Child Treatment Guidelines

Download Child Treatment Packet, Download Child Treatment as Booklet, Other Downloads

Treatment Standards

The gold-standard treatments for childhood ADHD, according to the most recent research:

• Stimulant medication—a very strong recommendation for the ADHD brain

• Parent training

• Classroom intervention

Treatment

LifeStance ADHD Program

"First and foremost, a strengths-based perspective! Identify first what is good and strong and healthy in a person and secondarily what requires intervention. Individual therapy is not generally found to be effective for treating children’s symptoms of ADHD, unless its purpose is to treat comorbidities or other stressors.

Family therapy can be helpful if there is chaos or dysfunctional cycles within the family or using Margaret Sibley’s STAND curriculum with the parent and adolescent.

LifeStance offers curriculum for the following groups, but clinical license is welcomed in incorporating other activities and skills into ADHD groups:

• Parenting Group—Education about ADHD, the ADHD brain, working with the education system and adopting a strengths-perspective, as well as parenting training. One-1.5 hours, 4-5 weeks. Virtual or in-person.

• Child Group—Ideally, running concurrently with the parenting group. An introduction to the ADHD brain with a strengths perspective. Beginning to learn strategies and skills. Mindfulness practices incorporated into each group to provide acceptance and improve emotional regulation, working memory, and attention. One hour, 8 weeks. 3rd through 5th graders. Virtual (slides available in

electronic binder) or in-person.

• Adolescent/Parent Family Therapy—Focus is on academic success through motivational interviewing and skills building. Week zero is for parents only, so they have an understanding of what their teens will be working on and their role. Parents are invited to join week 8 along with their teens. One-1.25 hours, 9 weeks. Virtual or in-person."

Treatment of ADHD | CDC

Tratamiento del TDAH | CDC

Mindfulness Prescription for Adults with ADHD Virtual Oregon Group	04/17/2023 to 06/12/2023	View Details
A Mindfulness Prescription for ADHD Virtual Oregon Group in March on Wednesdays	03/22/2023 to 05/10/2023	View Details
ADHD Strategy-Based Living Group for Washington Clients: Skills Trainings for Adults	03/14/2023 to 05/02/2023	View Details
Kid Power: Using ADHD Superpowers In person group for Washington clients	03/20/2023 to 05/15/2023	View Details
ADHD Strategy Based Skills Training Group for Adults in Oregon	03/08/2023 to 05/02/2023	View Details
A Mindfulness Prescription for ADHD Washington Group in May	05/08/2023 to 07/03/2023	View Details
ADHD Strategy Based Skills Training Group for Adults in Oregon	04/04/2023 to 05/23/2023	View Details
Introduction to ADHD: Virtual Parenting Group for Oregon Clients in April	04/04/2023 to 05/09/2023	View Details
Adult ADHD Support Group	05/04/2023 to 06/15/2023	View Details
Drop-in group 04/12/23: Parents of children with ADHD	04/12/2023 to 04/12/2023	View Details
Drop-in group 04/26/23: Parents of children with ADHD	04/26/2023 to 04/26/2023	View Details

Clarify Definition of Symptoms:

• Vanderbilt Scales

• Conners Scales

• ADHD Rating Scales (ADHD-RS-V)

• Swanson, Nolan and Pelham (SNAP) Scale

• Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL)

• Behavior Assessment Scale for Children (BASC)

Neuropsychological Assessment

• Helpful for learning profile

• High false negative rate for ADHD

• False positives (other factors besides ADHD)

• Continuous Performance Test (CPT) (TOVA ®)

• The Rey–Osterrieth complex figure test (ROCF)

• Processing Speed

• Working Memory

• Impulsivity

• Poor organization

• Poor Time Management

General LifeStance intake forms, plus parent/teacher Vanderbilt (ages 6-12) or self/parent/teacher Conners (ages 13-18) which is emailed to you. Spend a few minutes observing child and starting to build rapport with the family and child. Ask the family about the child’s strengths, setting the tone. It is recommended that child not be in the room when symptoms and problems are discussed.

obtain psychological testing through school to determine IEP of 504 Plan eligibility and rule out other learning or processing disorders.
Sample letter to request a 504 Plan

http://navigateadhd.blogspot.com/p/adhd-criteria-dsm-v.html

Inventory child’s gifts, strengths, talents, abilities, interests and identify learning style.

Have complete physical to rule out other medical conditions.
More on Medical Rule Outs | Navigate ADHD
Medical Rule Outs letter

Have psychiatric evaluation to consider medication, follow doctor's recommendations.
Medications | Navigate ADHD

Parent and child will regularly attend medication management appointments and child will take medication as prescribed, with parental assistance.

See Medication Alternatives page. As alternative, consider UnRitalin Solution by a chiropractor. Consider consulting Naturopath. Consider natural remedies, such as Attend homeopathic and Focus herbal. INGREDIENTS

1b. Screen for Sensory Processing Disorders (Sensory Integration) concerns.
Refer to occupational therapy.

Infant SPD Symptoms (ages 0-3)

Childhood SPD Symptoms (ages 4-12)

Teen SPD Symptoms (ages 13-17)

Adult SPD Symptoms (ages 18+)

http://www.sensory-processing-disorder.com/index.html – A huge site developed by mom and OT re: life with a sensory child and all sorts of resources.

Education: Recommend parents read Russell Barkley’s Taking Charge of ADHD, Stanley Greenspan’s The Challenging Child, and Ross Green’s The Explosive Child, Dr. Yannick Pauli's Unritalin Solution, The Out of Sync Child by Carol Kranowitz

http://www.russellbarkley.org/


Taking Charge of ADHD: The Complete, Author... by Russell A. Barkley	The Challenging Child: Understanding, Raisi... by Stanley I. Greenspan $12.49	The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Und... by Ross W., PhD Greene $9.03

Jane Rekas Recommends: Books on ADHD

Increase Support: Parents will seek out support group, such as CHADD, or through OFSN. Child will join social skills group, if available.

Parents will implement Child Centered Special Time plan: 20 minutes per day spent with child, child chooses type of play, parents only narrates child’s play, without teaching, praising, setting limits.

Physical Health: Develop child's core strength. Consider having child seen by a chiropractor, occupational and physical therapists. Be sure child has adequate time outside in the sun getting exercise and Vitamin D and air. Make sure child is drinking enough water. No calories from beverages. Reduce screen time (tv, computer, video games), to reduce EMF exposure, etc.

Nutrition: Have child screened for food allergens. Consider removing dairy and wheat/gluten. Reduce high glycemic foods, including high fructose corn syrup. Heal the gut. Balance metabolism. Consider Feingold diet.

Improve Working Memory

Improve Working Memory for ADHD Children

Vision therapy (visual training, vision training) is an individualized supervised treatment program designed to correct visual-motor and/or perceptual-cognitive deficiencies which have various causes.

Please see the Parents' Checklist for Learning Related Vision Disorders.