The Effect of Occupational Therapy on Subthreshold Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Subthreshold attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may occur in a subset of children who are possibly more sensitive to their environment. Therefore, it is very important to target the elimination of symptoms with appropriate preventive therapies before this disorder occurs. One of the promising preventive therapy option may be occupational therapy.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can have a negative impact on occupational performance such as: activities of daily living, education, resting, sleeping, playing and social participation. Occupational therapists are able to provide interventions to improve engagement in daily activities on social skills, play, executive functioning, impulsivity, inattention, and motor coordination.

Although the guidelines about the treatment of ADHD are primarily medically and psychologically based, certain treatment components are useful for occupational therapy practice; for example, behavioural management of the child and psychoeducational programmes for families.

However, treatment recommendations for subthreshold ADHD cases or the population at risk are limited. This study investigates the effectiveness of occupational therapy in subthreshold attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.