Young Children with ADHD: Early Identification and Intervention

The symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) often begin early in life. In fact, many young children enter school with behavioral and cognitive symptoms that put them at a significant disadvantage compared with their typically-developing peers.

Over the past several decades, researchers, psychologists and educators have devoted much time and effort to understanding and treating ADHD. Yet only recently have these efforts begun to focus more closely on the specific needs of preschool-aged children who are disruptive or inattentive.

This book, by George DuPaul and Lee Kern, a school psychologist and special educator respectively, is the first to describe empirically-supported early intervention with children aged 2-5 years who have or are at risk for ADHD.

The authors present a three-tiered model for prevention and intervention that can be implemented at home or in preschool settings. This promising model can be adjusted to the degree of difficulty the child is experiencing and consists of universal intervention strategies, small group skills instruction, and assessment-based behavioral interventions.

Lively case examples drawn from the authors' clinical experience illustrate common challenges of implementation. The authors also describe how to foster children's early academic skills and promote their physical safety, with the understanding that for children and families, the goal is not just identifying and reducing symptoms, but also encouraging success by enhancing family, social, and school-based interactions.

Young Children with ADHD presents a comprehensive and timely program that is a milestone in the field of ADHD treatment.