July 5th, 2007 by Ann Walker
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder has more than one solution. More and more parents are looking for alternatives to Ritalin and other drugs designed to minimize the negative behavior associated with ADHD. Teen crisis intervention in this area has proven critical since statistics indicate that ADHD untreated can pave the way to teenage drug abuse, depression and rebellion.
A new software program designed to help troubled teenagers coping with ADHD. is now making it’s way to the US, having been in use for a time in Europe.
“Cogmed Working Memory Training is a home-based program that helps children with attention problems by training and increasing their working memory capacity. Clinically-proven results demonstrate that after training, children improve their ability to concentrate, control impulsive behavior and better utilize complex reasoning skills.1 In the end, better academic performance can be achieved especially in math and reading.”
Our Working Memory Training program is:
- Specifically designed for children with attention deficits
- Softwarebased
- Five weeks long
- Coachsupported
- Conducted at home with phonebased assistance
- Proven to be 80% effective
“Working memory” refers to the memory that we use everyday;short term memory. the ability to remain focused, retain instructions, etc. Studies indicate that increasing a teens “working memory” go towards ameliorating other difficulties associated with ADHD.
“Parents and teachers also report other benefits in daily life: improved social skills, taking initiative, remembering things and completing tasks like homework assignments more independently.”
(Source)
Relevant Tags:attention deficits, impulsive behavior, memory training, negative behavior, teen crisis intervention, teenage drug abuse, troubled teenagers, working memory
April 25th, 2007 by Ann Walker
“When the choice is clear - behave and stay with the group or misbehave and be removed - these kids make the right choice, and keep on making it.”
Referred to above are physically aggressive pre-schoolers. The writer notes that a procedure recently implemented in her day care has been effective in reducing aggressive behaviors in those toddlers who has been continuously presenting behavior problems.
It is referred to as Separate,Isolate and Relocate or SIR. The offending toddler is separated from their playmates, isolated in a non-stimulative environment until a parent retrieves them and then sent home where they continue to be isolated in their room - sans play things - and then sent to bed after dinner.
“It generally takes two or three experiences with SIR to persuade an aggressive preschooler of the benefits of non-aggression. Interestingly enough, these children seem to figure out how to behave pro-socially when they aren’t getting their way without anyone counseling them or role-playing with them. In other words, the problem is not a lack of learning, but a lack of motivation. When the choice is clear - behave and stay with the group or misbehave and be removed - these kids make the right choice, and keep on making it.”
The same theory applies to troubled teens. If there are no consequences for poor behavior, they have no motivation to change that behavior. It can’t be said enough, the sure fire way to exercise teen crisis intervention is to prevent the evolution of negative behavior that will necessitate intervention down the road.
“…the mother of a 4-year-old recently reported, “After the first `therapy session,’ he played well with the other kids for two weeks, after which he needed one more trip home and to his room, and that was it.”
(Source)
Consequences are the best teachers around.
Relevant Tags:aggression, aggressive behaviors, consequences, crisis intervention, negative behavior, poor behavior, teen crisis intervention, teen crisis, troubled teens
