Occupational therapy for children with ADHD
Now a days Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a common condition in mental disorder of children and observed in their daily living activities level. Attention means the ability to focus on a specific stimulus without any distraction. A child can be considered with ADHD when his/her attention span is not longer in regards of needs and shows hyper activeness in all activities. Typically every year, a child gains attention span 3 to 5 minutes. So if a child aged 5 years should keep his/her attention on an activity for 15 to 25 minutes. If s/he does not show like that may have some problems in attention span. The exact cause of ADHD is until unknown. But some researchers suspect several factors to happen ADHD that include heredity, chemical imbalance (neurotransmitters) that helps nerve cells in brain communication with each other, and brain changes (especially the part of brain controls attention may be less active in affected children). It is estimated to affect 3-7% of children and more common in boys than girls. Parents are more obvious when a child starts going school and paying less attention in all activities. Child shows short attention span, restlessness behaviour, poor impulse control and destructiveness in all activities. Child also may shows poor peer relations, aggression or lying or stealing behaviour, unusual language, poor self control, frequently taking high risk activity, and also poor cognitive function. Affected child's intelligence level would be less and will have learning disability. Sometimes s/he shows depression, poor emotional control, frustration and changed mood. Every child is unique; so may have some atypical symptoms as well. Whether more or less symptoms the child shows parents should to consult with a specialist. ADHD can not be prevented or fully cured also. But it is manageable and curability depends on the severity of the problem. Multidisciplinary treatment approach is necessary including medication, behaviour management, special education training, parents' education, school based education with Individualised Education Programme (IEP) and environmental modification. Occupational therapy can play a significant role to manage the child with ADHD. Occupational therapist apply a holistic treatment approach including physical, cognitive, psychosocial, attention span and level of alertness, safety judgment, communication, daily living skill and school performance assessment. Occupational therapists apply various stimulations to maximise attention, cognitive therapy, behavioural modification techniques, educational remedy, parents' and teachers' training etc. All professions have their own knowledge and responsibilities for specific types of conditions. It is necessary to increase the referral systems between doctors / specialist to occupational therapist to get the service properly. The writer is an occupational therapist, child development and child disability management specialist. E-mail: zuakanda@gmail.com
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