is used to determine any barriers to effective organization and academic productivity that may be preventing an older child’s success in school or in other settings. For example, a therapist may help a child to use a daily planner to better manage his or her time.

Our doctors offer consultations to college students with ADHD to determine if focusing on building organizational skills and improving motivation can address the challenges of successfully completing courses. For students attending an out-of-state school, these consultations can be arranged when the student is home during a school break.

ADHD Academy

The ADHD Academy is a series of special workshops available to assist children, teens, and young adults with ADHD who may be transitioning to new school settings. In late May and June, for instance, a three-session program, “Transitioning to College with ADHD,” is offered to graduating high school seniors and their families. This workshop focuses on helping students to obtain college support services, avoid pitfalls in time management, and manage ADHD in a college setting.

In August, two three-session workshops, “Handling High School” and “Managing Middle School,” are available to students and their families. These workshops include discussions about study strategies, getting organized when working with multiple teachers, and handling demanding subjects.

Workshops typically last an hour and a half and are conducted at the Child Study Center.