Ep. 17 Time Management Treatment Ideas for ADHD

Ready for an ADHD intervention that tackles the root problem of time management? This Swedish research hands occupational therapy practitioners a comprehensive protocol that includes both remediation and compensation strategies for time processing difficulties. We unpack the three core components of time processing ability and explore a manualized program blending environmental modifications with daily skill-building sessions. Plus, Lacy shares a Failed It story about shoes that went missing, and Michele explains a fantastic Nailed It experience with her strategy for diffusing a power struggle during an OT evaluation. 

We share our own thoughts in the Research Review and encourage you to read the article too.

Wennberg, B., Janeslätt, G., Gustafsson, P. A., & Kjellberg, A. (2019). Occupational performance goals and outcomes of time-related interventions for children with ADHD. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 28(2), 158–170. https://doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2020.1820570 

Researchers and occupational therapists Dr. Gunnel Janeslätt and Dr. Birgitta Wennberg from the Center for Clinical Research Dalarna, Sweden, were pleased that their research was featured on this podcast and wanted to share that the OT intervention program "More Control of Time" is now a manual-based OT intervention method and they offer training to OT practitioners. They also emphasized that it is also important to assess the level of time-processing and daily time management to design the intervention, adding time assistive products. More information about the assessment Kit for assessing time processing ability (KaTid) can be found on the website www.katid.eu (personal communication, June 6, 2025).

Here are other related articles:

Ahlström, S. W., & Almqvist, L. (2023). The experiences and the meaning of using MyTime in the preschool context from the perspective of children in need of special support, 5–6 years of age. Child: Care, Health and Development, 49, 1096–1103. https://doi.org/10.1111/cch.13121

Ahlström, S. W., Janeslätt, G., & Almqvist, L. (2022). Feasibility of an intervention to facilitate time and everyday functioning in preschoolers. Scandinavian Journal of Occupational Therapy, 29(4), 337–352. https://doi.org/10.1080/11038128.2021.1981434

 Janeslätt, G., Ahlström, S. W., & Granlund, M. (2019). Intervention in time-processing ability, daily time management and autonomy in children with intellectual disabilities aged 10–17 years – A cluster randomised trial. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 66, 110–120. https://doi.org/10.1111/1440-1630.12547

Wallin Ahlström, S., Janeslätt, G., Gustavsson, C., Harder, M., & Almqvist, L. (2024). Intervention in time processing ability and everyday functioning for preschool children in need of special support: A randomized controlled study. Journal of Occupational Therapy, Schools, & Early Intervention. https://doi.org/10.1080/19411243.2024.2403363 

KEYWORDS: Occupational therapy; evidence-based practice; OT; OT ideas; Peds OT; pediatric occupational therapy; activities of dailing living; ADHD; COPM; time-assistive devices; ADHD

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