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This resource from the Anxiety and Depression Association of America will help school staff gain a better understanding of the different kinds of behaviors that   signal OCD in students – being armed with this knowledge will allow staff to best support their students whose symptoms make it difficult to concentrate and learn. This resource also outlines some of the most common OCD symptoms in students – educators utilizing this site will be aware of the obsessions and    compulsions that OCD-ridden students may face and can work to troubleshoot before a student’s learning is negatively affected.

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OCD is like an unwelcome guest with bad manners. It moves into a mind - and it doesn't want to leave.
Students with OCD may appear to be daydreaming, distracted, disinterested, or even lazy. They may seem unfocused and unable to concentrate. But they are really very busy focusing on their nagging urges or confusing, stressful, and sometimes terrifying OCD thoughts and images. They may also be focused on completing rituals, either overtly or covertly, to relieve their distress.

While frustrating to educators, OCD may be torture for the students who have it. This disorder may be difficult to identify because its observable symptoms are similar to other conditions and mental disorders, and mental rituals cannot be observed. Symptoms in children and adolescents can change over time, and they tend to wax and wane for no apparent reason. School personnel who have a good understanding of the variety of behaviors that may signal OCD are better equipped to initiate a plan to assist the student.

The Effect of OCD on Academic Performance

Even very bright and motivated students can struggle with OCD. Although students with OCD typically have average to above-average intelligence levels, they may be unable to learn the same way others do because their focus is frequently on their obsessions or compulsions. Depending on the severity of the symptoms, some students find it difficult to learn and, for some, it's almost impossible to concentrate on and complete schoolwork.

Although they want to pay attention, participate in discussions or presentations, study, and complete homework, they feel compelled to respond to their obsessions or urges.

Students who have untreated OCD re likely to have a very difficult time concentrating in the classroom and completing homework assignments. They may experience overwhelming anxiety or strong urges, possibly describing the feeling of mounting anxiety or intensifying urges as if they were a rising volcano or a tea kettle about to boil - and relief comes when the pressure is released. Unfortunately, the release is usually a compulsive behavior that may be disruptive to learning and possibly to the classroom.

It may not be long before the student who has OCD falls behind and sees a drop in grades. In some cases, academic performance deteriorates abruptly and dramatically. And it may be nearly impossible to catch up unless a student can learn to manage the symptoms. For these reasons, it's important that school personnel take OCD seriously and work with the student and the family to provide support.

What Does OCD Look Like at School?

A student may enter a classroom at the beginning of the school year with a diagnosis of OCD, or the disorder may develop later. Whenever a student begins to falter - academically, socially, or emotionally - educators need to intervene. A proactive approach can make an impressive difference in a student's coping ability, academic performance, and interpersonal capabilities.

The first step is being aware of the behaviors that can signal OCD. The disorder includes a wide variety of symptoms in children and adolescents, which are not always obvious. It is important to keep in mind that OCD symptoms can look like other disorders, so it is critical that a mental health specialist trained in OCD and related disorders conduct a diagnostic assessment OCD can be confused for symptoms of ADHD and anxiety disorders, as well as acting out" or misbehavior not associated with a neurobiological disorder. Also, OCD changes in nature or scope from one set of obsessions and compulsions to another, with differing behaviors, and symptoms can worsen and or seem to disappear, often for no obvious reason.

Common Symptoms of OCD at School

Below are common OCD symptoms of children and adolescents in school.

Obsession: Fears of germs or contamination
Compulsions
* Repeatedly washing hands, using antibacterial wipes or hand-sanitizer
* Protecting what is perceived as clean space -- personal desk, locker, or other property
* Avoiding touching surfaces that others may have touched, such as doorknobs, desks, shared supplies, lab tables or equipment, computer keyboards, paints, paste, soap, cafeteria trays, etc.
* Avoiding contact play or sports either because of a fear of catching a disease or fear of contaminating another student
* Avoiding the use of bathrooms
* Seeking reassurance that they or others are not sick or dirty
* Refusing to share items or supplies with others
* Refusing to eat in the cafeteria
* Avoiding certain products because they may contain poison, such as substances used in chemistry

