Does your child have difficulty focusing and paying attention?

Do they struggle to sit still for long periods of time, or cause disruptions in school?

They may be one of the 5 to 10% of school aged children living with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder – ADHD.

But while ADHD can be frustrating to deal with, we can help.

Here at Little Feet Therapy, one of the pediatric therapy specialties we offer is treatment for ADHD. That can include both pediatric physical therapy and pediatric occupational therapy, depending on the nature of your child’s unique disorder.

If your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, book an appointment with Little Feet Therapy today. Or if you suspect your child may have ADHD, we can screen for ADHD to help get to the bottom of your child’s symptoms.

Keep reading to learn more.

What Is ADHD?

ADHD is a mental health condition that is characterized by unusually high levels of hyperactivity and impulsivity.

For instance, children with ADHD may have trouble focusing their attention on a single task or sitting still for long periods of time.

If your child has ADHD, they may also struggle with poor self esteem, troubled relationships, and poor performance in school.

How To Tell If Your Child Has ADHD

There are a wide variety of behaviors associated with ADHD.

Some of the general symptoms of ADHD include:

  • Trouble focusing or concentrating on tasks
  • Forgetfulness
  • Forgetting to complete tasks
  • Easily distracted
  • Difficulty sitting still
  • Interrupting others

Additionally, some symptoms are dependent upon the type of ADHD.

Symptoms of inattentive ADHD include:

  • Frequent mistakes or missed details in school
  • Difficulty maintaining focus when listening, reading, or holding a conversation
  • Disorganization in daily tasks
  • Frequent losing of items
  • Easily distracted

Symptoms of hyperactive and impulsive ADHD include:

  • Difficulty sitting still
  • Difficulty playing or carrying out tasks quietly
  • Excessive talking
  • Impatience
  • Interrupting others

What Causes ADHD?

The exact cause of ADHD remains unknown.

However, experts believe that ADHD is caused by a combination of factors, including neurological, environmental, and genetic factors.

One neurological factor that is believed to be associated with ADHD is insufficient dopamine, a chemical in the brain that helps move signals between nerves.

Another possible neurological factor points at structural issues in the brain.

Research suggests that people with ADHD may have less grey matter volume, which includes brain areas that help with speech, self control, decision making, and muscle control.

Environmental factors have also been linked to ADHD.

For instance, lead exposure during pregnancy may lead to higher risks of your child developing ADHD.

Lastly, genetic factors, such as having a close relative with ADHD or another related mental health condition, can also increase the likelihood of your child developing ADHD.

Different Types Of ADHD

The American Psychiatric Association (APA) groups ADHD in three types: predominately inattentive, predominately hyperactiveand impulsive, and combined.The specific type of ADHD will determine your child’s treatment.

Additionally, ADHD types can change over time, and so your child’s treatment may also need to change.

Predominantly Inattentive

If your child has predominantly inattentive ADHD, they may experience difficulty focusing, finishing tasks, and following instructions.

Children with this type may not receive an early diagnosis because it is not common for children with predominantly inattentive ADHD to cause classroom disruptions.

Predominantly inattentive ADHD is most diagnosed in girls.

Predominantly Hyperactive & Impulsive

If your child has predominantly hyperactive and impulsive ADHD, they may experience hyperactive and impulsive behavior that is characterized by fidgeting, interrupting, and impatience.

Children with this type of ADHD tend to have less difficulties with inattention; however, they may still have difficulties focusing on tasks.

Combined

Combined ADHD is the most common type. If your child has combined ADHD, they may struggle with both inattentive and hyperactive symptoms, including inattention, impulsiveness, and above average levels of activity and energy.

How Can Pediatric Occupational Therapy For ADHD Help?

Pediatric occupational therapy can provide solutions for a range of ADHD symptoms, including time management, organization skills, executive function, and treatment for social skills difficulties.

Studies show that occupational therapy can help improve in time processing and daily time management abilities in children with ADHD.

Your child’s occupational therapist can teach you and your child about strategies to overcome time management difficulties, such as keeping an analog clock in each room to help your child keep track of time.

Similarly, organizational skills can be improved through occupational therapy.

An occupational therapist can help your child learn how to break down tasks into smaller steps as well as organize materials, develop systems, and create visual cues to help complete the tasks.

Executive function is a common area of difficulty for children for ADHD.

If your child is struggling with executive dysfunction, an occupational therapist can help improve things like impulse control, planning, and prioritizing to improve executive function.

Finally, occupational therapy for ADHD can also help improve your child’s social skills.

Your child’s occupational therapist will work with your child’s teacher to help determine areas of difficulties and their underlying causes.

For example, if your child is acting out in class, an occupational therapist will look at reasons for the misbehavior, such as overstimulation or restlessness.

How Can Pediatric Physical Therapy For ADHD Help?

Pediatric physical therapy can also help children with ADHD. It’s common for children with ADHD to have gross motor delays and coordination difficulties.

Physical activity and exercise have been proven to contribute to the reduction of stress, anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction.

Additionally, studies show that regular exercising can help improve behavior and information processing, attention, and auditory attention.

A physical therapist will work with you and your child to implement regular exercise in their daily routine.


At Little Feet Therapy, we have a special interest in helping children with ADHD reach their fullest potential.

If your child is struggling with ADHD, we can help.

Book your appointment with Little Feet Therapy today.

Is your child struggling? Solutions are available.

Little Feet Therapy can help.