Organisation and time
Visual planners, checklists, timers and routines for getting ready, homework, chores and work tasks.
Occupational therapy for ADHD
Practical occupational therapy for children and adults with ADHD in Newcastle and across the North East, building routines, organisation systems and sensory strategies that suit the way you or your child think and work.
- Children, teens and adults
- Organisation and routines
- Sensory and movement strategies
- School and workplace advice
Request a quote
Tell us a little about what you need and we will be in touch to discuss the next steps.
How ADHD affects daily routines
ADHD is often described in terms of attention, but families and adults usually notice its effects in the practical parts of the day. Mornings run late because shoes, bags and homework go missing. Tasks with several steps, such as getting dressed or tidying a bedroom, stall halfway through. Handwriting gets rushed, sitting still at the table feels impossible, and frustration can boil over when things go wrong.
Adults with ADHD describe a similar pattern at a bigger scale: forgotten appointments, unpaid bills, unfinished projects at work and a home that never quite gets organised. These are difficulties with planning, starting, sequencing and finishing tasks, often called executive function, and they are exactly the areas occupational therapy works on.
Private Occupational Therapy works with children, teenagers and adults with ADHD across Newcastle, Gateshead, North and South Tyneside, Sunderland, Northumberland and County Durham, seeing people at home, in school, at work or by video.
How OT helps
What occupational therapy for ADHD involves
Private Occupational Therapy focuses on systems and strategies that work with ADHD rather than relying on willpower.
Sensory regulation
Movement breaks, fidget tools and sensory strategies that help with focus, calm and sitting for longer.
Handwriting
Work on pencil grip, letter formation, speed and legibility, or a move to keyboard skills where that suits better.
Routines at home
Calmer mornings and bedtimes, built around clear steps, fewer decisions and realistic expectations.
Emotional regulation
Recognising early signs of frustration or overwhelm and having a plan for what to do next.
Study and work
Strategies and adjustments for prioritising, managing deadlines and coping with distraction.
Children and young people
Occupational therapy for children with ADHD
For children, therapy is active and practical, using movement, games and real tasks rather than worksheets.
Sessions take place at home, at school or by video, depending on where the difficulties show up. Parents are involved throughout, so strategies carry on between visits, and teachers receive simple classroom recommendations they can put in place. Our paediatric occupational therapy service covers this work, and children with significant sensory seeking may also benefit from sensory integration therapy.
Typical goals for children
- Getting ready for school more independently
- Neater, faster handwriting
- Staying seated for meals and lessons
- Keeping track of belongings
- Starting and finishing homework
- Calmer transitions and bedtimes
ADHD support for adults
Many adults are diagnosed with ADHD later in life, and diagnosis alone does not change how the day runs. Occupational therapy for adults with ADHD looks at the specific areas that are causing problems, such as household admin, meal planning, money, keeping a home organised or managing a busy job, and builds practical systems around them. Video appointments often suit adults who want to set up systems at home or fit sessions around work.
At work, an occupational therapist can assess the demands of the role and recommend reasonable adjustments, such as changes to workspace, task planning tools or flexibility in how work is organised. These recommendations can support conversations with an employer and applications to Access to Work. Private Occupational Therapy provides this through adult occupational therapy and our return to work service.
ADHD assessments and reports
An occupational therapy assessment does not diagnose ADHD. It looks at how attention, organisation, motor skills and sensory processing affect daily life, so that therapy and recommendations target the right things.
What the assessment covers
The therapist gathers information from you and, for children, from school, then observes everyday tasks at home or in class. Where handwriting or coordination is a concern, standardised assessments can measure motor skills against age expectations. Questionnaires help build a picture of sensory preferences and daily routines.
Reports for school, college and employers
Each Private Occupational Therapy report explains the findings in plain English and sets out practical recommendations. Families often share it with the school SENCO, and it can support an application for more help through an EHCP and school assessment. Adults can share recommendations with employers, colleges or universities.
Process
Getting started with ADHD occupational therapy
You can refer yourself or your child without a GP referral. Sessions take place across Newcastle and the North East or by video, and our fees and funding page explains how people pay for support.
Tell us what is happening
Send a short summary of the main difficulties at home, school or work.
Initial conversation
We discuss your goals, suggest a plan and provide a quote before anything is booked.
Assessment
Observation, questionnaires and standardised tests where needed, followed by a written report.
Therapy and review
Practical sessions and home strategies, with reviews to adjust what is not working.
FAQs
ADHD occupational therapy FAQs
Does my child need an ADHD diagnosis first?
No. Many families start occupational therapy while waiting for an assessment, because support is based on the difficulties a child is having now.
Can occupational therapy be used alongside ADHD medication?
Yes. Occupational therapy does not replace medical treatment. It focuses on routines, skills and environments, and can sit alongside medication, coaching or other support.
Do you work with adults with ADHD?
Yes. Adults often want help with organisation, household routines, sensory needs and workplace demands. Sessions can take place at home, at work or by video.
Can occupational therapy help with ADHD handwriting problems?
Handwriting is one of the most common reasons parents get in touch. Therapy may work on posture, grip and letter formation, and the report can recommend classroom adjustments or keyboard use.
What if my child is also autistic or dyspraxic?
ADHD often overlaps with other conditions, and assessment takes this into account. See occupational therapy for autism for related support.
Get practical help with ADHD
Send us a few details about the difficulties you or your child are facing, and we will reply by email with suggested next steps and a quote.