About 3% of all school-aged children are estimated to have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a disorder in which children are unable to pay attention, control their activity, and restrain impulsive behavior. These problems may interfere with a child's ability to hear or read instructions, complete school assignments, participate in games, and perform tasks at home.
A diagnosis of ADHD is determined by a health professional based on observation of the child's behavior by parents, educators, and health professionals. Children with ADHD may have difficulty learning and participating successfully at school.
With the help of occupational therapy, a child can learn to master day-to-day skills and be engaged at school and at home. In the school system, occupational therapy is a related service under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and is designed to help a student with a disability benefit from special education. A child must be eligible for special education under IDEA before being considered for occupational therapy in the schools.
