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Tower Hamlets CAMHS - ADHD Treatment

Supporting Young People and Families with ADHD

There are a number of approaches to managing ADHD

  1. Information. Often called Psychoeducation. This is about ensuring that children, young people, families and other adults working with children (such as parents) are informed as they can be about ADHD.
  2. Parenting Support. Parenting isn't easy! Supporting children with different needs can be even more challenging. There is advice and support available in Tower Hamlets for families.
  3. Adaptations and techniques for managing features of ADHD.
  4. Medication. When features of ADHD still cause problems after other techniques have been tried, we often recommend medication for ADHD.

Psychoeducation

Understanding your strengths and ensuring you have appropriate support where necessary is the best way to start managing ADHD.

We have some introductory information about ADHD available on our website

We run a workshop for parents after a diagnosis of ADHD is given to a child or young person.

The sessions are designed to help you understand ADND and explore practical ways to support your child at home and in everyday life. The workshops also provide an opportunity to meet other parents and carers who may be having similar experiences to you.

The sessions are facilitated by two experienced CAMHS clinicians. They run four times a year normally in January, April, July and October. We split the workshop into two sessions a week apart. Each session runs for 90 minutes.

You will automaticlly be invited to the next workshop running after your diagnosis

Downloadable information for parents and young people
Tower Hamlets CAMHS ADHD Info for parents
Download
  • "ADHD is our superpower" by Soli Lazarus. We like the book because it has an accessible cartoon format and brief sections that cover the whole spectrum of how ADHD can present. It has a strenghths based approach but does cover the challenges that ADHD can bring.
  • "The ADHD workbook for Kids" by Lawrence Shapiro. A handy workbook that you can pick and choose from to develop strategies to support your child

Parenting Support

ADHD is often associated with additional behavioural challenges. Strategies to support consistent postiive parenting strategies are well researched and are very effective in supporting challenging behaviour. Tower Hamlets runs a number of parenting intervnetions that you can access. There is also a specific ADHD parenting intervention.

Details can be found on the Tower Hamlets local authority website

Ways of managing and supporting ADHD symptoms at home and at school

You know your child best and what works for them, but here are some brief suggestions for at home. Children and young people benefit most when expectations are brief and clear. Praising and reinforcing the behaviours you want to see more of is far better that picking up on or punishing inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive behaviour.

Inattention: 
  • Your child will need support to remain on task and may benefit from someone sitting with them to complete work, giving them lots of praise for remaining on task 
  • Do not give any instructions unless you are standing nearby and have eye contact. Ensure instructions are short, clear and relevant, breaking them down into smaller steps containing one piece of information at a time. 
  • Check that your child has understood the instructions by asking them to repeat them. 
  • Give one instruction at a time 
  • Use of timers for homework to encourage maintaining focus for 10/15 minutes followed by a break 
  • Break homework tasks into smaller chunks 
  • Use lots of visuals e.g., task organiser/visual timetable to reduce need for language 
  • Use timetables and stick to them.              
Hyperactivity:
  • Use of timers during homework to encourage your child to remain seated for 10 minutes, this can be followed by a reward to encourage them to remain seated 
  • Give your child errands to run at home that require using energy e.g., laying the table, running upstairs to run errands 
  • Ensure your child has lots of opportunities to spend their energy e.g., swimming, football, as these activities are likely to result in your child being more focussed 
Impulsivity:
  • Encourage your child to stop and think before acting e.g. stop and count before doing something 
  • Play board games at home to support your child in practicing turn taking 
  • Give lots of praise for appropriate and calm behaviours 

                               

Supporting ADHD in Schools

Schools have a responsbility to consider additonal needs of children and young people with ADHD.

We have collated a list of evidence based school interventions that may help your child.

Support for liaising and working with schools can be provided by the Tower Hamlets and City SEND Information, Advice and Support Service

Supporting ADHD in Schools