ADD

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Attention Deficit Disorder is often confused with ADHD. The two conditions are quite different; a child with a diagnosis of ADD finds it difficult to concentrate and focus and may also have other struggles including:

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• An inability to follow one train of thought or consistent threads of thought.

• Problems filtering out background noise

• Forgetfulness and clumsiness

• Frequent fidgeting

• Inability to listen well or follow conversations

• Aggressive behaviour or difficulty controlling impulses.

• Talking only about the subjects he or she is interested in

 

Living with ADD can be exhausting, both for your child and your whole family. ADD is often diagnosed in early childhood and if untreated can go on to affect teenagers and young adults with increasingly damaging results, including the development of depression or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

 

We work with our sister company NETwork Interventions who specialises in Verbal Behaviour which is a form of Applied Behaviour Analaysis (ABA) and is widely recognised as an effective and proven approach to change the behaviour of children with ADD and many other acquired disorders, developmental delays and conditions.

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Their team of trained behaviour analysts and psychologists have many years’ experience of successfully helping children with a diagnosis of ADD. Once they have undertaken an extensive observation and assessment of your child, they will design a tailor-made ABA programme of teaching for your child. We will both be with you every step of the way as you implement these interventions, transferring to you the knowledge, skills, confidence and encouragement you need to make it succeed.

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We have seen time and time again that a whole family approach is the key to achieving maximum results. Having worked with many families affected by ADD, we understand the strain this disorder can have on your child and the rest of the family. Because of this, we never work with a child in isolation – and the interventions we design will take into account your family situation and the needs and challenges of the whole family unit. We will also work very closely with your child’s school to ensure a consistent approach.

 

Behaviour Analysis can be highly effective in changing the behaviour of a child with a diagnosis of ADD. Families of children with a diagnosis of ADD that we have worked with have seen some astonishing changes in their child. These include, but are not limited to

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• Improved concentration and ability to stay ‘on task’ at school, leading to improved academic performance and better school reports.

• Challenging or aggressive behaviour patterns which have been replaced by healthy, positive and age-appropriate behaviours.

• Significant improvements in relationships within the family, making for a happier family and stronger, more stable family unit.

• Better relationships with other children and the ability to make and keep friends.

• The ability to converse well with children and adults.

 

Many children make remarkable progress and learn to interact and function just like other children of the same age. 
There are many factors which will influence how successful the interventions will be. These include the nature and severity of the problem, your family situation and your availability to implement the interventions on a daily basis. We will talk to you about these and the level of success you can expect, once we have completed a full assessment of your child.

 

All of our interventions start with an in-depth observation and assessment of your child. This will involve:

• Observing your child in a range of settings including school, home, a party or play date and other outings such as a trip the shops or to visit grandparents.

• Gathering detailed information from you and any professionals who are working with your child.

 

We then report our findings to you in writing, by video or face to face over a coffee, depending on what works best for you. We will give you an honest, impartial assessment of you your child’s skills, successes, challenges and struggles. We will then make recommendations for helping your child, including costs and time scales.

 

Once you are happy to proceed, we get started with implementing the programme. Whether your child’s programme lasts two weeks or two years, we will be with you every step of the way, providing the expertise, training and support you need to make it work. 
We will review your child’s progress throughout the programme to ensure that it is working and that you are happy with the degree to which your child is progressing and is learning the appropriate skills and behaviours.

 

Your role as parents is crucial for the success of the programme. Your determination to implement our recommendations on a daily basis will significantly impact how successful the programme is. It will be more than worth the investment of time, effort and money - and, as many families tell us, the positive impact this will have on your child and your family will make it all worthwhile. As well as expert consultants to design your intervention and work with your family, we have therapists available to work in a one to one capacity with your child to support you in your implementation.

 

ADD is often treated with medication. The adverse side effects of these drugs have been well documented in recent years The NICE (National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence) now recommends that medication should only be used alongside therapy and training for parents. New research shows that behavioural intervention is just as successful as medication, but without the side effects- and our experience over many years has demonstrated this time and time again.

 

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