Can Occupational Therapy Help a Child with ADHD?

If your child has ADHD, then their treatment team may be comprised of many different types of professionals. One type of professional who can often make a big difference for kids with ADHD is an occupational therapist. Occupational therapists use specific techniques and interventions to help kids and adults with their “occupations,” or daily living activities.

In this article, I’ll explain what occupational therapy is, as well as how it can help your child's different ADHD symptoms. I’ll also provide a quick guide on what to look for when choosing an occupational therapist for your child.

Let’s get started.

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What is Occupational Therapy?

Occupational therapy, or OT, is a type of therapy that helps kids and adults with the skills and behaviours they need to function in everyday life. OT is frequently used with people who have or are in rehabilitation from a number of different physical and mental illnesses, including (but not limited to):

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Birth defects
• Traumatic brain or spinal cord injury
• Rheumatoid arthritis
• Broken bones
• Cancer
• Cerebral palsy
• Learning disorders
• ADHD

Some of the daily skills that occupational therapists can help kids to develop are:

• Self-care, like showering on their own and maintaining a daily routine
• Fine motor skills like handwriting
• Managing emotions like frustration in healthy ways
• Social skills
• Hand-eye coordination

The specific OT interventions that occupational therapists use depend on their clients’ needs. Sometimes, they may play catch with a child to improve their coordination. Other times, they may set a client up with technological and mobility aids like a wheelchair. For kids with mental health challenges, they might teach important life skills like assertiveness or self-regulation of emotions.

Occupational therapists work in a wide variety of settings including in hospitals, rehab clinics, schools, community centers, clients’ homes, mental health facilities, online ADHD therapy and more.  They often work as part of multi-disciplinary teams that include other healthcare professionals like mental health therapists, physicians, and physical therapists.

How Occupational Therapy Helps Children with ADHD

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a neurodevelopmental condition that can impact how well kids function in their everyday lives. Symptoms of ADHD may impact concentration, organization, and impulse pathways in the brain. Children with ADHD may have difficulty with task initiation, task completion, engaging in conversation, waiting their turn, fidgeting, working on the same activity for long periods, reading comprehension, memory, and more. Occupational therapy might be a helpful intervention to help your child learn the skills they need for daily functioning.

Some skills that an occupational therapist can help children with ADHD develop are:

• Grooming, like brushing hair or teeth
• Daily tasks such as self-dressing
• Self-manage energy levels
• Organization, like keeping their desk or backpack organized
• Time management
• Physical coordination and fine motor skills
• Healthy ways to express or manage anger and frustration
• Improve focus and decrease distractibility
• Social skills
• Handwriting skills

Let’s go over some of the main areas where OT might be a natural way to help your ADHD child.

Executive function

An occupational therapist can work with your child and your family to strengthen executive functioning skills. Executive functioning refers to complex skills like planning, problem-solving, and time management. Because of the way ADHD affects the brain, kids with ADHD often have trouble in these areas.

OTs can help kids with ADHD learn how to function better in these areas. For example, they might work with you and your child to learn how to split every task up into smaller steps that will help your child succeed. They could encourage your child to use visual aids, like an analog clock, to keep better track of their time.

Social skills

Kids with ADHD often have trouble in their social lives and relationships. Their ADHD symptoms, like blurting things out or interrupting others, could cause them to be socially rejected. OT can help kids strengthen their social and communication skills so they can maintain strong and healthy relationships into adulthood.

OT interventions might also include helping you, as the parent, to plan your child’s social interactions in a way that sets them up for success. For example, they might recommend that you set up playdates with only one other child rather than a large group.

Learning and school

OT can also help kids with ADHD do better at school. A traditional school setting is often difficult for kids with ADHD. Their classrooms may not be set up for neurodivergent kids, and a child with ADHD could have a hard time following instructions or sitting still.

Occupational therapists can work with your child’s school to make it easier for them to succeed. For example, an OT intervention could be to help your child keep their backpack and desk organized. Occupational therapists could teach older kids note-taking strategies or help younger kids with holding a pencil. They might also introduce helpful objects for your child, like alternative seating options.

