Behavior Modification Therapy For Children

The CDC webpage has many details and facts about ADHD, and the focus is pointed towards children with ADHD, but does not tell us or discuss any ways to treat the disorder. The stated facts are credible and accurate as a government service, if those parents that read that information would think there are limited resources available to help treat their children with ADHD, and that is with a combination of behavior therapy, medication, or with the two together(CDC,2016). According to the physician Sir George Frederick ADHD was called a “defect of moral control.” Even to this day doctors still believe this defect to be true; before any child is diagnosed with ADHD or given medication testing needs to be done. The treatment for ADHD should be individualized (overview of

Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a neurobehavioral development disorder among children. In the United States there are at least 2 million grade school children that are diagnosed with the disorder (Dupper, 2003). ADHD is determined to be one of the most common development disorders in children (Barlow & Durand, 2009). This paper will discuss the different aspects of ADHD, its symptoms, common traits, and the known treatments being used by clinicians. Moreover, the paper will also touch on the important things to consider when dealing with ADHD, particularly in the area of social work. By doing so, it will determine why social work should be an integral part of the diagnosis and

In treating a young child with ADHD you need to get a report from the teacher on the child’s behavior and how they are doing in there academic’s. Use the child’s report card as documentation. Have interviews with the child to see if they could sit steal while you are talking to them, Inn form the child’s Doctor that the child is having difficulties and that you would like the doctor to send the child to a Psychologist for evaluation for ADD or ADHD. Let the doctor know that the child is having social problems, moody, having social liaising, having some behavior problems, is having trouble staying on task and plays by them. Also ask for counseling so that issues can worked on and identified better.

ADHD affects more than 6 million children between the ages of 4-17 that causes them not to stay on task, have impulsive behaviors, poor academic performance and trouble with social interactions (Church, 2014). These symptoms are usually observed at home, school, and other social settings when compared to other children. Stimulant medications are prescribed as treatment to help reduce the symptoms and are recommended to be taken through adulthood (Church, 2014). However, once diagnosed, parents, adults and prescribers should look into alternative options first to help decrease the amount of medications needed (Church, 2014). The primary goal for any person with ADHD should consider behavioral modification or behavioral therapy, diet, and an environment change. Parents can also include attention and visual training, traditional talking and different techniques of discipline (The Nemours Foundation, 2017). Therapy attempts to change behavior patterns and helping not only the kids but struggling parents

Although medication therapy is one of the main choices for the diagnosis of ADHD, many parents do not wish to use medication therapy on their children. Recently more studies are being conducted on other ways to treat this order. Alternative or complementary therapy are starting to begin

Families who have children with ADHD often experience much higher anxiety and stress levels. A large number of children, almost half, will exhibit signs of ADHD by the age of four. However, most children are not diagnosed until he or she reaches elementary school. The behaviors that are associated with ADHD in children put them at risk for a host of other problems and complications such as completing their education, alcohol and other drug abuse, and an increased risk for delinquency. There has been much research on ADHD in recent years and many different types of medications and interventions have proven to be quite helpful. With the proper diagnosis and treatment, children with ADHD can learn to cope with the daily demands of the classroom, social situations, family interactions, and life in general.

In the article “ADHD Grows Up” by Tim Billkey, Craig Surman & Karen Weintraub, these authors inform us about ADHD throughout the years. ADHD stands for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder. This disorder is common in both girls and boys. Three types of ways you can recognize ADHD is trouble paying attention, restlessness, and impulsivity. These symptoms usually occur in the adulthood that can serve with many consequences. These consequences can vary from grades dropping, job opportunities and trouble getting things done. Emotion and expression can have a downfall also, for the reason that people with ADHD have trouble controlling those feelings. This may cause them to push people away or have a poor social life. Reducing

Behavior therapy involves reinforcing desired behaviors through rewards and praise and decreasing problem behaviors by setting limits and consequences.(Chris A. Zeigler Dendy, 2006) For example, one intervention might be that a teacher rewards a child who has ADHD for taking small steps toward raising a hand before talking in class, even if the child still blurts out a comment.(Chris A. Zeigler Dendy, 2006) The theory is that rewarding the struggle toward change encourages new behavior. This may also involve creating a routine for the child, making goals for the child to achieve. This may help with some children but not all. In dealing with this kind of therapy, the child may not be getting the kind of help needed to control themselves at school or in other public situations. However therapy has been proven to work best if it is accompanied by a pharmaceutical treatment and they work

For starters, parents and doctors should think about ADHD as early as preschool. Firstly, thinking about ADHD problems at a very young age can help at children who have trouble keeping friends, and trouble in school. For example, Perri Klass, journalist for the New York Times, shares that when first treating a preschooler with ADHD it would be beneficial for them to do behavioral therapy first, and medication last. Thus, this point proves that medication is necessary, but is not the first step when treating a child. Secondly, nine percent of American children between the ages of four and eighteen are affected by ADHD. For instance, Susan Pinker, journalist for the Wall Street Journal, reports that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is one of the most common and most misunderstood disease. Therefore, this confirms that some people may have it, and others may not. Thirdly, do children grow out of ADHD when they are a child? To illustrate, Susan Pinker, tells that the statement is a myth. The older you get, you are more likely to think about life consequences rather than when you were a child. Consequently, this information shows that children with ADHD are proven to make worse life decisions, rather than a normal child. For all these reasons, medication is necessary to control the

It is understandable for parents who have children who live with ADHD to have concerns about their children’s health. Practitioners inform that even though there is no cure for the health condition, there are several interventional strategies that can be used to help children who live with the condition to lead a happy life. It is upon every person who surrounds the child with ADHD to ensure that they offer any necessary intervention to help the situation.

