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What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common behavioral disorder that affects human behavior. Children with ADHD often experience negative effects on their social and emotional development as well as on their performance in school and work settings. This is true regardless of the types of symptoms (behaviors) displayed. Physicians recognize 3 subtypes of ADHD:
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Inattention,
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Hyperactivity/Impulsivity, and
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Combined type, a child who displays a combination of symptoms from both categories.
Symptoms of Inattention
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Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes
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Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
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Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
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Does not follow through on directions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions)
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Has difficulty organizing tasks or activities
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Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework)
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Loses things necessary for tasks or activities (eg, toys, pencils, assignments, tools)
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Is easily distracted
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Is often forgetful in daily activities
Symptoms of Hyperactivity
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Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
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Leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected
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Runs or climbs excessively when it is inappropriate (in adolescents, may be feelings of restlessness)
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Has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly
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Is always on the go or acts as if "driven by motor"
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Often talks excessively
Symptoms of Impulsivity
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Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
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Has difficulty waiting turn
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Interrupts or intrudes on others (eg, butts into conversations or games)
ADHD affects approximately 3 to 5 percent of all school-aged children in the United States (nearly 2 million children). It is the most commonly diagnosed psychiatric disorder in children and adolescents. Up to 66 percent of those children will continue to exhibit symptoms into adolescence and adulthood.
How do I know if my child has ADHD?
ADHD cannot be identified through high-tech tests or blood counts. At times, all children behave in a way that may resemble the symptoms of ADHD. Because of this, there are specific guidelines for determining when the behaviors indicate ADHD. These behaviors must appear before age 7 and must continue for at least 6 months. Generally, these behaviors must be more frequent or more severe than in other children the same age. And, the behaviors must create a real handicap in at least two areas of life, such as school, home, or in social settings.
A physician or a specialist such as a psychiatrist, psychologist, developmental pediatrician and/or neurologist often make the diagnosis of ADHD. But you have input too. The diagnosis should be based on information provided by those who know the child best, like teachers, parents, and other care givers. Your child's physician may ask you to answer questions taken from one or more checklists that are available for rating behavior.
What are the ADHD Treatment Options?
These standard treatments include educational approaches, psychological or behavioral modification therapies, and medication. The standard treatment for ADHD is a combination of both medication and behavioral therapy tailored to the specific needs of a child. In fact, a recent study by the US National Institute of Mental Health, compared medication, behavioral therapy, and a combination of both for the treatment of ADHD. This study found that treatment that includes behavioral modification and carefully monitored medication greatly reduced symptoms of ADHD. These findings confirmed previous reports that treatment regimens including medication are among the most effective for the treatment of ADHD. The most effective drugs for treating ADHD are the stimulant medications.
The info above was obtained at http://www.adhdsupportcompany.com/about_adhd.html
Recommendations for Parents written by Samuel R. Caron, Ph.D. ,Submitted by Melanie Marlane
1. EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT THE DISORDER.
2. OBTAIN A PROFESSIONAL EVALUATION IN ORDER TO DETERMINE A DIAGNOSIS.
3. OBTAIN COUNSELING FOR YOUR FAMILY FROM A MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL WHO IS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT ADHD.
4. WORK WITH A PHYSICIAN WHO IS KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT ADHD. MEDICATION NEEDS TO BE MONITORED CLOSELY IN ORDER TO DETERMINE THE MOST EFFECTIVE PLAN.
5. BECOME YOUR CHILD'S ADVOCATE SO THAT HE/SHE OBTAINS AN APPROPRIATE EDUCATIONAL PROGRAM AND ALSO THE BEST TREATMENT AVAILABLE.
6. WORK CLOSELY AND COOPERATIVELY WITH THE SCHOOL. DEVELOP A SCHOOL ALLY.
7. GIVE YOUR CHILD POSITIVE DIRECTIONS. IT IS EASIER FOR CHILDREN WITH ADHD TO START ANOTHER ACTIVITY THAN TO STOP WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
8. GIVE INSTRUCTIONS SIMPLY AND CLEARLY.
9. BREAK UP BIG JOBS INTO SMALL COMPONENTS.
10. SET UP SHORT WORK TIMES THAT DON'T EXCEED YOUR CHILD'S ATTENTION SPAN
11. SUPERVISE BY BEING PHYSICALLY CLOSE.
12. USE A TIMER TO HELP YOUR CHILD BE MORE AWARE OF THE PASSAGE OF TIME.
13. USE REMINDER SIGNS TO HELP YOUR CHILD REMEMBER TO DO THINGS.
14. INCREASE MOTIVATION BY MAKING WORK INTO GAMES, BY USING A REWARD SYSTEM, AND BY USING ATTRACTIVE COMPUTER EDUCATIONAL SOFTWARE.
15. SET UP A QUIET PLACE FOR YOUR CHILD TO COMPLETE HOMEWORK.
16. LEARN TO IDENTIFY WHEN YOUR CHILD IS HAVING PROBLEMS BECAUSE OF ADHD VERSUS JUST BEING NON-COMPLIANT.
17. DON'T TAKE THE PROBLEMS PERSONALLY.
18. SET UP A REGULAR DAILY SCHEDULE AND FOLLOW IT AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
19. SET UP CLEAR FAMILY RULES WITH CONSEQUENCES FOR NON-COMPLIANCE.
20. DON'T OVER STIMULATE YOUR CHILD. CHILDREN WITH ADHD DO BETTER PLAYING WITH ONE CHILD AT A TIME AND BEING INVOLVED IN ONLY ONE ACTIVITY AT A TIME. WHEN TOO MANY THINGS ARE GOING ON, THEY BECOME OVER STIMULATED.
21. RESPOND TO MISBEHAVIOR WITH CONSEQUENCES RATHER THAN WITH LENGTHY EXPLANATIONS.
22. SET UP A TOKEN ECONOMY AND/OR A RESPONSE COST PROGRAM.
23. IDENTIFY REPETITIVE PROBLEM AREAS AND RESTRUCTURE IN ORDER TO AVOID THE PROBLEMS IN THE FUTURE.
24. REMEMBER THAT CHANGING STRUCTURES IS OFTEN THE BEST SOLUTION FOR REDUCING FAMILY STRESS.
25. REDUCE THE AMOUNT OF ENERGY YOU PUT INTO DISCIPLINE AND ANGER. AS SOON AS YOU START TO ARGUE WITH YOUR CHILD, YOU HAVE LOST. USE CONSEQUENCES, NOT ANGER.
26. IDENTIFY ACTIVITIES YOU CAN DO WITH YOUR CHILD FOR ENJOYMENT. DON'T LET ADHD STOP YOU FROM ENJOYING YOUR CHILD. ENJOY YOUR CHILD ON A REGULAR AND FREQUENT BASIS.
27. IDENTIFY ACTIVITIES YOUR CHILD DOES WELL AND ENCOURAGE HER/HIM TO PURSUE THESE AREAS IN ORDER TO HELP WITH SELF-ESTEEM.
28. WHENEVER POSSIBLE, PRAISE YOUR CHILD FOR SUCCESS AND APPROPRIATE BEHAVIOR. CHILDREN WITH ADHD GET WAY TOO MUCH CRITICISM AND NEGATIVE FEEDBACK.
29. JOIN AN ADHD SUPPORT GROUP OR TALK WITH OTHER PARENTS WHO HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS.
30. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF. IF YOU DON'T TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF, HOW ARE YOU GOING TO BE ABLE TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR CHILD?
31.DON'T GIVE UP. IF ONE STRATEGY DOESN'T WORK, TRY SOMETHING ELSE.
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