Obsession: Fears that harm, illness, or death, will befall oneself or others; fear of causing harm to oneself or others, including violent or aggressive obsessions (Note: People with OCD who have violent or aggressive thoughts do not have a history of violence or act upon these urges or ideas.)
Compulsions
* Checking behavior, such as making sure doors or windows are locked or turning light switches on and off repeatedly
* Reading a paragraph over and over again to prevent harm from coming to a loved one, another person, or a pet.
* Asking the teacher for reassurance that the student is safe
* Avoiding leaving a perceived safe zone (classroom); avoiding going into unsafe zones (lunch or recess areas) or open spaces such as a gymnasium
* Unreasonable avoidance of peers, teachers, for fear of causing them harm

Obsession: Fears that harm, illness, or death, will befall oneself or others; fear of causing harm to oneself or others, including violent or aggressive obsessions ( Note: People with OCD who have violent or aggressive thoughts do not act upon these urges or ideas OR have a history of violence.)
Compulsions
* Checking behavior, such as making sure doors or windows are locked or turning light switches on and off repeatedly
* Reading a paragraph over and over again to prevent harm from coming to a loved one, another person, or a pet.
* Asking the teacher for reassurance that the student is "safe"
* Avoiding leaving a perceived "safe" zone (classroom); avoiding going into "unsafe" zones (lunch or recess areas) or open spaces such as a gymnasium
* Unreasonable avoidance of peers, teachers, for fear of causing them harm

Obsession: Fears, feelings, or urges related to numbers
Compulsions
* Counting, touching, or saying words a certain number of times due to believing in a magical significance to certain numbers or using those numbers to keep harm away; counting the number of steps between locations and having to start over if interrupted
* Touching objects a certain number of times; not being able to move on unless this touching has been accomplished
* Reading words or pages a certain number of times
* Going back and forth through doorways a certain number of times before it's OK to enter the room
* Avoiding using certain numbers that are perceived as unlucky or not safe; only using numbers that are perceived as safe or lucky. (math problems may be answered improperly, pages may not be read or pages may be numbered out of sequence )

Obsession: Fears, feelings, or urges related to discarding items because something bad will happen; feelings of incompleteness if something is discarded or the need document and preserve all life experiences; fears of contamination; need to buy items in multiples of a particular number; not discarding objects to avoid repetitive rituals such as washing or checking. (Note: This form of hoarding is related to the obsessions and compulsions of OCD and is distinct from hoarding disorder.)
Compulsions
* Saving scraps of paper, candy wrappers, bottle caps, broken items, or other useless items; inability to part with unneeded things
* Keeping books, toys, food, school papers, clothing, or other items for fear that they might be needed sometime in the future
* Buying every item in a store that one has touched (and therefore contaminated) to prevent others from being contaminated
* Accumulating items or objects in a particular area (desk drawer) because they are contaminated and cannot be touched
* Buying multiples of the same item (buying three of everything because it's a magic number)

Obsession: Scrupulosity, or the excessive fear of violating religious or moral rules
Compulsions
* Apologizing or confessing that something is wrong, such as breaking religious, classroom, or school rules
* Constantly seeking reassurance that a task has been completed right or perfectly; seeking affirmation that a mistake was not made
* Saying prayers a certain number of times; excessive praying to atone for being bad; repeatedly confessing perceived sins or bad behavior
* Repetitive praying, confessing to neutralize or undo bad thoughts, intrusive sexual thoughts, or visions of cursing or blaspheming in school or church
* Avoiding answering questions for fear of telling a lie

Obsession: Fears, feelings, or urges related to symmetry or order
Compulsions
* Constantly evening up books or other items on a shelf or desk; aligning edges to be even
* Rearranging items to be in a certain order, such as by color or alphabetical order
* Avoiding a room with square tiles because seeing the tiles would require tracing each of the edges visually
* Fears, feelings, or urges related to sexual content
* Seeking reassurance that one is not gay or lesbian, despite being heterosexual
* Excessive praying to atone for having inappropriate sexual thoughts or images
* Avoiding magazines, books, DVDs, websites, or other media for fear of seeing sexual content

Obsession: Excessive doubting or dread of uncertainty
Compulsions
* Constantly rechecking to see that everything is in a backpack or book bag
* Asking to leave the classroom to recheck a locker or its contents
* Avoiding a school locker to prevent checking the lock over and over again

Obsession: Fears, feelings, or urges related to having something just right or perfect
Compulsions
* Getting up and sitting down repeatedly at a desk, until feeling just right
* Repeatedly revising the way letters, words, or numbers are written to make them look just right; getting stuck rewriting the same letter or word
* Repeatedly filling in circles on answer sheets; getting stuck on one or two questions because too much time is spent carefully filling in the circles, erasing, refilling until it looks perfect
* Erasing and rewriting words over and over
* Extreme slowness with activities or school work until everything is just right
* Repeating various actions for no apparent reason
* Avoiding a hallway until walking in it until it feels just right

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OCD is like an unwelcome guest with bad manners. It moves into a mind - and it doesn't want to leave. Students with OCD may appear to be daydreaming, distracted, disinterested, or even lazy. They may seem unfocused and unable to concentrate.

