ADHD and Sensory Processing in Schools
By Hannah Deterding Krueger, LSW

Kids that can’t sit still, can’t attend, have difficulty initiating a task, forget their work, zone off, should instantly have some sort of diagnosis and meds…right? I sure hope not! We are seeing more and more concerns about students attending in class and it is a legitimate concern for parents and teachers. I have no doubt that the child may be struggling with something but figuring that something out is the hard part. There are a few different options that you can work through if you aren’t a fan of medication, or if you are! Most teachers will have good communication with their parents that give them some sort of feedback about a child being at the same pace as their peers, not completing work in a timely manner, zoning off, being unorganized, etc. Some of that may be that they are experiencing some ADHD symptoms and some may be concerns with sensory processing. In many cases, children with ADHD have some sort of sensory need to go along with it. Do they struggle to get dressed in the morning because the tag feels off? Do those socks feel itchy? Do they have to try on 14 different pairs of pants? That may be part of it. We also see needs at school with children saying it is too loud, too bright, too distracting, etc. Those are pieces of sensory processing and small adjustments can be made for their success. 

1. Talk with your child’s teacher about your concerns, some of the behaviors may only be seen at home. Kids work REALLY hard to do well at school and home is a “safe place” and they can let their bodies go!

2. Get the Social Worker, Psychologist, and Occupational Therapist involved if needed you can request rating scales to take to the doctor or have them do a formal observation they may need to do a sensory profile to see what other things are impacting your child

3. Discuss the possibility of a 504 plan if your child has some extra supports needed for them to be successful (ex: extended time, alternate seating, noise-canceling headphones, etc).

4. Just because they have a diagnosis does not mean they need an IEP. You may find the fix for your child’s needs with medication, counseling, accommodations in the class, a different seat…and you may not need something as restrictive as an IEP.

5. Try not to worry too much about your child looking “different” with their needs, everyone learns differently and you want them to be successful!

This is a hard topic to discuss when you want so badly for your child to be successful and “normal.” Imagine how your kid feels! Do your best by reminding them of their strengths and how hard they are working. Give them brain breaks after they have completed small portions of work and use timers to keep them on task. 

If you’d like to learn more about issues Hannah works with on a regular basis please read more here: https://www.thementalwellnesscenter.com/providers

To call and schedule an appointment for your child to see Hannah please call us at 309-807-5077 or email us at info@TheMentalWellnessCenter.com