February 13, 2004

Contact:
Barbra Gonzalez, Associate Director
(954-262-5354
Mara L. Kiffin, Asst. Director,
954-262-5350
Elizabeth Ninomiya, Writer
954-262-5309

NSU's Center For Psychological Studies Offers Help For Children With Adhd

FORT LAUDERDALE , FL - Parents of South Florida children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) have a valuable resource available to them -- the ADHD Assessment Consultation and Treatment (AACT) program operated by Nova Southeastern University 's Center for Psychological Studies ( CPS ). The university has provided affordable, accessible, and expert mental health services for South Florida residents for more than 20 years.

“Children's issues have always been a top priority at the center and we have put together a new program specifically designed for children diagnosed with ADHD," said David Reitman, Ph.D., director of the AACT program. “We offer a team approach for treatment of ADHD that involves children, parents, teachers, and therapists.”

Teachers are included in the treatment program because they are usually the first to notice the symptoms, which include becoming easily distracted, failing to pay attention to details, making careless mistakes, rarely following instructions, and fidgeting or having difficulty staying still.

“In some cases, there may be a rush to diagnose the child with ADHD when, in fact, the child may be experiencing medical or other psychological problems that look like ADHD but are not,” said Reitman. “Even in cases where a child is found to meet the diagnostic criteria for ADHD, we conduct a thorough and complete evaluation. This is vital because 60-80% of children diagnosed with ADHD also have problems with anxiety, depression, or, most commonly, oppositional behavior. Treatment for children with multiple problems is more complex and challenging and thus requires expert care."

There is no single test to diagnose ADHD. Successful diagnosis and treatment requires a thorough evaluation of the child's behavior while ruling out other factors that may be contributing to the child's behavioral problems. For example, an undiagnosed learning disability, vision problems, or hearing problems may all result in "inattentiveness". Also, problems such as parental alcoholism, drug abuse, or depression may influence a parent's perception of their child and affect their parenting practices. Consequently, a comprehensive ADHD evaluation should include interviews and ratings scales completed by family members and teachers, as well as direct observation of the child's behavior at school. In many cases, formal academic testing may also be warranted.

Several interventions are available for children and their families. AACT therapists work with parents and teachers to determine the best approach for each family. These approaches may include social skills training, which helps children learn new behaviors through modeling and practicing difficult-to-master behaviors like waiting in line, sharing, or asking for help. The program also offers ongoing parenting skills training, which helps parents learn to use techniques needed in working with their ADHD-diagnosed child, but which are also useful in everyday life. These skills enhance a parent's ability to calmly respond to their children's behavior and diffuse difficult situations.

For older children, treatment may include cognitive behavioral therapy, which encourages new behaviors such as self-monitoring and promoting a more calculated and less impulsive approach to problem solving. The AACT program may also be valuable in the school setting. Since school-based evaluations may take 6 months to a year to complete, testing conducted through this program may facilitate more rapid assistance for children meeting criteria for disability. Most evaluations in the AACT program will take less than a month from start to finish.

The AACT program staff can facilitate state-of-the-art medication evaluations in concert with medical staff at NSU or with existing health care professionals working with the family. Recent research suggests that behavior therapy, academic assistance, school accommodations, and careful medication management may be the best approach for many children diagnosed with ADHD.

Living with ADHD can be extremely difficult for children, parents, teachers, and siblings. The entire family may need help in dealing with the problems that arise in conjunction with ADHD. Parents who suspect their child may have ADHD, can obtain a thorough assessment and evaluation in the AACT program, which offers follow-up care, consultation with other professionals, and provides speakers to educate the public about the latest research developments in ADHD.

To learn more about the AACT program and the numerous services available through NSU's clinic, call (954) 262-5912.