Occupational Therapy for Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Part 1: a Delineation Model of Practice

In the United Kingdom (UK), occupational therapy for children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a small field of practice (Chu 2003a), even though 5% of school-aged children in the population are affected by the condition (American Psychiatric Association [APA] 1994). Occupational therapists have much to offer children with ADHD in facilitating engagement in meaningful tasks and successful participation in different occupations, but lack holistic models of evaluation and intervention. In part 1 of a two-part article, an occupational therapy delineation model of practice is presented, in order to provide guidelines for understanding the specific psychopathology and management of this disorder from a multidimensional perspective. The model is based on an extensive literature review, the first author’s clinical experience and the data gathered from occupational therapists about their priorities for assessment and treatment (Chu 2005). Many strategies are suggested for assessing, understanding and addressing the needs of children with ADHD. The application of this model is discussed by describing specific occupational therapy evaluation and intervention procedures that are suitable for a family-centred assessment and treatment package. Some validation for this model is achieved through a multicentre evaluation, which will be reported in part 2 of this article.