When the Teacher Says Your Child Might Have Attention Problems

By Maude Le Roux, OTR/L, SIPT, RCTC, DIR® Expert Trainer at A Total Approach

Has your child’s teacher sent home a note to let you know your child may have an attention problem?

First of all, you’re not alone. The A.D.D. Resource Center estimates over 6.4 million children in the United States ages four through 17 have been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is characterized by an ongoing pattern of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity -or all three behaviors combined- that can interfere with a person’s executive functioning or development. Teachers are often the first to spot an attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder in their students.

However, the reasons these behaviors may be related to ADHD are the same reasons these behaviors may be related to a general developmental delay, also called a sensory processing delay.

4 Major Areas of ADHD Behavior

• Inability to sit still, fidgeting, continuously moving around while trying to listen
  • This may occur because the child is not able to look and listen at the same time. Why do people pace when talking on the phone? Visual information is removed and in order to enhance the auditory information, they access vestibular (movement) information by pacing or moving around. Our movement system and auditory system are connected to the same cranial nerve, so they affect one another.
  • Another reason for fidgeting may be that the child’s postural control system is not in balance and they are not able to stay put in a stationary position at a desk.
  • A child may not have the ability to sit still because some reflexes from early development haven’t yet been integrated.

• Being distracted by things that are happening in the environment
• Human beings normally process information from all of our sensory systems at any given moment with the same split-second timing. However, not all kids are transporting every avenue of sensory information at the same rate and speed. Being in a classroom environment can be quite overwhelming for them, despite their cognitive intelligence being able to understand the material.
• The visual pathway and the auditory pathway in the brain both need to process information at the same time and speed for adequate working memory, which is how kids learn. If this doesn’t happen, the information reaches the prefrontal cortex at different times, like a badly-dubbed movie. The child becomes overwhelmed with new information and starts omitting one sense in favor of another.
• Both of these above scenarios cause great fatigue in the attention system and makes a child more vulnerable to being distracted.
• Impulsivity
• Such as a child who raises their hand whenever they want, simply because they have something to say right then.
• Capability of having great ideas, yet not able to put them to paper in a thoughtful, organized structure.
  • Executive functions have not developed adequately to support organization, working memory and attention.

The Nature of Attention

• We’re not born to pay attention. We must develop our attention.
• Attention isn’t only a chemical process. It’s also a developmental process.
• Attention is a high-order structure in the brain that a child attains based on their early development.
• The developmental delay is about the sensory systems not developing at an adequate rate and speed.
• Attention disorder often goes hand-in-hand with behavior-like impulsivity, when a person simply cannot delay their gratification, but this is also part of a timing disorder.

What can you do about it? Call us to learn more about our unique new program that delivers another unique opportunity for understanding your child.

A Total Approach Attention Deficit and Executive Functioning Program

As occupational therapists we consider the impact of central nervous system development early in life as it relates to occupational function. Our new attention deficit and executive functioning program can help clinically decrease symptoms of attention difficulties, impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention while improving executive functioning skills of your child or anyone struggling through these behaviors.

By decreasing symptoms, wellbeing and productivity can be revitalized – which will help to improve academic outcomes, social skills and self-esteem, whether you’re age 5 or age 99.

Unique Comprehensive Program

• Assessment includes developmental hierarchy, attention measurement, executive functions, including working memory and social function
• Assessment is tailored to each individual profile
• Program is designed for individual needs and could include Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech Language Pathology (SLP), DIR®/Floortime™, Sandplay Therapy, and Executive Functioning Coaching
• Appropriate for people ages 5 to 99
• Executive Functioning Coaching
• Certified Executive Functioning Coaching (EFC) available
• Different options of assessment available to determine best program delivery
• Offers practical ideas and strategies for home, school, college, and the workplace

There are center-based and virtual options available, so do not delay. Give us a call today at 1-484-840-1561 to discuss your situation.