The Role of Occupational Therapy with Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Canadian National Survey

ABSTRACT

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a neurobehavioral disorder prevalent in childhood, demonstrate a persistent pattern of inattention and hyperactive and/or impulsive behavior that is more severe than their typically developing peers. Much of this challenging behavior is observed in the classroom. However, current literature on ADHD for school-aged children largely examines issues of clinical diagnosis and pharmacological management. Consequently, the associated challenges in functional limitations and participation restrictions that these children demonstrate have not been well examined. Fortunately, as members of the school-based team, occupational therapists are uniquely suited to address this important perspective. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to 1) identify the scope of occupational therapy (OT) practices in assessment, intervention and service delivery with children/youth with ADHD across Canada, 2) indicate potential research and practice gaps, and 3) discuss future implications with respect to OT intervention for children with ADHD. A bilingual national survey was created based on a comprehensive literature review and consultation with experts in pediatrics and knowledge translation. The survey link was sent to pediatric occupational therapists across Canada through mailing lists obtained from national and provincial organizations. A total of 172 surveys were completed (response rate = 10%). The majority of respondents reported that children with ADHD comprised 26–75% of their caseloads. More than 90% of respondents reported using OT interventions to address skills related to impairments (sensory processing), activity (fine motor function), and participation (school functioning) in their treatment of children with attentional disorders. OTs frequently reported using sensory-based principles to address the behavioral symptoms of children with ADHD. The most common form of service delivery was individualized sessions, followed by consultation. Potential gaps and implications at the research, practice and organizational levels are discussed to further support the role of OT with school-aged children with ADHD.

KEYWORDS:

• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
• occupational therapy
• pediatrics
• youth

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors. Data are not shared.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Edith Strauss Knowledge Translation Rehabilitation Research Grant.