Pediatric Attention Deficit Disorder
What is Attention Deficit Disorder?
Children with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) often experience challenges with attention, focus, organization, memory, and executive functioning. While every child is different, these challenges can impact learning, friendships, confidence, and everyday routines both at home and at school.
At Therapy Smarts, our multidisciplinary team works together to help children with ADD build the skills they need to become more successful, independent, and confident.
Pediatric ADD Signs & Symptoms
Common symptoms in children:
- Difficulty paying attention or staying focused
- Being easily distracted
- Frequently forgetting things or losing items
- Trouble organizing tasks or managing time
- Starting tasks but not finishing them
- Acting impulsively, such as interrupting others or making quick decisions without thinking
- In some people, excessive fidgeting or restlessness (though not everyone with ADHD is hyperactive)
How Does Therapy Smarts Supports Children with ADD?
While a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder comes with unique challenges, it also comes with incredible potential. At Therapy Smarts, our multidisciplinary team in Durham and Chapel Hill works together to create a customized “roadmap” that helps your child hit their milestones and gain independence.
Occupational Therapy (OT)
Our pediatric occupational therapists help children strengthen the executive functioning and self-regulation skills that are commonly affected by ADD.
Occupational therapy may focus on:
- Improving attention and sustained focus
- Developing organization and planning skills
- Teaching time management strategies
- Strengthening executive functioning
- Building emotional regulation skills
- Improving fine motor and handwriting abilities
- Addressing sensory processing differences that may impact attention
- Creating routines that promote independence at home and school
Speech Therapy
Many children with ADD also experience communication challenges that can affect learning and social interactions.
Pediatric Speech therapy may help children:
- Follow multi-step directions
- Improve listening and comprehension skills
- Strengthen expressive and receptive language
- Build problem-solving and reasoning skills
- Develop social communication and conversation skills
- Understand nonverbal communication and social cues
Mental Health Services
Children with ADD may experience frustration, low self-confidence, anxiety, or difficulty managing emotions when everyday tasks become overwhelming.
Our licensed mental health professionals help children:
- Develop healthy coping strategies
- Improve emotional regulation
- Build self-confidence
- Reduce anxiety related to school or social situations
- Strengthen resilience and problem-solving skills
Psychological Evaluations
Comprehensive psychological evaluations can help determine whether a child’s challenges are consistent with ADD while identifying their individual strengths and areas of need.
These evaluations can also provide recommendations for:
- School accommodations
- Therapy services
- Executive functioning supports
- Home and classroom strategies
Physical Therapy
Some children with ADD experience challenges with coordination, balance, body awareness, or motor planning (also known as gross motor skills).
Our physical therapists help children improve:
- Balance
- Coordination
- Core strength
- Motor planning
- Gross motor skills
- Confidence during sports and playground activities
Wondering About Developmental Milestones?
Have questions about your child’s development, or wondering if a certain diagnosis may be a fit? Try out our developmental screening tool— it’s a fast, free way to get a snapshot of your child’s progress on his or her developmental milestones.
Ready to Help Your Child Reach Their Full Potential?
At Therapy Smarts, we don’t believe in a “wait and see” approach. We believe in early, expert intervention that gives your child the tools they need to thrive. Whether you are looking for specialized Down Syndrome support or a comprehensive developmental evaluation, our award-winning team in Durham and Chapel Hill is ready to partner with your family.
Two Easy Ways to Begin:
Contact Us Directly: Ready to schedule? Call us at 919-378-1340.
Fill out our Online Inquiry Form to speak with a member of our intake team.
Don’t navigate this journey alone—let’s unlock your child’s possibilities together