Support for parents with ADHD children is as effective online as face-to-face
Support for parents with ADHD children is as effective online as face-to-face Parents learn behavioral therapies on their own schedule, saving time and money
Research from Lehigh University (United States) has found that a brief therapy to help parents improve the behavior of their children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is equally effective whether it is taught online or face to face
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends therapeutic support as a first-line treatment for preschool children with the disorder. However, few families can afford it due to the limited availability of clinicians, the costs of transportation and child care, as well as the need for and dependence on drugs.
The study, published in The Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology under the title ‘ Face-to-face vs. online for young children at risk of ADHD ‘, is the first to analyze behavioral therapies for ADHD in this age group (3-5 years of age).
According to lead researcher George DuPaul, “parents learned effective ways to anticipate and prevent child behavior problems, to teach their children the best ways to communicate their needs and how to reinforce their children’s positive behaviors with courses of about 15 hours duration, which had the same success both face-to-face and online.
In this sense, the scientist values that “the fact that parents can learn these strategies with their own schedule through an online platform will help to significantly improve current practice and it will save families with few resources time and money”.
