University at Buffalo: Reporter

Summer treatment program set for children with AD/HD

An award-winning program to treat children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or AD/HD, will be offered at UB this summer under the direction of William E. Pelham Jr., UB professor of psychiatry and psychology.

The eight-week program, open to children ages 7-12, will be offered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays from late June through mid-August in the Ellicott Complex on the North Campus. A fee will be charged.

The program is noted for it effectiveness in bringing long-term improvement by combining psychosocial treatment in a summer-camp setting with parent training and medical evaluation.

"This is a chance for parents whose children are on Ritalin to decrease dramatically their reliance on medication," Pelham said. "Ritalin alone is not a good treatment. By adding psychosocial treatment, we can cut the dose of medication in half."

One of the nation's leading authorities on the diagnosis and treatment of children with AD/HD and other behavioral disorders, Pelham came to UB last September as director of clinical training and director of the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Program in the Department of Psychology.

A key component of the summer treatment program is its emphasis on helping AD/HD children develop normal peer relationships, one of the foremost difficulties these children face and one that has not been addressed effectively in traditional outpatient settings, Pelham notes.

Parents interested in enrolling their children in the AD/HD Summer Treatment Program should call the UB Psychological Services Center at 645-3697 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.


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