ADHD, LD and &lllaos;traumatic&lllaos; experience

• EMDR for children with ADHD by , 1/29/99
  • EMDR for children with ADHD and LD by Laura Solomon, Ed.D., 1/29/99
    
    

The anecdotal reports with this population has been excellent. Often the child has been misdiagnosed as organically ADHD or LD and the primary cause of the symptoms is an unresolved stressor. This need not be the big “T” trauma of posttraumatic stress disorder. It may be one or more of the many ubiquitous experiences that can negatively impact a child. Once the child had been negatively effected, the inability to concentrate can cause failure experiences that further exacerbate the problem. In many instances, processing pivotal events can cause the symptoms to disappear and actively enhance the child's personal growth and functioning. At times when there is a truly biological basis for a diagnosis, the processing of the failures, frustrations and humiliation attendant to the problem can also help alleviate the symptoms. In either case, EMDR is then also used to establish positive templates for appropriate future action.

Two excellent books on EMDR with children are due for publication:

Through the Eyes of A Child by Tinker and Wilson published by Norton Press

Small Wonders by Lovett published by Free Press/Simon & Schuster

• Three EMDR books on the treatment of children by Shapiro, 2/21/99