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Attention difficulties

We support individuals with attention difficulties in education, home and community settings through delivering assessments and interventions.

What are attention difficulties?

Attention difficulties are when an individual has challenges with sustained attention at a developmentally appropriate level. Attention difficulties can present as the child or young person not being engaged in the classroom or not being able to sit still.

Attention difficulties may be diagnosed as attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

What are the causes of attention difficulties?

There are many causes of attention difficulties, and an individual may have multiple reasons for attention difficulties. Examples of possible causes are:

It may be the case that attention difficulties are a symptom of an alternative condition, such as:

We can support attention difficulties in isolation and when they are a symptom of a different condition. Our input can take place in school, at home and in the community

Our process

At HSR Psychology we ensure that we meet the needs of children and young people. To achieve this we ensure that any specific assessments, intervention, or direct work, is only carried out following an initial discussion.

An initial discussion allows us to understand the background and your expectations of our involvement. Having an initial discussion ensures any services we provide appropriately identify or address needs.

Our process for any specific assessments, intervention, or direct work is as follows:

Step 1: Contact us

We will usually be contacted by the child or young person, parent or carer, or another professional (eg education or health).

You can contact us or complete a referral



Step 2: Arrange an initial discussion

An initial discussion allows us to understand the background and your expectations of our involvement. Arrange an initial discussion



Step 3: Review our recommendations

Following an initial discussion we will send you an email that includes:

  • Next steps recommendations - to provide a bespoke package of support. For example:
    • Assessments
    • Reports
    • Information gathering
    • Meeting
    • Interventions
    • Consultancy
    • Reviews
  • Costing - we will provide costings for any services recommended.


Step 4: Let's get started

On receipt of the next steps recommendations and costing you can decide how to proceed. Once you have decided contact us to arrange the chosen services.



How are attention difficulties assessed?

Attention difficulties can be assessed through a cognitive assessment to determine whether the difficulties impact more than attention.

We assess attention through the use of a variety of tools including specific assessments, observations and clinical interviews.

Which assessments do we use for attention difficulties?

The assessments used to assess attention difficulties will be chosen depending on the main areas of difficulties following information from a developmental history. Assessments we may use include:

  • QB check - This is a clinical screener for ADHD and it provides a reliable predictor for ADHD traits
  • SNAP-IV Teacher and Parent Rating Scale - A questionnaire to provide information regarding a child or young person’s attention
  • Conners-3 - The Conners-3 is a very useful assessment tool as it includes an ADHD index as well as measuring; executive functioning, learning problems, aggression, peer and family relations, schoolwork/grades, home life, anxiety
  • TOMAL-2 - Test of memory and learning measures attention and concentration
  • Brown (ADD) scales - Brown attention-deficit disorder scales provide an overview of related behaviours or traits of attention difficulties, including; organisation, attention, sustaining effort, managing frustration, modulating emotions, the use of working memory, self-monitoring and self-regulating action

Assessments can take place in school, our clinic or the home setting, the calmer the environment, the better.

Do we provide screening for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

We can provide a screener to identify the level of possibility associated with the child or young person meeting criteria for ADD or ADHD. Read more about our ADHD services.

What happens after an assessment?

After an assessment has taken place, we should have a clearer understanding of the cause of the attention difficulties. Following an assessment, recommendations can be made to enhance the child or young person's attention. Suggestions often involve adaptations to the environment as well as developing strategies for the child or young person, teacher and home. It may be proposed that additional assessments or an intervention are needed.

What interventions do we provide?

Interventions in relation to attention difficulties are effective when used across home, education and community contexts. Examples of interventions we provide include:

Our interventions for attention difficulties are based in psychological evidence and theory.

Attention difficulties can occur due to a variety of causes, and a specialist assessment can identify the underlying reasons. Through early needs identification the impact of attention difficulties can be reduced. To talk to a team member about an assessment related to attention difficulties please contact us now.


Arrange an Initial Discussion

Arrange an Initial Discussion to find out how we can help. The initial discussion lasts 1-1.5 hours, comes with a written recommendation summary and is a starting point to identify needs. The cost is £260.

  • No waiting lists
  • Experienced psychologists
  • Includes recommendation summary

Find out more

only

£260



What makes us different

Access to a named psychologist

Focus on mental health and wellbeing

Joined-up approach

Bespoke services to meet needs

Multidisciplinary team

Holistic approach

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Flexible, consistent, and competitively priced

We provide bespoke solutions to suit all budgets and requirements for children and young people aged 0-25 in homes, education settings and the community. Our clinical, educational and child psychology services are cost effective.

See our prices

Make a referral

To make a referral and arrange an initial discussion please complete our referral form.

Make a referral

Contact us

Ready to get started? The next step is to speak to our team to find out more about the services we provide and how we can help. Call us on 0161 820 9229 or email office@hsrpsychology.co.uk

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