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Evaluation of a Demystification Workshop for Children with ADHD

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Abstract

The ADHD Demystification Workshop was designed to provide children in grades two to seven with accurate information about ADHD and its treatments. The main goal was to evaluate the workshop’s effectiveness in increasing children’s knowledge about ADHD. The 25 children who participated showed an increase in their knowledge of ADHD, demonstrated more favorable opinions of both medication and psychosocial interventions, and evidenced a significant increase in their understanding of the various impacts of ADHD and potential coping strategies. The parents were found to be inaccurate in their predictions of their child’s knowledge and opinions of ADHD, and there was no relationship between the parent’s own knowledge and their child’s knowledge of ADHD. Overall, the “demystification workshop” was found to be a positive experience for the children with ADHD and shows promise as an effective means of sharing information about ADHD to latency-aged children with this disorder.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Psychology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3J 4J1, Canada

    Leslie MacKay & Penny Corkum

  2. Psychology Department, Dalhousie University, Halifax, NS, B3J 4J1, Canada

    Penny Corkum

Authors
  1. Leslie MacKay
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  2. Penny Corkum
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Penny Corkum.

TABLE OF CONTENTS DEMYSTIFICATION WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN WITH ADHD

TABLE OF CONTENTS DEMYSTIFICATION WORKSHOP FOR CHILDREN WITH ADHD

Introduction (10 min)

  • Introduction of group members and facilitators through an “ice-breaker” activity

  • Discuss purpose of the group

  • Review group rules and behaviour program

ADHD Discussion (10 min)

  • Brainstorm core ADHD symptoms and associated problems

  • Review “What is ADHD” information sheet

  • 13 item ADHD Checklist completed by each child

ADHD as a Brain-based Disorder and Medication-use (10 min)

  • Through the use of pictures, explore brain structures that have been implicated in ADHD

  • Discuss how every brain is “unique” (highlighting potential strengths and challenges)

  • Address myths about the etiology of ADHD through group discussion

  • Discuss in group format the use of medication in the treatment of ADHD

Break (10 min)

  • Children to fill out “How do you Relax” and “Who can Help with ADHD” worksheets

  • Children to draw a picture of what ADHD looks like to them

Film: “Jumping Johnny Get Back to Work” (Gordon, 1991) (20 min)

  • Children to watch the video which presents ADHD from a child’s point of view

  • Provide a small snack

  • Question and answer period about video

ADHD Game (10 min)

  • Children to participate in an interactive question & answer activity (based on a TV game show, Family Feud)

Concentration Cockpit (Levine, 1998) (40 min)

  • Children to self-analyze their attention control systems through completing Dr. Mel Levine’s hands-on tool, the Concentration Cockpit

  • Brainstorm strategies to help with areas of challenge

Closure (10 min)

  • Answer any remaining questions and give out completion prizes

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MacKay, L., Corkum, P. Evaluation of a Demystification Workshop for Children with ADHD. J Dev Phys Disabil 18, 319–332 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-006-9019-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10882-006-9019-3

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