Parents and Families

The ADHD Program conducts many clinical services for parents and families that include, but not limited to, evaluations, consultation, classes, therapy, treatment and skills management.

Program Services

Organizational Skills Intervention for 3rd – 5th Graders

The Duke ADHD Program has received funding through the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) for an organizational skills intervention for 3rd–5th graders who meet criteria for ADHD and have difficulties organizing and managing materials like homework, using time wisely, and planning ahead for activities ...

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Duke ADHD Learning Center

The Duke ADHD Program has received funding for the development of the Duke ADHD Learning Center for patients, families and professionals ...

learn more about the Duke ADHD Learning Center

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ADHD Evaluations

Do you or your child experience difficulties with the following?

  • completing work, chores, or other tasks
  • following instruction from parents/teachers in daily activities
  • disorganization or losing things often
  • not paying attention to details, making careless mistakes
  • restlessness or being “always on the go”
  • staying seated when necessary
  • doing things quietly
  • blurting out or interrupting

If you answered yes to several of the items above, an evaluation may be helpful to find out if you or your child meets criteria for ADHD and what treatment might be helpful to reduce the problems. The clinic provides comprehensive ADHD evaluations for children, adolescents, and adults to determine whether criteria for ADHD are met and whether any other psychological concerns such as anxiety or depression are present ...

learn more about our ADHD Evaluations

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Psycho-educational Evaluations

Does your child have academic difficulties in the areas of reading, writing or math?

In addition to ADHD evaluations, the clinic offers psychoeducational testing to assist in the educational planning for a student. In some cases, a psychoeducational evaluation is conducted when it is suspected that a learning disability is contributing to a child’s difficulty in school. This testing consists of two primary parts ...

learn more about our Psycho-educational Evaluations

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School Consultations

Is your child struggling to meet expectations at school?

Do you need help working with your child’s teacher or obtaining all the academic support your child needs?

School consultation services are available to families who have been evaluated through the clinic as well as to families who have sought evaluations elsewhere. If your child is being evaluated through the ADHD Clinic, the clinician will talk in more detail with you about these services ...

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Parent and Child Education Classes

Are you tired of asking your child over and over to do things?

Has getting out of the door in the morning or completing homework become a battle?

Are you looking for ways to create more structure and less stress at home?

Many children and adolescents with ADHD have difficulties following instructions and rules and completing tasks at home and school. This can create stress or conflict in the family or cause children to feel negatively about themselves. Learn techniques for establishing home and school behavior plans that have been demonstrated to be effective with elementary–school children who have difficulties with inattention and/or hyperactivity–impulsivity as well as other problem behaviors such as disobedience and arguing ...

learn more about our Parent and Child Education Classes

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Parenting Consultation and Behavior Therapy

In addition to parenting classes, we also work with individual families targeting their unique needs and concerns. Sometimes this may involve fairly short-term consultation to assist parents in setting up a home or school behavior plan or to develop and coordinate a more comprehensive treatment plan. Other families may need more ongoing therapy support. If you are interested in these services, contact Michelle Lepsch-Halligan at (919) 416–2096 who will put you in touch with a clinician.

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Academic Summer Treatment Program

Thanks for your interest in our 2006 academic summer treatment program (STP). The Academic STP is middle school students (entering grades 6–8) with ADHD. In its fifth year, the program is directed by Kristan Shimpi, Ph.D., a special educator with expertise in ADHD, and supervised by Desiree Murray, Ph.D., clinical psychologist. We use evidence–based techniques to teach study strategies, academic support skills, and cooperative learning activities in a classroom environment with a 1:4 ratio. Students in past programs have gained skills and made improvements both academically and behaviorally on their report cards ...

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Adult Coping Skills

We are currently offering a group treatment for adults with ADHD. The treatment involves 6–10 weekly sessions and focuses on such critical areas as organization, time management, communication skills, and interpersonal difficulties ...

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Medication Consultation and Management

Has your child failed to respond well to standard medications for ADHD?

Do you need expert consultation or a second opinion?

The ADHD clinic works with the Duke Child Psychopharmacology Clinic which is located in the same building. Experienced child psychiatrists and residents are available to provide psycho–pharmacological services as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Evaluations for medication can sometimes be coordinated with an initial ADHD evaluation or can be scheduled by contacting Rebecca Dingfelder at (919) 416–2413.

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Useful Tools and Information

The ADHD Program encourages further reading and participation into ADHD and recommends several resource tools and information.

learn more about these Tools and Information

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