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"Teacher's Guide to OCD in the Classroom"

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"Teacher's Guide to OCD in the Classroom"

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While this resource from the Child Mind Institute provides information on common obsessions and behaviors that one might see in students with OCD, it also offers helpful suggestions on how educators can help struggling students  focus on their learning in the classroom. Some suggestions on the site include offering extended time for tests and papers and private testing rooms.          Alternatively, this resource emphasizes class support and peer understanding – a            crucial component when it comes to making students with OCD comfortable in the classroom.

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Lo sentimos, la página que usted busca no se ha podido encontrar. Puede intentar su búsqueda de nuevo o visitar la lista de temas populares.

Children who have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are plagued with unwanted thoughts, images or impulses that are difficult to suppress, causing them great stress and worry. These are called obsessions. To alleviate the anxiety caused by their obsessive thoughts, they perform repetitive, ritualized actions called compulsions. A child with OCD might need to line things up, touch things in a certain order when leaving the room or wash his hands repeatedly.

Obsessions Common in Kids With OCD

Contamination: Kids with this obsession are sometimes called "germaphobes." In schools, this plays out with kids worrying about other kids sneezing and coughing, touching things that might be dirty or getting sick in many different ways. This is the most common obsession seen in children.

Magical thinking: This is a kind of superstition, like "step on a crack, break your mother's back," taken to extremes. For example, kids might worry that their thoughts can cause someone to get hurt, or get sick. A child might think, "Unless my things are lined up in a certain way, mom will get in a car accident."

Catastrophizing: Some kids easily jump to the conclusion that something terrible has happened. For example, if her parents are five minutes late picking her up, a girl who is catastrophizing might tell herself that they've decided to abandon her.

Scrupulosity: This is when kids have obsessive worries about offending God or being blasphemous in some way.

What ifs: Kids may be plagued by a lot of different kinds of thoughts about bad things they could do. "What if I hurt someone? What if I stab someone? What if I kill someone?"

The "just right feeling": When OCD first develops, from about 6 to 9 years of age, kids may not know why they are doing something, but just that they need to do it until they get what we call the "just right feeling." So: "I'll line these things up until it just kind of feels right, and then I'll stop." And then over time - in the 9- to 12-year-old range - it evolves into magical thinking and becomes more superstitious in nature.

Behaviors You Might See in Students With OCD

Frequent requests to go to the bathroom: This could be to wash hands, if someone near the child was coughing or sneezing, or if she touched something that she perceives as contaminated. She could be washing items-pens, pencils, backpacks, books. It could also be an excuse to get out the classroom and just be away from everyone, and have some respite.

Constant reassurance-seeking: This takes the form of repetitive questions. "Are you sure that's the answer? Could you tell me again? Did you hear what I said?" Checking doors, windows, lockers, desks. Over and over and over again.

Getting stuck on tasks: Sometimes kids with OCD will need to finish something to completion, or understand it to completion, before they're able to move on. So if a child is working out what he did wrong on a math test, and the teacher says, "Now let's open the textbook and start a new chapter," he's not going to be able to shift gears.

Retracing: If a child leaves the classroom and worries that she left a pencil behind, she'll go back into the classroom and go to her desk and check. If she had a bad thought as she went through the doorway, she might have to "fix it" by going back through the doorway again saying a good word. If she had a bad thought when she went down a flight of stairs on the way to class, she might need to go back up that same stairway at the end of the period, even if it means being late to her next class.

Obsessive erasing: A child could be erasing a lot because the letters have to look perfect. Or he could have used a word that disturbs him. For example, if he has a fear of vomiting and he's written the word vomit, he might not be able to stand seeing that word, so he erases it. Kids start having erasers worn down to the metal. Teachers start to see holes in the paper. Words will be drawn over on the back of the page. A lot of different areas of writing become problematic.

