Organization Interventions for Children and Adolescents with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Abstract

Disorganization (of time, tasks, and materials) is a core difficulty underlying the functional impairments associated with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This chapter discusses the role of organizational deficits in ADHD symptomatology and reviews school-related interventions designed to target these organizational deficits in youth with ADHD, including evidence of their efficacy and limitations of existing studies. Common strategies among intervention programs include teaching youth to more effectively monitor their own behavior, reinforcing progress in organizational strategies, providing organizational instruction and skill-building, and the use of external organizational aids. Evidence suggests that these interventions are efficacious in improving organizational skills and acceptable to parents, teachers, and school staff involved with implementation. Areas for future research are discussed.