• ADHD and OT

If you've stumbled across this page on our website, you may have ADHD, be supporting someone with ADHD or be a clinician who wants to know more about ADHD. If you are an ADHDer - then you're probably going to want to know the TLDR (too long didn't read) about ADHD and OT. So, hopefully this page answers your questions in a quick and easy manner with no fluff and no cheesey sales pitches. Sometimes when our team introduce ourselves as OT's we get comments such as: "Oh, my Mum had an OT when she had a stroke, they provided her equipment." "My child has an OT who is helping them with toileting and fine motor skills." "I know about OTs, I had one when I broke my arm last year, I did some upper limb therapy with them!" So, I know what you are thinking. How the heck do OT's have their fingers in so many pies and what on earth do they do from an ADHD point of view? Read on for the Top FAQ's we get about OT and ADHD.

"What is your training background and core business?"

OT’s generally complete a 4 year degree at University, although many OT’s working in the mental health space have backgrounds in Psychology as well. We hold registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and many OT's working in the psychosocial space often have endorsement to practice under the Better Access to Mental Health (BAMH) program to be able to offer psychological focused strategies. We are an evidence based profession with an aim of supporting individuals, by enabling them to improve their independence in daily tasks. We assess what is meaningful and purposeful to the individual. No one needs to be ‘fixed.' OT's are supporting, enabling, accommodating, modifying, skill building superstars - the person, the environment and occupation is at the heart of what we do! Sadly, OTs working in the mental health and space are limited and even more so in the neurodevelopmental space. Jokingly, we therefore get referred to as Unicorn OTs - rare, unique and amazing!

"Why should I consider OT for ADHD?"

OT’s work in many different areas and have many valuable skills that can contribute to treating ADHD because of their deep understanding of human occupation, activity analysis, and functional skills training. Adults with ADHD often seek therapy after a long period of accumulated occupational role dysfunction and most of the referrals we receive are for individuals diagnosed later in life. The dysfunction they have experienced over the course of their life, has typically manifested into issues with school, work, strained relationships, poor self-esteem. While medication can alleviate symptoms, it doesn't always lead to behavioural changes that support optimal occupational role performance in these areas. This is where we can help. In a nutshell, we help adults by providing practical strategies to make daily life easier and more manageable! Mental Health OT's also have training and skills in treating comorbid conditions (ie: Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar). We also have training and awareness in trauma informed care and neuroaffirming approaches.

"What happens in an OT session?"

We respect that everyone with ADHD presents differently. The process we take is to firstly focus on comprehensive functional assessment to determine how ADHD impacts daily functioning, productivity, and overall well-being (comprised of a suite of assessments including adaptive behaviour, motor and process skills, cognition, sensory, executive function, sleep, environment, roles, values and interests). We then develop specific occupational based goals with the client based on their current performance of daily tasks, their satisfaction with performance of these occupations and how important or valuable these occupations and roles are to them.

"What are the practical things you can help me with?"

We weren't lying when we said we were Unicorns..... Here are some of the many things we are trained and skilled to assist with: • Engagement in meaningful and purposeful activities, behavioural activation and initiation of tasks• Environmental adaptations and organisation of the environment to make it conducive to occupational function (i.e. study, work, home)• Transition into work or study settings, adjustments and accommodation recommendations for employers or teachers• Executive functioning and Memory: tips and tricks to improve cognition• Self-compassion and self esteem• Social engagement and interpersonal relationships (note we don’t ’teach’ social skills)• Neuroaffirming approaches (embracing strengths and encouraging advocay and agency)• Coaching: building capabilites to pursue personal goals• Counselling • Many Mental Health OT’s also have endorsement by Better Access to Mental Health which means they can offer psychological focused strategies and many of us are trained to deliver clinical modalities including but not limited to EMDR, DBT, CBT and ACT. • Sleep hygiene • Optimising time management • Stress and anxiety management • Monitoring and regulating sensory input (sensory modulation)• Trauma informed training and awareness: understanding that many ADHDers (not all) have a trauma history and that this is considered in the implementation of interventions. • Comorbidities and dual diagnosis • Interoceptive awareness: awareness of body signals and connecting that to an emotion• Medication management• Mindfulness • Money management • Life skills (cooking, cleaning, gardening, shopping, managing a household)• Self advocacy • Goal setting • Emotional Regulation• Getting stuff DONE: task organisation, planning, prioritising, initiating, processing, building up motivation

Do all OT's have training in ADHD?

Sadly, no. OT's work in a number of areas and there does appear to be a shortage working in the adult mental health and neurodevelopmental space. We are optimistic though, that with the Senate Inquiry into ADHD, the Australian Evidence-Based Clinical Practice Guidelines, the recent coverage in the media and training opportunities, that more OTs will start working in the space. If you are unsure about your OTs background and clincial skillset, ASK them.