Behaviors Often Confused With Another Disorder

Some behaviors associated with OCD are easy to confuse with ADHD, learning problems or being oppositional.

Distraction: If a child is busy thinking that if she doesn't turn the pen cap and count to four the right way then her mom is going to get sick, she's not going to be paying attention in class. And if her teacher calls on her to answer a question, her distraction might look like ADHD, but it isn't.

Slowness on exams, papers and tasks: Sometimes when kids take a long time, they're struggling with the perfectionism of needing to do things the right way. This could look like learning problems, or inattention, but it isn't.

Avoidance: Teachers might see a child who doesn't want to sit on the floor, or pick things up that touched the floor, or get his hands dirty in art class. He may avoid a lot of playground activities - kids with germ fears will view the playground the way some adults view the subway: it's gross. Why touch anything there?

Tapping and touching symmetrically: If a child sits down at her desk and she accidentally kicks the chair of the kid next to her with her right foot, she's going to have to then kick it with her left foot. That might look like somebody who's being oppositional, or somebody who's got too much energy, but actually it's OCD.

Complaints of anxiety and fatigue: There's one interesting theory that kids with OCD are smarter than other kids. And if you consider how much thinking they're doing, they're really using their brain more frequently than a lot of other kids are. But when that's coupled with a lot of anxiety, you can have a lot of fatigue. So it's common for kids with OCD to want to come home and take a nap after school.

How to Help Students With OCD

For children struggling with OCD, functioning in school can be complicated and very difficult. Here are some things you can do to help them, and the class as a whole, focus on learning:

Seating arrangement: If the school has noisy hallways, you might not want to have a child with OCD sit by the door. You might have her sit in the front, where she's less able to hear the noise and can stay more focused on her work. On the other hand, a child who has very observable symptoms, and doesn't want other kids to see her fidgeting with her hands, rocking or getting up a lot, might be better off closer to the door, toward the back of the room.

Extended time for tests and papers: If writing is a problem for a child who needs to find the perfect way to say something, he's going to need more time to finish those essay questions or papers.

Laptops for writing: If writing and rewriting/erasing is really problematic for a child, consider letting her use a laptop for taking notes, and having all assignments be typed instead of handwritten.

Private testing rooms: Research is quite clear that kids with OCD do better, are less overwhelmed and are more in control of their thoughts and their reactions if they're in a quiet place away from the other kids.

Skip reading out loud: Kids who feel they need to read perfectly may have to go back and reread sentences or whole paragraphs over and over to make sure they've got them right. So reading becomes a very laborious task, and reading in front of the class can become a nightmare. So if we know doing this is a problem for children, we can spare them.

Books on tape: If kids get so hung up reading that it takes forever, listening to the books can be a solution.

Break homework into chunks: If looking at a whole page of math makes kids feel overwhelmed and anxious - think of the potential for mistakes! - the problems can be broken up over four pages. It helps kids stay focused on doing the problems instead of worrying.

How to Minimize Behavioral Problems

Plan an escape route: Try working out a communication system so that if the student feels symptoms coming on, she can signal to you and leave the classroom, or go to a protected place in the classroom, without interrupting the class. It can prevent an embarrassing and disruptive blowup of symptoms in the classroom, and the other kids picking on or bullying her about it.

Be aware of triggering events: It's very important for teachers to know what kind of things might trigger the symptoms. Fatigue is a huge piece of OCD, and it can be exacerbated by medication. So it's important to know that if a child is drowsy in class, and maybe he's putting his head down, it's not because he's being oppositional or disrespectful, but because he's overwhelmed with fatigue.

Advance notice: Irritability and frustration are two of the longer-lasting things that kids with OCD are feeling on a daily basis. Changes in schedule can be very disruptive for a child with OCD, so it can be helpful for teachers to give advance notice of things. Kids who know what to expect are less likely to be thrown by the change.

Children with OCD are often teased and bullied because of their symptoms. Kids feel very uncomfortable about their rituals, knowing that they're being watched. It can be helpful to educate the whole class about what's going on, especially if a child is going to be in the same school for a number of years, and it can inspire a surprising amount of support from other children.

Peer understanding program: A peer understanding program includes a presentation in the classroom that explains (with the child participating) what OCD is. The child might say, "Listen, I have OCD. It's an anxiety disorder. It makes me think that my hands are dirty and I have to wash my hands a lot, so if you see me getting up and going to the sink to wash my hands, that's why." Psychologists can role-play with the teacher and child ahead of time, to anticipate questions his classmates might ask, and how to answer them.

