Educate parents about sensory processing problems and minimize classroom background noise for children with ADHD and auditory processing problems¶

Strategy · All strategies
Evidence · 2 claims (2 for) · 1 study (1 review), q2 · 0 of 1 report an effect size · 2 claims rest on one study

Description¶

The review recommends that, because parents of children with ADHD are already educated about ADHD symptoms, "they should also be educated about the symptoms and behavioral management of sensory processing problems". For children with ADHD and ODD co-morbidity who are more under-responsive to sounds, it states that background noise in their classroom should be minimized. It also notes treatment plans for children with ADHD and sensory oversensitivity should include management of co-morbid psychiatric problems, and reports occupational therapy as a promising intervention.

Design Implications¶

Context¶

Requirements¶

• Assessment identifying the child's sensory processing problems, including auditory hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity

Constraints¶

• It is not clear how much pharmacotherapy can improve sensory problems in ADHD, and the effectiveness of interventions is an area that needs to be researched

Target Learners¶

• children with ADHD, especially those with ODD or anxiety co-morbidity

Target Learning Goals¶

• reducing sensory-driven behavioral and educational disruption in classroom and home settings

Related Strategies¶

Examples¶

• Sensory Profile: the parent-reported questionnaire for identifying the sensory problems this strategy responds to

Claims¶

• ODD and anxiety co-morbidity predict more severe sensory processing problems in children with ADHD [+M] (why children with ODD or anxiety co-morbidity are singled out)
• Tactile defensiveness in ADHD is specific to affected children, more frequent in females, and not due to tactile perception impairment [+M]

Key Sources¶

• Ghanizadeh A. (2011). Sensory Processing Problems in Children with ADHD, a Systematic Review. Psychiatry Investig 2011;8:89-94. https://doi.org/10.4306/pi.2011.8.2.89