| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | child’s ability to complete daily activities in spite |
| While medication has long been used to treat Attention | | | | of these shortcomings will be the most effective. For |
| Deficit Disorder, Behavioral Therapy has proven to be | | | | example, keeping your child on a schedule is a very |
| incredibly effective as well and is now being used in | | | | effective way to keep their activities organized. If they |
| combination with its long utilized counterpart. There are | | | | wake up at a certain time, get dressed, take baths, do |
| many aspects of Behavior Therapy, but the overall | | | | homework and go to bed at specific times, they will |
| purpose is to train the individual to improve their | | | | begin to function out of habit, at which point |
| behavior and be more effective. | | | | forgetfulness and distractibility become less of an |
| There are basically three principles to a behavior | | | | issue. |
| therapy approach: set goals that are specific, provide | | | | Likewise, organization helps a child with ADD stay |
| consequences and rewards, and consistently utilize | | | | focused and reduces key items being misplaced. Have |
| consequences and rewards. Basically, you should lay | | | | a set place for books, backpacks, clothes, and toys so |
| specific groundwork for acceptable and unacceptable | | | | your child will react out of habit in returning these items. |
| behavior; when either is realized, the consequences, be | | | | Typically, routines prove to be an effective treatment |
| them positive or negative, should be utilized consistently | | | | course for children with ADD. |
| and continually. | | | | You should also be aware of the difficulties your child |
| Examples of consequences are time-out, which | | | | has, such as distractibility. Limit external stimuli during |
| removes the child from their surroundings for a specific | | | | times when concentration is necessary, such as |
| period of time; positive reinforcement, which rewards | | | | homework time, or during times when attention is |
| positive behavior; or a token reward system; which | | | | necessary, such as mealtimes. |
| can be added to or taken away from depending on | | | | Help your child stay on task with the use of checklists, |
| behavior. | | | | charts, or organizers to track responsibilities and |
| There are more in-depth behavior modification | | | | monitor progress; as your child ages, this will teach |
| techniques that should be utilized to help you child | | | | them to function on a daily basis regardless of their |
| control their behavior. Remember, ADD children suffer | | | | disorder. They will learn to write down important tasks |
| from forgetfulness, inattentiveness, impulsiveness, and | | | | and to keep track of things they must accomplish. |
| distractibility. Utilizing a system to reinforce the | | | | |