A buddy system: A buddy is like a peer coach who sits next to the child and prompts him to keep up with note taking and staying on task. It can be great for the buddy, to foster a sense of confidence and pride and to be able to help someone in need, and great for fostering friendship.

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Lo sentimos, la página que usted busca no se ha podido encontrar. Puede intentar su búsqueda de nuevo o visitar la lista de temas populares. Children who have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) are plagued with unwanted thoughts, images or impulses that are difficult to suppress, causing them great stress and worry.

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"Understanding & Identifying OCD in the Classroom"

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"Understanding & Identifying OCD in the Classroom"

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While this blog post consists of some repetitive information about obsessions and   compulsions in students with OCD, it also provides educators with a scenario depicting how a student with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder may act in the classroom – this realistic situation can prove to be invaluable to educators who        have never experienced OCD symptoms before and are unsure about what they should be looking for.

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Today's blog post comes to us from one of our Family-Endorsed Providers, Carla Kenney, LMHC. She writes on the importance of both educators and family members noticing the possible signs of OCD in children. Thank you, Carla, for sharing your expertise with us at rtor.org. -Veronique Hoebeke, Associate Editor
Children say and do unusual things on occasion, or even quite often, but how do we know that it isn't just a quirky behavior or something more serious? How do we know if a child is struggling? If you are a teacher or school personnel, how would you know that those unusual behaviors you observe in your student may be something more, something that needs to be explored and possibly addressed?

Scenario:

Jonny is a 10-year-old boy attending the 5th grade. His academic performance is below average. He arrives tardy to school on most days and his parents report that he is "slow moving" and "not a morning person." Jonny's teachers notice that he asks the same questions over and over about his assignments as if he didn't understand and he spends a lot of time on his classwork. Sometimes his teachers see him erasing things repeatedly and starting over. He is often the last student to finish his work and he is falling behind academically. The other kids in class notice these behaviors too and sometimes make fun of him by calling him "slow poke." This makes Jonny more anxious and he gets more stuck on his school assignments. In addition, Jonny asks to use the bathroom multiple times each day. His visits to the bathroom are lengthy and when he leaves the bathroom his hands and wrists are visibly wet and red. The teacher is also noticing she is replenishing the soap and paper towels more frequently than usual in her classroom.

The above scenario describes a child struggling with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in the classroom environment. Many of these behaviors could be observed by onlookers as part of this child's character or disposition rather than something more serious, which could lead to an untreated illness that worsens and becomes more debilitating over time.

Understanding OCD

Before we can identify how OCD can manifest in the classroom we first need to understand it. According to statistics at least 1 in 100 children are diagnosed with OCD. This means that roughly about 8-10 kids in an average sized elementary school struggle with this illness. Research indicates that OCD is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses affecting children and adolescents.

OCD is an anxiety disorder that consists of obsessions and compulsions. Obsessions are unwanted thoughts, images, and urges that cause prominent distress. Compulsions are behaviors that are performed to help decrease the distress that the obsession has caused. Compulsions can be visible behaviors but they can also be mental acts that are not seen by others. These obsessions and compulsions are excessive and cause significant distress to the child and will often lead to avoidance behaviors. OCD is not pleasant and often a person who has OCD describes the illness as torturous and disabling.

Teachers and other school personnel spend a lot of time with children - often they see things that may go unnoticed at home therefore, it is important that they are aware of the many kinds of OCD symptoms. Sometimes OCD symptoms may mimic other illnesses.

How OCD Manifests Itself

While everyone experiences fears once in a while it is important to remember that these fears, worries and behaviors are excessive and cause significant and debilitating distress. Below are common obsessions and compulsions.

