Behaviour modification is one of a range of non-invasive techniques or treatments used to treat a variety of conditions, including Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This is part of a general move away from prescription drugs, which can often have negative side effects.
What is ADD?
ADD is a behavioural disorder most commonly observed in toddlers and school age children. It is a type of ADHD, though its symptoms are quite the opposite of what hyperactive children would manifest. The symptoms of children with attention deficit disorder are varied, but may include some or all of the following:
- Restlessness
- Forgetfulness
- Easily distracted
- Mood swings
- An inability to complete tasks
- Poor attention to details
This tends to have a significant impact on the child's ability to learn, and problems at school are common. Traditional medical treatment for children involves the use of drugs that act on chemicals in the brain that cause inattentiveness, boredom, disinterest and poor memory. The most well known of these is Ritalin, which has been criticised for its side effects, including stifling creativity, nervousness and insomnia, amongst others. Most children who are prescribed medication do now receive complementary treatment at the same time, including exercise and dietary advice.
What is Behaviour Modification?
Behaviour modification is a form of psychology that is rooted in the behavioural change theories, including the Social Learning Theory, Goal Setting Theory and the Transtheoretical Model. They all explain how a person changes their behaviour through different stages. Behaviour modification is an effective treatment for a variety of behavioural problems that focuses on shifting behavioural patterns. Besides being used in clinical settings, it is also used in elementary schools to improve the everyday lives of students.
In addition to assisting a child in understanding the negative outcome of their negative behaviors, this therapeutic modality uses positive reinforcement to help them develop good social skills over a period of time.
The modality uses positive or negative reinforcement to encourage the positive consequences of an action or activity or discourage its negative consequences. Positive reinforcement may include a compliment or reward, while negative reinforcement may involve something uncomfortable to take away an unpleasant or unwelcome behaviour. Despite the word 'negative' attached to it, the latter does not involve any punishment; the parents of children with ADD use it to inspire good behaviour by taking away an undesirable one. Behaviour modification is based on the principle of operant conditioning to achieve its goals, and has been used to treat a range of conditions other than ADD including:
- Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Phobias
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
- Anxiety disorders
- Separation anxiety disorder in children
- Some common behaviour modification techniques include exclusion, punishment and extinction; which is the elimination of incentives.
How Can Behaviour Modification Help ADD?
A healthcare provider who specializes in behaviour modification will follow a consistent approach when treating a child with attention deficit disorder. Additionally, training parents on the following key components is crucial to achieving a profoundly positive outcome:
- Positive Punishment
- Negative Punishment
- Positive Reinforcement
- Negative Reinforcement
Studies have shown that behaviour modification is far more effective in addressing an impulsive behavior than imposing corporal punishment, such as spanking or slapping, every time a child exhibits disruptive behaviors.
As well as therapists, many childcare providers are trained how to use behaviour modification to help children with ADD and make sure parents follow through at home.
Behavior modification strategies include developing a behavior management plan that can be implemented repeatedly, and which focuses on the most disturbing aspects of the child's behavior. This approach can work if applied over time, particularly if conducted in a positive way. This includes communicating with the child and explaining why they are getting the attention, and avoiding a culture of blame at all costs.
Locate a behaviour modification practitioner on the pages of this site and discover how they may be able to help you or your child's ADD.
Find out about other effective natural ADD treatments.
Originally published on Jul 02, 2010
