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How a Service Dog Can Help Someone With ADHD
Dealing with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can sometimes feel like a rollercoaster ride. From racing thoughts to difficulty focusing and maintaining attention, navigating daily life can be challenging.
ADHD is a common affliction, but for some, the condition can be debilitating, particularly if they have ADHD in conjunction with other mental or physical health issues. Someone with ADHD alone or in combination with other health issues can be considered disabled if their condition significantly impairs their ability to conduct major life activities.
For these disabled individuals, a service dog can provide invaluable assistance in managing their ADHD.
How does a service dog help with ADHD?
Service dogs, especially psychiatric service dogs (PSD), can be a real game-changer for people with ADHD. They offer support, structure, and friendship. Here’s a brief look at how a PSD can help someone with ADHD:
- Boosting focus: A PSD can sense when their handler’s attention drifts and gently nudge them back on track.
- Emotional balance: The calming presence of a PSD helps manage emotions, reduce anxiety, and ease stress.
- Promoting routine: Caring for a PSD encourages a structured daily schedule, which can help manage ADHD symptoms.
- Social support: A PSD can make social situations more manageable and boost their handler’s self-confidence.
- Tailored tasks: PSDs can learn specific tasks to assist with an individual’s unique ADHD challenges, like reminders or organization.
- Public space navigation: With a PSD’s support, handlers can feel more at ease in public places and focus on social interactions.
How do I know if I’m eligible for a service dog?
To be eligible for a psychiatric service dog, you must have a mental health disability. Not only that, but your disability must require the assistance of a task-trained service dog.
Need help to determine whether you qualify? Talk to your therapist or doctor about your condition. They may also be able to help you with a PSD letter which contains their evaluation of whether you meet the ADA disability criteria.
About the Author: The writing team at Service Dog Certifications is made up of folks who really know their stuff when it comes to disability laws and assistance animals. Many of our writers and editors have service dogs themselves and share insights from their own experiences. All of us have a passion for disability rights and animals.
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I have Anxiety and ADHD, social situations are hard and I suffer from overthinking and self doubt, I have a really hard time focusing and remembering basic tasks. I do have really hard day and can’t find motivation to get out of bed and do anything, I just wanted to see if I qualify cause I was just wondering
You can only have a service dog if your condition is a disability that requires the use of a task-trained dog. It sounds like you could benefit from the presence of an emotional support animal: https://www.servicedogcertifications.org/how-to-get-an-emotional-support-dog-letter/
Emotional Support Animals only help you get housing. They cannot go anywhere pets are not allowed, including airplanes. According to the Americans with Disabilities Act, a service dog, including a PSD, is NOT required to be “certified.” It must behave well and have been trained for at least one specific task that helps a person with their disability. If you have been diagnosed with anxiety disorders and/or ADHD, you may use a service dog since anxiety and ADHD are, indeed, disabilities.
I trained my own service dog and he goes everywhere a service dog is allowed, anywhere members of the public are allowed, except for places of worship where an animal may be considered “unclean” and thereby desecrate sacred space. My church did give me permission to bring my service dog and he lies calmly and quietly at my feet during services. I also bring him to medical appointments and musical performances—I play the harp—and he behaves very well and performs his task when he senses I need it. I don’t have to ask—he just knows.
If you Google ADA Service Dogs, go to the government website, not a sponsored site where they are obviously selling something and will make it sound very hard to get a service dog to help you with your needs. My psychiatric provider is thrilled that my issues are helped by my dog instead of meds!
Yes, that is correct. We state throughout our site that emotional support animals only have housing rights, and NOT ADA public access rights.