AOTA

Authors:

Gloria Frolek Clark, PhD, OTR/L, BCP, SCSS, FAOTA

Earn: .1 AOTA CEU (1.25 NBCOT PDU; 1 contact hour)

Overview:

Approximately 1 in 10 (5.4 million) children in the United States has ADHD that may affect participation in academic, behavior, and occupational functioning. Students with ADHD often display problems with sensory, learning, motor, or mental health conditions. This chapter discusses the role that school occupational therapy practitioners have in addition to their knowledge of how to modify the task and environment, educate staff and parents and provide intervention to students so that they can benefit from their educational program.

Learning Objectives:

1.      Identify symptoms and behaviors that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may exhibit.

2.      List common comorbid conditions among children with ADHD.

3.      Understand the possible effects of ADHD on students’ occupational participation and performance in school and other occupations.

4.      Describe occupational therapy’s role and best practices that school occupational therapy practitioners can implement to support school performance and participation among students with ADHD.

Key Terms and Concepts:

·         Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder

·         Executive function

·         Multi-tiered systems of support

·         Occupational profile

·         Self-regulation