Managing emotions or hyperactivity

Kids with ADHD, especially the hyperactive-impulsive presentation, have a lot of hyperactive energy. This energy may come out at inopportune moments, like during silent reading time at school. It’s common for kids with ADHD to have angry outbursts or emotional meltdowns because they’re filled with so much restless energy that they can’t get out.

Occupational therapists can teach your child self-regulation skills, like deep breathing techniques, to manage big emotions. They also use analogies and visual aids (like the common “hot engine/cold engine” or Zones of Regulation analogies) that help your child be more aware of their fluctuating energy levels and emotional states.

Sensory processing

Many kids with ADHD live with sensory processing disorder. This means that they have a hard time processing things like sounds, textures, smells, and more. This is so uncomfortable that it causes emotional meltdowns in many kids with ADHD. Other kids with ADHD might feel under-stimulated and crave sensory stimulation.

Occupational therapists use specific techniques (called sensory integration therapy) to help kids manage sensory processing issues. For example, they might provide a deep massage for kids who need that sensory input. Weighted blankets, textured items, and squeeze machines are other tools that therapists use. Sensory integration therapy usually takes place in a “sensory gym” with specially designed equipment.

Note: If you are looking for a natural, fun alternative to therapy for your ADHD child, try Joon app. Joon is a game designed for children with ADHD and their parents. Parents are able to give their ADHD kid tasks/missions to complete to earn points and rewards in the game. Parents have seen their child build better habits, get motivated and be more autonomous. Claim your 7-day free trial here.

How to Find an Occupational Therapist

In the United States, occupational therapists must have graduated from a Masters-level graduate program that’s accredited by the American Occupational Therapy Association. Each state has different licensing requirements, and the OT you work with needs to have an active license in the state where you live.

You can ask your child’s doctor or mental health therapist for referrals to a licensed occupational therapist near you.

Having a license to practice OT isn’t usually enough. The right OT for your child should also have experience working with children — ideally children who have ADHD.

To determine whether the OT is a good fit for your child, you can:

• Observe interactions between the OT and your child
• Ask the OT about their background and training
• Ask about whether they have specific knowledge and/or experience working with kids with ADHD
• Ask what kind of techniques and occupational therapy interventions they will use for your child
• Ask what their evaluation process is
• Ask what your child’s treatment goals are and how the therapy sessions will be conducted
• Ask your child’s doctor or other parents in the ADHD community for recommendations
• Observe whether both you and your child feel heard and understood by the OT

The therapist you work with should also communicate closely with your child’s doctor and other treatment professionals to ensure that they work as a team. You could even try an ADHD coach instead of a therapist.

Other Therapies To Help ADHD

Many research studies indicate OT can be helpful for people with ADHD. For example, one small randomized controlled trial found that a 12-week time management intervention, delivered by an occupational therapist, improved time awareness for kids with ADHD. The participants were also taking medication.

In general, however, the research base is lacking large-scale randomized controlled trials to be able to say definitively that OT is always helpful for kids with ADHD.

The most highly recommended form of therapy for kids with ADHD is behavior therapy. Behavior therapists work with kids and parents to reduce negative behaviors and increase positive ones.

For kids under 6 years old, behavior therapy (through parent training) is the only recommended type of therapy for ADHD. For kids 6 years and older, experts recommend behavior therapy alongside a medication treatment (like stimulant medication).

Discover how to find the best ADHD therapist for your child.

Takeaway

Occupational therapy can be an effective intervention to help your child with ADHD to strengthen the skills they need for their daily activities. Occupational therapists work in multidisciplinary teams, so your child can receive OT on top of other interventions like behavior therapy.

To find an occupational therapist for your child, start with talking with their pediatric doctor or therapist. They should be able to provide more information about whether OT could be a good option for your child, and refer you to recommended therapists in your community to start a treatment plan.

This article is for informational purposes and is not a substitute for individual medical or mental health advice. Please consult with your or your child's prescribing doctor before changing, starting, or stopping a medication routine.