Common Obsessions

Contamination Obsessions: fear of dirt, germs, diseases, bodily wastes, sticky substances, chemicals, animals, insects and environmental contamination

Ordering Obsessions: need for symmetry, exactness, order, and perfectionism

Religious Obsessions & Morality Obsessions: fear of having bad thoughts and being punished for them, not following rules of religion or family values, losing control and doing bad things against religion, values, or society

Health Obsessions: fear about having a bad illness despite medical exams finding no evidence of an illness or having worries about being responsible for the well being of others

Aggressive Obsessions: fear of losing control and harming self or others

Sexual Obsessions: fear of losing control and acting out sexually, sexually harming others and thoughts about being homosexual, heterosexual, bisexual or other

Other kinds of obsessions

The need to know, seek out, confess, remember information that is useless

Fear of saying something wrong, not saying it a certain way, leaving out details

Worrying about losing things, making errors, forgetting information

Fear of saying certain words because something bad might happen

Fear of certain numbers, colors, objects, places

Common Compulsions

Cleaning and Washing Compulsions: hand washing, showering, bathing, teeth brushing, grooming, dressing, cleaning of house, space and objects

Checking Compulsions: checking to make sure no harm was done to self or others, that nothing terrible happened, that no mistakes were made

Repeating, Counting, and Ordering Compulsions: rereading, rewriting, repeating certain behaviors, doing things a certain number of times, counting items, counting while doing activities, arranging things a certain way

Health Compulsions: checking of the body to look for illness or injury, seeking out nurses, doctors and other medical professionals reassurance that everything is ok, seeking out medical tests, spending excessive amounts of time on the internet looking up medical information

Other kinds of compulsions

Mental rituals such as praying, counting, saying certain phrases

Excessive need to seek out reassurance from others

Excessive confessing about behaviors that are trivial

The need to touch, tap, rub items or people

Eating in a ritualistic way

As you can see, OCD symptoms can vary greatly. Not only can a person have multiple symptoms but symptoms can wax and wane over time in intensity as well as change altogether. For example, someone can have excessive worries about fears of getting sick and perform multiple washing compulsions and then these symptoms can lighten and a new obsession and set of new compulsions take center stage. These behaviors are often labeled as "odd" and much too often, a child will be misdiagnosed. As a result, they may end up getting ineffective treatment that only make their symptoms worse.

How OCD Is Missed

OCD symptoms can go unnoticed for several reasons. Teachers are not clinicians and have not had in-depth training on mental health illnesses and how they can present in the school environment. Also, many clinicians are not fully aware of the various faces of OCD and these "odd" behaviors are often dismissed as a phase the child may be going through. Children may also have trouble articulating what they are feeling or thinking or simply may lack self-awareness. Other children may be insightful about their thoughts and behaviors but choose to conceal their symptoms to ensure better social acceptance.

Some common manifestations of OCD in the classroom

Tardiness and/or absences from school

Disruptive behavior, meltdowns, tantrums and rage-like episodes

Asking questions repeatedly or having difficulty with completing work

Seeking reassurance

Rereading, rewriting, excessive erasing or throwing paper out

Inability to complete work, procrastination

Frequent trips to use the bathroom or nurse

Avoidance of certain places, people, situations, objects

Red, raw, and chapped looking hands and arms

Adjusting desk, contents of desk, locker or backpack, other items in the classroom

Repeatedly doing things (by number or by a "just right" feeling)

Difficulty transitioning from tasks, including entering or exiting rooms

Wearing the same clothing

Eating rituals

It is important that these behaviors be addressed as they can interfere with learning and affect a child's ability to concentrate, think and process information.

How OCD Affects the Student

Attention can be limited because the student is focused on their obsessions. This can be very exhausting for the child and can affect sleep. These behaviors in school can also take a heavy toll on social interactions with peers and may result in bullying by other students and isolation. Both can lead to depression.

Any teacher or school personnel who have concerns about a student having OCD should communicate it to the appropriate person and continue to monitor and document behaviors. In most cases the person to report these observations to are school psychologists, therapists/clinicians, adjustment counselors, or guidance counselors. Usually these professionals have in-depth training about mental illness and can investigate more by talking with the child, the child's teachers, and his or her parents. If a diagnosis of OCD is likely, then a referral to a treatment provider who specializes in the treatment of OCD should be made. It is important that if there is a diagnosis of OCD then communication between the outside treatment provider and school personnel should take place to help determine the best actions to help the student while in the school environment.

Teachers and school personnel who are educated about OCD can play an important role in the identification of this often-debilitating illness. Early detection is possible and can lead to effective treatment before symptoms worsen. This can help the child avoid years of unnecessary suffering. Understanding OCD and other related disorders can provide support that is crucial for a child's ability to function successfully in the classroom.

