EBD Blog

Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and other Emotional and Behavioral Disorders often have difficulty with social relationships. Their peers may reject them, they may lash out at others, or they may not understand how to modulate their language and behavior to fit into a group. Amori Yee Mikami, a faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of Virginia, is addressing the friendship problems of children with ADHD directly.

In one project, Professor Mikami is studying how social interactions in play groups can promote friendships as well as how parents can support development of friendships. In another study, she is identifying classroom teaching practices that result in lower levels of peer rejection.

Carlos Santos of the Richmond (VA, US) Times-Dispatch covered one of these projects in a story entitled “Learning new ways to fight ADHD: U.Va. study trains parents, monitors kids and reports successes.” In describing Professor Mikami’s approach, he uses the case of Brandon Shelton and quotes his mother, Stephanie Shelton.

The training is unique. Most treatments for ADHD children involve the use of medication and counseling designed to help improve attention span and to control impulses.

“We train parents to be coaches,” Mikami said. “They help teach the child survival skills.” Shelton said the clinic gave her the tools she needed to help her son. “I didn’t really know how to handle a child with this problem. I was taught how to really listen to what he’s saying instead of interjecting my own ideas.”

Link to Mr. Santos’ story. To learn more about Professor Mikami’s work, visit her Web site.