Will Horseback Riding Help My ADHD?

Horses have been used since ancient times in the treatment of human disease.  However, the use of horses in the formal treatment of ADHD has only really been around for about 25 years.  There are several different ways horses have been used in the treatment of ADHD, and unfortunately none have been well studied.

Therapeutic horseback riding.  Therapeutic horseback riding sounds very medical, but it actually is the least oriented toward treatment of the horse related therapies.  Therapeutic horseback riding is recreational riding lessons adapted to people with special needs.  The focus of these lessons is on teaching patients how to manage and ride a horse, not on managing symptoms of ADHD.  Typically this type of therapy is not reimbursed by insurance.

Therapeutic riding has not been rigorously studied in ADHD.  A small pilot study showed that on average, the 5 studied children showed improvement in quality of life and motor skills after lessons.

Hippotherapy.  This type of therapy is basically horse-enhanced occupational or physical therapy.  The horse’s movements are used to help the patient to learn balance, stability, and a variety of other skills.  This therapy is lead by a certified OT, PT, or speech language pathologist and is typically one on one just like traditional OT, PT, or speech therapy.  Some insurances will cover for this type of therapy if there is a medical need.

So far there has been only one small study of hippotherapy in children with ADHD.   While there was some hint at an effect, none of the differences observed between children who received hippotherapy versus the control group were significant.  Hippotherapy has been shown to be effective in children with neuromuscular diseases such as cerebral palsy, so it’s possible that a child with ADHD and severe dyspraxia might still benefit.   But so far, research does not support this approach to treating ADHD.

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy.  This therapy is horse-enhanced psychological therapy/mental health counseling.  The therapist may work directly with the horse or may have a partner who works with the horse.  The therapist uses horse riding, horse grooming, and horse care as ways to help understand and counsel the patient.  Clinical studies have been small with tantalizing results.  An intriguing example includes one open labeled study which demonstrated improved symptoms and EEG readings after EAP.  However, EAP has not be studied carefully enough to prove that it is any better than no therapy at all, according to one review article.

The bottom line is…No one really knows

The main issues in using horseback riding to treat ADHD are that it is very expensive and it does take time.  Because horseback riding isn’t as immediately as effective as medication, most treating professionals do not recommend equine therapy of any kind as solo treatment.  However, whether it is useful in addition to standard treatment is still up for debate. 

Some people with ADHD will still  find horseback riding an enjoyable and relaxing hobby, or an engrossing sport.  If your child is interested in riding and you have the means to support them, then by all means, go ahead and give it a try. Horses are amazing animals!   However, what you should not do is expect horseback riding to be any more therapeutic than any other sport or hobby.

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Learning to Swim and ADHD

In our family, we have people who swim miles at a time, people who could swim a few laps before getting exhausted, and people who cannot even put their face in the water.  DD didn't make the greatest debut in the pool, since she started off by refusing to put her head underwater.  Still, living in a state with lots of lakes and with Michael Phelps being the posterboy for ADHD success, we couldn't help pushing a little bit on the swimming issue.

Our first real swim lessons were difficult.  DD loved being the water with the other kids, but there were probably 10 of them in her class, all splashing and talking at the same time.   While we explained to her the expectations she should adhere to in class, she still found it very easy to get lost, and needless to say, she made little progress.

Fast forward to age 7, DD was enrolled in a private lesson in the autumn.  She and her instructor basically have the pool to themselves, with the exception of the life guard and the occasional old lady doing the side stroke on the other side of the pool.    She also had the motivation of seeing her younger brother swim.  Now, she's not the most coordinated, but boy, she is focused!  She doesn't like her face in the water and she still fiddles with her goggles a lot, but there's no excuse not to try to swim now.  I am certain she will know how to swim at least a few feet (maybe only on her back, but still!) by the end of her 5th lesson.

I was hesitant to do private lessons.  They are definitely more expensive.  But now that I see the results, I sort of want to kick myself for wasting money on group lessons!

2016 update:
We opted for semiprivate lessons--just DD and her younger brother--because it works out to be cheaper than doing private lessons for one and group lessons for the other.  What we noticed was that her brother was not much of a distraction, but the other kids in the pool (because this time we went for spring instead of autumn) were.  Mission accomplished:  both kids can swim for at least a few feet!

My top 5 tips for swimming lesson success:

1.  Private lessons are expensive, but they are worth it if you think of the money you waste when your child is not learning to swim the usual way.  Consider semiprivate lessons with a sibling if cost is an issue.
2.  Book your lessons for off season--either early in spring or starting late in summer.  Yes, it is colder, but there will likely be fewer distractions.  If your child is doing private lessons, they will be moving all the time anyway.
3.  Peer pressure to normalize swimming can still be found in the way of witnessing sibling lessons.
4.  Medication can help.  Just remember to book your lessons while the med is still in effect.
5.  Book for the best time of day.  If you can bring your child in for lessons in the morning, while their meds are in action, or at least when they are well rested, it helps a lot!

ADHD Goes To Summer Camp

Summer camp, while lots of outdoor fun, can bring out symptoms of ADHD in funny ways.  This weekend we spent in the pouring rain, at American Heritage Girls camp, with DD and a bunch of other lively, lovely girls.

3 showers later.  I've heard of kids with ADHD forgetting to use soap and shampoo.  DD forgot twice in a row before camp.   I usually check the soap dish (for water) and her hair (for the scent of shampoo).  Thankfully, she was calm about it, though she did ask to postpone the real shower for the next morning since her towel was already very wet.  Note to self:  If she's excited, remind her to use soap and shampoo before she gets out of the shower.