There are many online resources about OCD. The International OCD Foundation has specific information for educators and school personnel to provide guidance and support. In addition, there are a few books that are also very helpful. Please visit iocdf.org for a list of books that are recommended.
Carla Kenney, LMHC
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Understanding & Identifying OCD in the Classroom

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Today's blog post comes to us from one of our Family-Endorsed Providers, Carla Kenney, LMHC. She writes on the importance of both educators and family members noticing the possible signs of OCD in children. Thank you, Carla, for sharing your expertise with us at rtor.org.

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This handout is invaluable to educators for a variety of reasons – not only does it offer them a multitude of ways to support students with OCD in the classroom both permanently and temporarily – for example, developing an Individual             Education Plan (IEP) and involving parents or guardians as appropriate, it also includes a comprehensive list of websites and books that can be accessed for further information about OCD.

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In order to diversify the resources within my Padlet, a podcast, The Invisible        WheelChair, was included. This particular episode of The Invisible WheelChair, called ‘Coping with OCD in School’ helps educators put themselves into the shoes of a child going to school with OCD, a parent trying to offer support to their child and a teacher navigating the struggles that a student with OCD may experience in their classroom. If educators feel that they connect to the material discussed in     the podcast, they can choose to listen to additional episodes, which may offer insight into the students that they teach currently living with OCD.

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You go to school even though you have issues dealing with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and some other anxiety disorder. School is really a challenge and every day exhaust you either because you are the child dealing with OCD in the classroom or a teacher trying to handle the problem or a parent trying to survive the crisis.
Download this podcast!
This entry was posted in Invisible Wheelchair Podcast. Bookmark the permalink.

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IWC Podcast 27: Coping with OCD in School

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You go to school even though you have issues dealing with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and some other anxiety disorder. School is really a challenge and every day exhaust you either because you are the child dealing with OCD in the classroom or a teacher trying to handle the problem or a parent trying to survive the crisis.

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“Books and Multimedia About OCD and Related Disorders”

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“Books and Multimedia About OCD and Related Disorders”

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This resource includes three books that educators can reference when creating      instruction for students with mental health and learning disorders, such as OCD. This would also be a great list to provide to parents or guardians who express that they would like to learn more ways to help their child succeed in the classroom.

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International OCD Foundation | Books and Multimedia About OCD and Related Disorders

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A list of recommended books on OCD listed by population, specialty area, and other criteria.

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'Anxiety/OCD Behaviors to Look For in the Classroom"

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'Anxiety/OCD Behaviors to Look For in the Classroom"

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This YouTube video that discusses anxiety and OCD behaviors in the classroom is        short, sweet and to the point. Educators can quickly reference this video when they witness a student exhibiting signs or symptoms of OCD, however, are uncertain if they are anything to worry about. This video mentions obvious signs and symptoms of OCD, such as rituals, as well as symptoms that may not be as clear cut or stereotypical of OCD– which goes to show teachers and other personnel that OCD is not only about washing your hands repeatedly or feeling the need to count to a certain number.

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Anxiety/OCD Behaviors to look for in the classroom

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This resource is a one-stop shop when it comes to information and materials as they relate to OCD in the classroom. Educators who are looking to identify or manage students with OCD can quickly reference the ‘I work in the SCHOOL SYSTEM’ tab – here they can find sample IEPs. If they encounter parents with      questions or concerns, they can direct them to the ‘I am a PARENT’ tab. There is also a ‘Join the Mailing List’ option that educators can sign up for should they feel the need to stay current on Anxiety in the Classroom related news.

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Anxiety in the Classroom is an online resource center for school personnel, students, and their families.
This website provides useful information, resources, and materials about anxiety and OCD as they relate to the school setting. In addition, it offers specific tools for teachers, administrators, and other school personnel who may work with students with anxiety and/or OCD. Parents and students can also find tools and information to help them advocate for school accommodations, as well as to educate their teachers and classmates about OCD and anxiety.

Impact of Anxiety in the Classroom Setting:

OCD and anxiety are very common in children and can take a tremendous toll on the child's school performance and social functioning. Approximately 1 in every 200 children in the United States suffers from OCD or a related disorder.

Over half of adults with OCD report that their symptoms began before age 18.

The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that around 30% of youth have experienced an anxiety disorder.

A recent IOCDF-funded study has shown that OCD significantly impairs an individual's ability to take advantage of educational opportunities.

A recent study showed that OCD has a pervasive and profound impact on education across all educational levels, particularly when it has an early age of onset.

