It’s hard to get the most out of life without being able to effectively communicate. Communicating is an essential social skill. And respected ADD doctor, George Sachs, PsyD, has made it an essential part of the Dragon Masters Social Skills Groups offered at the Sachs Center.
The Dragon Masters program is a unique social skills group program designed to help children make meaningful connections with other children. The ability to make these kinds of connections is a fundamental building block for success later in life – in both the social and career spheres.
According to Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD), which was founded in 1987, “Fifty to 60 percent of children with ADHD have difficulty with peer relationships. Over 25 percent of Americans experience chronic loneliness. One can only speculate that the figure is much higher for adults with ADHD.”
The Need for Social Skills Groups
If you or a loved one struggles with ADHD, you probably won’t be surprised by the fact that both children and adults with ADHD will frequently find themselves struggling in social situations.
Effective communication isn’t just a question of knowing the basic rules of grammar or having a broad vocabulary. If you want to interact effectively with others, you will need to:
- Pay attention to what the other person is saying – with their words and with their body language.
- Act responsibly
- Be able to control impulsive behaviors.
But, as the experts at CHADD explain, “Individuals with ADHD exhibit behavior that is often seen as impulsive, disorganized, aggressive, overly sensitive, intense, emotional, or disruptive. Their social interactions with others in their social environment — parents, siblings, teachers, friends, co-workers, spouses/partners — are often filled with misunderstanding and mis-communication.”
If your child has a broken arm or the measles, it is easy for others to see and understand that their ability to function in the world is impaired. With ADHD it’s different. Your ADD doctor can’t follow your child around all day, explaining the illness and its impacts to teachers, classmates and other students. Many of the symptoms that first alerted you to a possible problem and led you to seek out ADHD testing can be seen by those who aren’t in the know as being socially inappropriate.
According to CHADD, behaviors that are typically associated with ADHD can cause people to slap negative labels on your child, calling them, among other things:
- Rude
- Self-centered
- Irresponsible
- Lazy
- Ill-mannered
Positive Change through Social Skills Groups
“The individual with ADHD needs to learn strategies to become as proficient as possible in the area of social skills. With proper assessment, treatment and education, individuals with ADHD can learn to interact with others effectively in a way that enhances their social life,” the experts at CHADD say.
ADD doctor George Sachs agrees and has developed a program that provides children with a positive strategy that will encourage them to continue to grow and learn. The Dragon Masters Social Skills Group Program will help your child learn to:
- Listen quietly to others
- Offer support and encouragement
- Share a similar story or situation as a means of support
- Take turns
- Be modest
- Discuss uncomfortable topics
If you think your child would benefit from a social skills group that offers positive rewards, encourages kids to be emotionally honest and is FUN, the Dragon Masters Program at the Sachs Center is for you. For more information on social skills training, ADD testing, neurofeedback for ADHD or psychoeducational testing in NYC, call 646-603-0491.