Adapting your approach to ADHD

By Tara Kent

The best way to work with people who have ADHD is that they are seekers of enjoyable experiences and find quiet, still spaces, with expectations of socially regulated conduct to be terrifying. They often love rules that they can follow and can be staunch advocates for rules, once they know they exist and know they can follow them.

There is often boundless energy that exists with those who are ADHD, but this can be coupled with total exhaustion if they don’t acquire the sensory input they need, with the balance they require.

The best way to move forward and work with someone who is ADHD is to:

• Use distraction as the primary response to difficult situations.
• Space and break up boring or monotonous tasks with fun, short tasks to make it easier to get through.
• Use consistency in expectations to help manage executive functioning complexities.
• Use reminders and prompts to help the person remember what they are up to.
• Enable the person to have control over their life and wellbeing.

Read the spotlight on ADHD here.