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Cogmed Working Memory Training Outline: Everything You Want To Know About ADHD
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Return to ADDvisor Volume 3 2001 Index
Number 11 June 1, 2001 1. Remediation Strategies - Part 2 2. Resource - www.PortMD.com =============================== REMEDIATION STRATEGIES - PART 2 =============================== The series of articles, which are appearing in the first ADDvisor newsletter of each month, are focusing on remediation strategies for neuropsychologically based difficulties. The suggestions that follow will benefit those with ADHD, widely considered a neurologically based impairment. These strategies are adapted from Morse,P. A. and Montgomery, C.E., Neuropsychological evaluation of traumatic brain injury, in R.F. White (Ed.) Clinical Syndromes in Adult Neuropsychology: The Practitioner's Handbook. The Netherlands: Elsevier Science Publishers B.V., 1992) EXECUTIVE PROBLEMS " Executive functions" are ones, which enable an individual to manage their behavior and task completion. The following executive function problems, and strategies to remediate them will be addressed in this article; 1) Problem recognition 2) Goal formulation/hypothesis generation 3) Planning. Problem Recognition This is the ability to identify the existence of a problem. Some children and adults with ADHD have difficulty with this executive function issue. Sometimes, this occurs because of impulsiveness (acting before thinking). If this is the case, reducing impulsivity via response delay tactics such as relaxation training, counting to 10 before beginning something, or practicing choosing between numerous possible responses may all be of help. Another possible intervention is practicing or role-playing problem situations in anticipation of issues that are likely to develop. Another intervention may be developing and practicing more than one possible solution to problems before acting. Goal Formulation/Hypothesis Generation This is an individual's ability to set a goal and develop ideas to solve the problem. If this is a problem for a child or an adult, practicing idea generation strategies can be beneficial. Increasing the individual's awareness of this issue as a problem for them and helping them to develop a list of possible ideas or goals on either a daily, weekly, or monthly basis can be of help. Providing additional structure for the individual can also help with this problem. Finally, placing the individual with greater supervision or a limited amount of potential problems that need to be practiced can be helpful. This means engaging in active limit setting for both children and teenagers. Planning This is the ability to plan multi-step approaches to problems. It is also the ability to plan and anticipate consequences of actions. Planning is an action that is a difficult undertaking for many ADHD individuals particularly if they are impulsive. One thing that can be done is practicing planning with familiar tasks such as cooking a meal. Help to make the individual aware of planning steps that are necessary for cooking even a simple meal. Generalize this concept to other issues like cleaning a room or doing homework. Each step must be explicitly outlined even if it seems obvious to you. Practicing this process by making a game of it can be helpful. Having the individual use an outline, list, or flow chart that is developed before hand helps them to recognize necessary planning and understand steps. Listing potential problems at each step can also be of help. Overall, it is critical to recognize that individuals with ADHD frequently have executive function problems. What can look like a lack of motivation, a lack of effort or not trying very hard may actually be part of the neurological dysfunction. You must work at taking a disability perspective ================================== RESOURCE - WWW.PORTMD.COM ================================= www.PortMD.com is a web site that offers assessment tools for professionals to aid in the diagnosis and monitoring of ADHD and its symptoms. It also has resource materials for parents and other professionals.
CONTACT INFORMATION _______________________ Alan R. Graham, Ph.D. Bill Benninger, Ph.D. ADDvisor.com Voice: 1-866-ADDvisor Fax: 847-824-2386 Email: Alan@ADDvisor.com Bill@ADDvisor.com Web: www.ADDvisor.com (c) Copyright 2001 ADDvisor.com, Ltd. All rights reserved The above material may be retransmitted or distributed to whomever you wish as long as not a single word is changed, added or deleted, including the contact information. However, you may not copy it to a web site. Republication of "The ADDvisor" in paper media is encouraged and permitted by organizations and associations which serve parents of ADHD children at the national, state and/or local level as long as the issue is reprinted in its entirety without charge and includes the contact information. With advance permission, we are happy to edit an issue to fit your space requirements. Republication is also encouraged under other circumstances, however, the advance permission of ADDvisor.com, Ltd. must be obtained in the event that changes in the text are desired or republication is to be made by individuals or by organizations other than those mentioned above.
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