About 7 million American children between the ages of 3 and 17 have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), with diagnoses increasing by more than 3% per year. Over the next decade, an estimated 2 million more children will be added to that population.
And because more than half of those children struggling with ADHD have more than one co-occurring condition — an example might be depression — the potential for misdiagnoses and wasteful, unnecessary assessments is great. And parents are left to try and figure out what to do.
It’s an issue a new program based in Nocatee is working to address, one family at a time.
Unlockt, an innovative program that empowers families with children who are struggling with ADHD, held an open house Tuesday, Sept. 10, at its facility in the link, 425 Town Plaza Ave., Ponte Vedra. Visitors had an opportunity to tour the site, try out the game-driven activities and learn how the program works.
Unlockt was founded by entrepreneur Raghu Misra, co-founder of the link; Emily Connor, who leads the program research, design, strategy and operations; and Eva Luther, a board-certified behavior analyst and certified special education teacher. Misra and Luther, touched in their own lives by ADHD, wanted to find a way to help families in this complex environment.
For Misra, the frequent reliance on medication with its significant side effects was a motivating factor.
“What we are attempting to do is to say, ‘What are the nonmedicinal interventions that exist for people who actually have ADHD as a main symptom?’” he told those assembled for the open house.
He was also curious about the economic impact of ADHD.
“In the U.S., the problem is over $200 billion,” he said.
In fact, families contending with ADHD report 1.6 times as many medical claims as other families, a cost that would be incurred by insurance providers and, ultimately, their customers. Addressing ADHD in a better way could help stem that cost.
Luther said families affected by ADHD often need access to more than 25 different resources. The Unlockt Youth Program offers more than 15 of them.
Unlockt offers behavior therapy, where children learn to enhance their emotional regulation and focus and build both their confidence and more positive relationships.
Parent coaching offered by the program is tailored for the individual families.
The Brain Arcade, an environment of fun and learning, relies on a variety of individual tasks that help with emotional regulation, impulsivity, cognitive skills and more.
“We believe that children can thrive when they build an operating system around themselves,” said Luther. “Through our assessments, we provide families with a personalized pathway to follow and we provide children with resources and skills to take them through this journey.”
To learn more about Unlockt, go to www.Unlockt.Life.
