Tools for ADHD

As a counsellor, I am dealing with young people with ADHD and ASD on a daily basis. I would like to focus on ADHD for this blog as a way of understanding how the brain of this population operates. ADHD brings with it a deficiency in the frontal lobes of the brain responsible for their executive functioning. The deficiency means that their brains are operating approximately 30% behind, meaning that maturation is likely to be put back to around 25-to-30-years of age.  So, a 15-year-old will be operating mentally like a 12-year-old. Guided mindfulness sessions, repeated on a daily basis can be beneficial for everyone. These sessions are like a good work out at the gym.  Furthermore, it is important for youth and young people with ADHD to improve executive function and self-regulation processes.

So, what is mindfulness and why is it so important. Today we will look at a standard definition of mindfulness. Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens. This is a learnt process.

There are several reasons for the introduction of mindfulness practices, most importantly is the benefits to building strength in our executive function (situated in the frontal lobes of our brain) which most importantly determines our ability to self-regulate (The last part of our brains to mature).  

Therefore, for youth and young people with ADHD they will (with guidance) greatly benefit from the practice of mindfulness. This will give them a greater chance of being able to meet all the challenges that life will throw at them. 

References

Zelazo, P.D. and Lyons, K.E. (2012). The Potential Benefits of Mindfulness Training in Early Childhood: A Developmental Social Cognitive Neuroscience Perspective. Child Development Perspectives, 6(2), pp.154–160.

Harvard University (2019). Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. [online] Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University. Available at: https://developingchild.harvard.edu/.

So, what is executive function and self-regulation? Executive function and self-regulation are skills that are the mental processes that enable us to plan, focus attention, remember instructions, and juggle multiple tasks successfully. Just as an air traffic control system at a busy airport safely manages the arrivals and departures of many aircraft on multiple runways, the brain needs this skill set to filter distractions, prioritize tasks, set, and achieve goals, and control impulses.

As parents, you control the executive function in your children, (the CEO to the brain function) as your children grow and develop, you begin to share this responsibility with your child's teachers. Yes, a big responsibility! Eventually we all want to see them become the CEOs on their own, with some guidance along the way. 

It is important for youth and young people with ADHD to be able to use executive function and self-regulation skills because without these skills they will find it very difficult to manage relationships, have well connected friendships and find meaningful work. 

The video below will provide more information about the brain and the benefits of building strength with executive functioning skills.