Need for Anxiety in the Classroom Resources:

Unfortunately, the professionals who interact with youth the most (such as school personnel and pediatricians) are not trained to recognize or work with anxiety/OCD in children. This means that the average child with a mental health condition will wait years after displaying symptoms to receive an accurate diagnosis and treatment.

Anxiety in the Classroom was developed by the International OCD Foundation to reduce the negative impact of anxiety and OCD on youth.

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Anxiety In The Classroom | School Anxiety | Free Resources

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Anxiety in the Classroom is an online resource center for school personnel, students, and their families. This website provides useful information, resources, and materials about anxiety and OCD as they relate to the school setting. In addition, it offers specific tools for teachers, administrators, and other school personnel who may work with students with anxiety and/or OCD.

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This resource discusses the ways that one can provide appropriate support to a student that may have OCD – It is important to note that an educator should not  be trying to diagnose a child with OCD themselves, rather they should be aware of the signs and symptoms of OCD so that they can make the student and family aware of offered support as needed. This resource is also useful as it makes mention of students, educators, family members and healthcare professionals working together to assist a student, as well as knowing when to challenge a          student vs. provide them with accommodation.

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Best Gift Apps for Parents To Give Anxious Children

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Best Gift Apps for Parents To Give Anxious Children

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This resource discusses different apps that can be utilized to assist students with OCD and other anxiety disorders. Because technology is becoming more present during instruction, making oneself aware of the apps that are offered to support
students with OCD can prove to be extremely beneficial during instruction or class time. For example, students can utilize The Worry Box app during an English lesson opener – if they are feeling overwhelmed, writing in the app can do wonders to take away some of the student’s stress and make the classroom        experience a more comfortable one.

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Technology - it's here and we can't avoid it. As much as we may try to limit our children's screen time, there actually may be some benefit to letting our children use their iPads, iPods, android devices, or smartphone. For anxious children, there are actually apps out there that can help children to identify their feelings, manage their thoughts, and find ways to decrease the experience of anxiety.
If our young kids or teens are going to be immersed in a mobile device, let it be something that can help ease their anxiety. And giving apps like these can help ease parental guilt that they're giving in to digital temptation.
Positive Penguins helps kids understand what they're feeling

This is an app that uses four positive penguins to help children understand that their feelings are very much influenced by their thoughts, the thoughts that are running in the background. The Positive Penguins give your child a place to speak or type their thoughts. This takes those intangible, ambiguous thoughts and makes them tangible. The app provides a forum for negative thoughts as they are happening as your child learns how to identify those thoughts within the situation. Realistic and positive ways of interpreting the situation are then reviewed. When your child needs a break, there are games to play too! An interesting note - this app was originally created by an Australian 11-year-old and her two brothers.

Worry Box helps kids sort through worries

This app serves as a journal for children and adolescents to record their worrisome thoughts. Steps are then identified in managing the worry. Coping strategies and statements can be selected from a list especially if the worry feels uncontrollable in an effort to think about the worrisome situation differently. This self-help app even will link to articles at ExcelAtLife.com about CBT approaches to managing worries.

Bedtime Meditations for Kids relaxes kids for a good night's sleep

Evan after a busy day, our minds don't quiet down just because our body wants to. So, for your child with an over-active mind, here's a meditation app that takes the focus off of his/her thoughts and onto positive and quiet messages to help your child settle down and fall asleep peacefully.

Breathe2Relax is a stress reduction tool

When we are anxious, our breaths become shallower which ends up revving up our body and mind. We know that the power of the breath is amazing and can take a body that is ready to run or scream, and calm it down. Use this app, described as a "portable stress management tool", to help your child to use deep breathing exercises to decrease the experience of anxiety. The deep breathing exercises ("belly breathing") not only decreases the experience of anxiety but creates distraction from anxious thoughts that can be negatively impact focus and ability to complete tasks in school or at home.

Songza - playlists for your anxious teen

Our kids love to listen to music. Songza is a song streaming service for web and mobile devices. It allows a child to select an activity relevant to the day and time with music options. The music is helpful in calming your child while coming down from a school day, or just wanting to play a game to unwind.

Date of original publication: November 24, 2015

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Technology - it's here and we can't avoid it. As much as we may try to limit our children's screen time, there actually may be some benefit to letting our children use their iPads, iPods, android devices, or smartphone.

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Annotated Bibliography: OCD In The Classroom