Essay On Behavior Modification

There are so many questions that parents have when it comes to their child. How old are they supposed to be walking at? How do I know if my child is eating right? Lets add to the mix something a little more complicated than that, a child with a diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Which behavior modification techniques are best for use with a child with moderate ADHD? Many parents struggle with school systems and home life just to keep their child on track to success. Behavior modification techniques help the child to focus better, create more self-discipline, and sometimes, even help to establish organization and routine.

In the article called The Process of Assisting Behavior Modification

in a Child With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (2007), a boy called Alex in was taking double the amount of medication for his ADHD that was prescribed by his doctor. The reason he acted out so much was because of the medication. Alex felt unwell and had mood swings, so the team of the doctor, parents and his teachers decided to cut his dosage by half. Ever since his medication was reduced, Alex still had fears of what the medication may do to him for different side effects but overall is a normal child. Even after his medication was reduced, it was recommended that he continue behavioral therapy as he as

been improving in his self-discipline, social interactions, and finishing tasks on time.
As an example of this, before the combined treatment of medication and behavioral therapy, Alex had a lack of self-control, lost his temper easily, stole from others, and had multiple instable behaviors. Now, he is able to listen to direction along with rules, and was able to be directed to understand things in the classroom and at home with a more stable mood (Hsin-Hsin Chang et al., 2007).
In the classroom setting, the combined use of clinical behavior therapy, and contingency management were effective in the classroom for children with ADHD.

If a child had 40mg of medication, to get the same results with combined behavioral therapy and low dose of medication, the medication amount would only need to be about 10mg resulting in less side effects through the medication. Children usually get off the medication during their childhood or sometime as a teenager depending on severity and need but sometimes parents are able to keep their child on a low dose and combining it with behavioral therapy (Gregory A. Fabiano et al.

2007).
According to LciVonne Kirkpairick, Children with ADHD greatly benefit from behavioral therapy. They benefit by being able to talk about negative feelings, which may result in their negative behaviors, and by doing this, it allowed the child to learn different coping skills and better ways to deal with their symptoms. Behavioral therapy can also help the child’s parents and teacher on how to handle the child’s various behaviors and some contingency management strategies, which have been proven to benefit children with ADHD. The article also states that because siblings are usually involved that behavioral therapy would also benefit them as they should be well educated on the subject and may help to understand why their brother or sister acts or reacts in the ways that they do (Kirkparirick 2005).
Children with ADHD often benefit from being on medications and continuing behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy not only helps the child with ADHD but the teachers, parents and siblings involved in the child’s life as they get to learn the different aspects of the disability. It is important that parents and teachers of the child work together for school and home behavior modifications and for them to be consistent. Different dosages of medications can affect each child differently but it is recommended that even during their teenage years that they remain on a low dose with another behavior modification such as behavioral therapy.