I forgot my pig!   DD and I were about half an hour toward camp when we realized that she had not packed her lovey.  She was in tears, insisting she would not sleep (horrors!).  So we turned back and arrived rather late.  Note to self:  Make your own packing list next time.

Almost Flattened.  DD was almost run over as she careened across the field into a dirt road, dragging her 3 buddies along with her.  Unfamiliar settings equals unfamiliar safety hazards.  Note to self:  Review safety rules before arriving at camp.

Where's my raincoat?  I did remind her to pack it after we got back home from the vet's office, but reminders get lost in the excitement.  Note to self:  If you don't want to be wet the whole time, make sure she packs her rain gear.

Top Bunk.  All the girls wanted to sleep in the top bunks, which left the moms sleeping in the bottom bunks.  Not a big deal until DD started wanting to jump from top bunk to top bunk.  Note to self:  Thank God for camp leaders who actually tell kids not to do this!

Sleep?  I don't need to sleep!  It was not as bad as I thought it would be.  They did stay up incredibly late the first night, but after that, they crashed.   She was a little grumpy, but she was ok.  Note to self:  Relax.  Routines are good, but breaking out the routine is not always going to be a disaster.

Look!  A squirrel!  DD was on a nature hike and identified most of the items on her scavenger hunt list before we had gone 30 feet into the woods!  Note to self:  ADHD has its benefits.

Where's your buddy?  DD has had a hard time finding friends this year at AHG.  Most of the other girls see each other at church or home school co-op or a local activity through the week, but we really don't because we live about 45 minutes away (on Michigan's insane 70 mph highways).  So the buddy system is challenging.  She eventually found some girls (many, but not all outside of her unit) who were willing.  Note to self:  She can do the friendship thing.  She just needs more opportunities.

Mom, what's next?  Can't we do something?  Camp had a full, but not overly full, schedule.  But waiting doesn't come easily to anyone at age 7, let alone a person who is gifted and ADHD.  We had packed a few quiet time activities, but she had read her book the first night and the rest of what she had were group activities.  Note to self:  Pack an activity book in the grownup bag for quiet time.

Dangerous with a weapon. We have at least 4 girls in our younger unit who probably have some form of ADHD.   One didn't come to camp, and 2, including DD, ended up trying to shoot the faux bow and arrows they made during craft time--while standing on their bunks.  I think this is one reason why the archery badge, and the badge involving knife safety, are not available to girls in our age range, though we certainly discussed safety after the incident!  Note to self:  Instruct girls in safety before engaging in any risky type of craft.

Legal Disclaimer:  This is not meant in any way to be a complete manual on how to handle ADHD at summer camp.  If you are a camp leader, it would be best to consult your leader's handbook, and the affected child's parents for a better idea of what issues need to be addressed and how to address them.

Piano Lessons

I have read someplace that piano is good for kids with ADHD.   I can't vouch that it is any better than any other activity that allows for personal success and enjoyment.   However, since both DH and I felt our childhoods deprived without piano (and took up lessons as adults), we thought we'd at least give DD an opportunity to try.

I am her piano teacher, for a lot of reasons that are off topic.  I know eventually I have to find her a real teacher.

Every lesson starts off with moaning and groaning and sometimes whining.    Then there is the fiddling around on the keyboard.  And the sliding off the bench.   After about 15 months, I think I know what the problem is.  ADHD kids have difficulty with piano for a number of reasons, none of which are good reasons not to learn how to play.

1)  Reading is hard.  Reading music is harder because a note has a name, a sound, and a value.
2)  Doing two things (reading and playing music) is really hard.
3)  It is a pain to repeat things over and over again.  In school they already tell me I can't get it right.  Is it the same with piano?
4)  My hands don't like to work right for handwriting, why should they for piano?
5)  I can't sit still in a comfortable chair, let alone sitting on a hard bench.

DD has no trouble reading music--Susan Paradis' site is wonderful for games.  She has trouble doing two things at once and with repeating.

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Creative Minds

I do not know if people like Thomas Edison, Albert Einstein, and the like had ADHD, as many people claim, but I do know that many people with ADHD are more able than others to ignore traditional boundaries, and are as a result, able to think in very innovative ways.   "Thinking outside of the box" is one reason that DD and I attended a workshop recently on painting.

Painting, and all art, is a great way to think outside of the box in a nonjudgmental atmosphere.  What we say in our art classroom is that there is no wrong in art, unless the artist is not pleased with what she has created.  For kids with ADHD, creative pursuits are important because it is a place where ADHD can be a strength, and where they don't have to face constant critique.

Art can also be a place where a child with ADHD can bless and serve others.  Tonight's painting will be going to a nursing home, along with cards and paper flowers created in crafting class.

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Interval Couch Bounce: A Piano Game

I ran across some posts about using active games to teach kids with ADHD piano, but no actual games I could use in our specific situation.  But here is the one I came up with today.  It went over really well with DD, who tried to get her brother into the act as well!

Interval Couch Bounce

What you need:
2 soft chairs--a couch and an easy chair or two parts of a sectional would work fine, you could also use two piles of soft cushions
parents who are ok with bouncing in the piano room
a piano

How to play:
Teacher says, "I am going to play an interval for you.  If it is a second, you bounce on the couch.  If it is a third, you bounce on the chair."
Student gets point if they are correct.  Teacher gets point if student is wrong.  (In our case the score was highly irrelevant, but just in case it matters to your student, that's how its scored.)