I sense that an OT can help with that...

The CDC estimates that around 9% of children aged 3-17 years have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. 

ADHD is a disorder seen in individuals because of differences in how the brain has grown and developed. Individuals with ADHD can display symptoms like frequent daydreaming, forgetfulness, extensive squirming, impulsive decision making, and difficulty with self-regulation. I have had a lot of personal experience interacting with individuals with ADHD and have seen how hard certain occupations can be for them, especially being a student. 

Growing up, my brilliant sister always struggled in her classes, and I could never understand why. She would complete an assignment and simply forget to turn it in; she was constantly in trouble with her teachers for daydreaming during lectures or singing to herself in class and would spend countless hours on a reasonably quick assignment because she was constantly getting distracted. The wildest part was that she always received an A when she managed to finish the work. After years of turmoil between my sister, my parents, and her teachers, we found out she had ADHD when she was entering high school, and I understood my sister a little more.

She wasn't choosing to be disruptive or irresponsible; she simply lacked the impulse control to regulate her senses independently. Although my family began to understand her struggles, her teachers rarely did, and her turmoil continued even with medication. 

Sensory processing problems are not uncommon for individuals with ADHD. These individuals can be overly sensitive or under-sensitive to sensory information and regulate these sensitivities with different behaviors. In a podcast from Jennie Friedman, "Can Occupational Therapy Help with ADHD?" with guest speaker Stephanie Lancaster, Dr. Lancaster discusses the different sensory processing styles using Dunn's Sensory Processing Framework. This framework can help assess an individual's sensory processing style from how their neurological thresholds and the way they self-regulate that threshold with various behaviors works with one another. There are four main types that you can read more about below. 

More information about this can be found here: SP2-Infogrfx.pdf

Different types require different intervention styles, but the example provided by Dr. Lancaster in the podcast showcased an individual with sensory-seeking behaviors, much like my own sister. These individuals have a high threshold for sensory stimuli, meaning they are slow to notice it at times but are engaged with active- self-regulation to control their sensory input. The example in the podcast explained that the client would adjust her sitting position frequently or play with her hair during class. 

Dr. Lancaster provided a sensory diet or scheduled intervention for this student in collaboration with her teacher and her parents. The goal of the intervention was to create a schedule where the client had regulated times (every 1.5-2 hrs) to participate in behaviors that would stimulate her senses, like jumping jacks or dancing (Friedman & Lancaster, 2016). This schedule might look different to a client with another sensory processing style. Still, it was very successful for this child and aided in her ability and confidence to be a student. 

Now, having worked in various classrooms myself, I see a lot more teachers are providing more accommodations for all students to manage their senses by giving alternative chairs, standing areas, bouncing balls, and activity breaks in their classrooms. I know my sister would have benefitted from this inclusive and accommodating environment when she was a student. I hope the changes continue to limit barriers facing students with similar issues from being successful in their occupations. 

I look forward to learning more about how Occupational Therapists working in a school setting can collaborate with teachers to create classrooms where all students can be successful and supported. 

To listen to the full podcast, click here: http://www.seeinadhd.com/occupational-therapy-help/ 

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, September 23). ADHD throughout the years. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved April 3, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/timeline.html 

Friedman, J., & Lancaster, S. (2016, November 16). Can occupational therapy help with ADHD? See in ADHD. Retrieved April 3, 2022, from http://www.seeinadhd.com/occupational-therapy-help/ 

Supporting sensory processing differences for people with ... (n.d.). Retrieved April 4, 2022, from http://downloads.pearsonclinical.com/images/Assets/SensoryProfile2/SP2-Infogrfx.pdf