Intervening with ADHD Adolescents
in the Schools

Page 2:

A. School-related interventions are part of a broader intervention which involves the following stages:

1. Family ADHD Education

2. Getting medication started

3. School-based interventions

4. Home-based interventions

5. Residual individual problems

6. Dental checkup model of follow-up care

B. Pinpoint and prioritize the targets for change for a given adolescent

C. Divide up responsibility for change-student, teachers, parents, school support services, therapist, tutors, others, etc.

D. Approach the school (teacher, principal, etc.) to do its part.

E. Therapist works on his/her part with student and parents

F. Start with the highest priority targets and develop specific behavioral interventions for each target, until all of them have been addressed.

G. We will give suggestions for the most common problems mentioned above. Readers interested in more exhaustive examples should consult:

1. Markel, G., & Greenbaum, J. (1996). Performance breakthroughs for adolescents with learning disabilities or ADD. Champaign, Illinois: Research Press

2. Robin, A.L. (In press). Guiding the adolescent with ADHD New York: Guilford Press

VII. Pinpointing Targets for Change

A. Classroom Performance Survey-practical rating scale which teachers can complete in 5 minutes (CH.A.D.D., 1996). Table 1.

B. Go over with the adolescent and the family a comprehensive checklist such as Table 2. Anything rated 3 or less is a potential target for change

C. Review report card, asking how each class is going

1. Which classes are easiest or most difficult?

2. Which classes does teen like or dislike?

3. How does teen get along with each teacher?

4. What help is available?

A. Analyze where in the chain of events there is a breakdown

Tracking the assignments, e.g. knowing what they are

2. Bringing home the materials

3. Having a regular time and non-distracting environment

4. Organized plan of attack

5. Getting started, e.g. procrastination

6. Keeping going, e.g. poor sustained attention and effort

7. Parental monitoring of homework, e.g. parents in the house

8. Carelessness

9. Lack of understanding

10. Losing homework before turning it in

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