One treatment for ADHD incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Counseling, and Social Skills training to address deficits in emotional regulation including low self-esteem, anger or aggression, anxiety or withdrawal, loneliness, and depression. People who are diagnosed with ADHD can learn conversational skills and can also improve tasks like organization, and memory. Studies have shown that interventions like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Counseling, and Social Skills training to address deficits in emotional regulation including low self-esteem, anger or aggression, anxiety or withdrawal, loneliness, and depression. People who are diagnosed with can learn conversational skills and can also improve tasks like organization, and memory. Studies have shown that interventions like these improve these children 's relationships with their classmates, which helps in the development of control of aggressive impulses, feelings of acceptance and belonging, morality, stress resistance, self-esteem, and cooperative social exchange skills (Guevremont & Dumas, 1994). Other treatments for ADHD include Neurofeedback; this involves having a Electroencephalogram (EEG) to measure brain waves, using a computer program to help increase brain waves related to attention, focus and concentration.( Treatments & Outcomes. (n.d.). Retrieved April 20, 2016).

ADHD is not a curable condition but it is treatable, and treatment can begin at any age. The use of medication is the most common form of treatment. Stimulants are the best-known treatments and have been used for over 50 years (KidsHealth, n.d.). Non-stimulants and antidepressants are good alternatives to the use of stimulants. Research has shown medications used to help curb impulsive behavior and attention difficulties are more effective when combined with behavioral therapy (KidsHealth, n.d.). Behavior therapy provides for the development of strategies that assist in creating living routines, limiting distractions, limiting choices and getting organized all of which helps reduce the symptoms of ADHD (KidsHealth, n.d.). Other treatments including megavitamins, special diets, visual training and one on one psychotherapy have been tried. However, scientific research has not found these treatments to be effective (KidsHealth, n.d.).

According to the APA (2014), ADHD is a behavioral condition that makes focusing on everyday requests and routines challenging. Children with ADHD can be defiant, fidgety, noisy, socially inept, aggressive, and resist change (APA 2014). Medications such as Ritalin, Adderall, or Strattera are the most common form of treatment for children with ADHD. These medications are usually effective in modifying behavior, but seldom result in academic improvement. The medications also have an extensive list of potential side effects including rash, loss of appetite, and trouble breathing. Alternative therapies such as play therapy, cognitive therapy, psychotherapy, behavioral therapy and special ADHD diets do exist. With these alternative methods

Rosch, Fosco, Pelham, Waxmonsky, Bubnik, & Hawk (2015), described behavior modification therapy based on reinforcement and/or punishment as the leading psychosocial treatment for ADHD. In addition, behavior modification is also recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics (American Academy of Pediatrics 2011). Behavior therapy lacks the harsh physical and mental side effects of medication. Despite less side effects, behavior modification therapy can prove to be quite a challenge. There is no standard or baseline “effective dose” of behavior modification. Furthermore, it can vary significantly from child to child. Behavior modification referred to in most studies, includes some system of rating to determine if a child’s ADHD symptoms improve after therapy. Researchers utilize techniques such as daily report cards, reward-cost or points system, and feedback to analyze and monitor the child’s behavior. Different levels of intensity were implemented in some studies such as Fabiano, Pelham, Gnagy, MacLean, Coles, Chacko, Robb et al., (2007) High Behavior Modification (HBM) included a point system and daily report cards. Teachers, counselors, or other administrators provided feedback such as corrections on assignments and explanations when a rule was violated. Low Behavior Modification (LBM) provided less intervention, but included feedback without the loss or gain of points. Participants also received less praise and rewards. In the No Behavior Modification (NBM) study weeks the children were given directions, rule violation was corrected and noted, but explanations were not given. Pelham, Carlson, Sams, Vallano, & Al (1993) referenced other scholarly journals and findings arguing behavior modification improved academic performance in ADHD children best when a negative consequence accompanies poor behavior, rather than a reward for task

There are different strategies and methods that are useful when adapting to a general education classroom. Daley & Birchwood (2010) describes peer and parent tutoring, task modifications, strategy training, and homework focused interventions, as being most efficient in accommodating children with ADHD. “Peer tutoring is a strategy whereby an ADHD individual is paired with a peer tutor to work on certain academic activity, with the peer tutor providing one on one instruction and assistance at the ADHD individuals own pace” (Daley & Birchwood, 2010). Implementing this strategy in a classroom allows the teacher to effectively teach the class as a whole and for the child to not fall behind in the curriculum. When the child returns to the home setting, it is most beneficial if the child receives parent tutoring as well. By continuing the one on one instruction at home, the child is learning at their own pace without any external