ADHD in Adolescents- Part 4: Accommodations for Inattentiveness and Hyperactivity
Today we will begin discussing common accommodations used for adolescents with symptoms of both inattentiveness and hyperactivity. You may notice impulsivity has been excluded, and this has been done purposely. In my opinion, it is important to address impulsivity separately when addressing accommodations.
Adolescents who exhibit both features of inattentiveness and hyperactivity often have one common feature in their learning styles. They often need a kinesthetic (hands-on) approach to learning, and when this is not available, they seem to need a kinesthetic activity to maintain attention. (This also means for adolescents who have only the inattentive ADHD type, but prefer kinesthetic learning, the accommodations discussed here will also be appropriate for them.) Additionally, people who are not diagnosed with ADHD, but resonate with kinesthetic learning, may benefit from these.
Types of Kinesthetic Activities to Facilitate Learning
Any activity that facilitates movement while learning can be considered kinesthetic input. Although these activities might facilitate learning, people with ADHD may find themselves being redirected to another activity, most often more related to their learning goals. This may occur most frequently in a classroom setting.
Natural Behaviors That May Facilitate Kinesthetic Learning
Natural behaviors may not typically be considered as accommodations in educational settings. At times, these might be the types of activities or actions that adolescents might be told to suppress in a classroom.
Walking
Tapping feet/hands/fingers/fingernails
We previously introduced examples of a few natural kinesthetic behaviors adolescents with ADHD may use. Here are a few more:
Moving around while sitting
Hair twirling
Drawing or doodling
Rocking on their chair, possibly with front two legs of chair off the ground
Hand movements, such as scratching, rubbing, and picking.
Oral motor movements, which can include sticking out one’s tongue slightly, when a person appears to be thinking, biting on one’s tongue, lip, or inside of the mouth, and chewing or biting, such as on fingernails, pencils, etc.
Management of Natural Kinesthetic Behaviors
One way to manage natural kinesthetic behaviors is to try to incorporate them into learning. Teachers may allow students to stand while working, use fidgets (appropriate to the environment), incorporate project-based learning, and allow for scheduled, time-limited breaks for the whole class. “Brain breaks” can also be used, in which the teacher leads the students in a brief activity, such as mindful breathing, playing a quick group game, or providing online activity options, such as trivia, Pictionary, or typing games. When activities are provided to the whole class, then there is no need to make changes to existing 504 Plans or IEPs for students.
In the next blog, we will discuss rules to follow associated with the implementation of kinesthetic learning supports for adolescents with ADHD.