| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | available in the form of books and videos to guide |
| Helpful Hints On How To Manage Your Childs | | | | parents on how o assist their ADHD afflicted child. |
| ADHD | | | | They just need to buy or borrow these read |
| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is | | | | them and be better informed abut this so as to |
| a condition that can afflict children. People suffering | | | | be effective. It is good to discuss what you read |
| from ADHD have symptoms such as: | | | | with a professional or a local support group as |
| 1) They have a low level of concentration and a | | | | there is a lot of mis-information on this subject. |
| very poor attention span. | | | | This is especially from self professed guru's who |
| 2) Their memorizing powers are low and they | | | | profess magic-cures for your child. |
| have poor concentration. | | | | GOOD COMMUNICATION is very essential |
| 3) The are very impulsive and do things without | | | | between parents, support groups and the school |
| thinking. | | | | teachers. If all three groups care to communicate |
| 4) Their frequent temper tantrums and outbursts | | | | and solve particular problems it will be beneficial |
| are a result of easy frustration | | | | for the child. |
| While most children as well as adults face similar | | | | ADJUSTMENTS IN THE ENVIRONMENT. Children |
| difficulties during daily routine, those children who | | | | with ADHD do best in a quiet, calm, structured, |
| suffer from ADHD have a far larger frequency of | | | | low-stimulation environment (e.g. one to one) and |
| these difficulties. The extent is so acute that they | | | | poorly in chaotic situations (e.g. busy classrooms, |
| are unable to undertake tasks such as:a) at school | | | | noisy, busy homes). As a family you may want |
| (they are not able to pay attention or finish their | | | | to find ways to reorganise life so that it is less |
| work in time or they can be disruptive and | | | | stressful for all of you. At school the teachers will |
| destructive in class, may be talking excessively in | | | | be doing the same, and it is best if the two can |
| the class)b) at home (are not able to finish | | | | be co-ordinated. |
| chores, are clumsy, get into fights with siblings | | | | CLEAR BEHAVIORAL MANAGEMENT STRATEGY. |
| and more)c) socially (unable to take turns or wait | | | | These children respond best to very clear |
| in line, bossy and overbearing, easily frustrated | | | | expectations of behavior, and very clear rewards |
| leading to temper outbursts and aggression, | | | | and punishments - with rewards being more |
| impulsive, so often in trouble for doing antisocial | | | | frequent than punishments. If you are having |
| actions e.g. unwise "practical jokes"). | | | | difficulty in doing this at home you may want to |
| ADHD is not a disease or illness in the sense that | | | | talk about some strategies with your key worker. |
| it is caused by germs, by injury, or by a clearly | | | | PARENTAL SUPPORT. Since getting along wit |
| defined physical malfunction (such as asthma or | | | | these children and bringing them up takes a lot of |
| diabetes). It is simply the result of parts of the | | | | doing , the parents themselves are likely to get |
| brain not working at full efficiency. | | | | depressed and break up. To avoid marriages to |
| What is clear is that ADHD does run in families | | | | break up and to maintain harmony, it is advisable |
| and is at least partially genetic - often a parent | | | | for parents themselves to seek assistance from |
| has the same symptoms. What is also clear is | | | | parent support groups, parent training groups, |
| that the symptoms, and therefore the problems, | | | | respite care, marital counseling, family therapy are |
| are long term. They are not going to go away or | | | | such support groups and organizations. |
| be cured in a short period of time, but are almost | | | | MEDICATION. Medication is not a cure, but can be |
| certainly going to continue through into the teen | | | | an invaluable help. Getting it right is important and |
| years, and probably even into adulthood. | | | | so you will need to work closely with your key |
| HOW IS ADHD MANAGED? | | | | worker and doctor. The goal of medication is to |
| Children suffering from ADHD can get long term | | | | reduce the symptoms so as to give the child the |
| complications which may run into their adulthood | | | | opportunity to learn academic, social, and other life |
| as well. These complications could be:a) Score | | | | skills. By itself, however, it is unlikely to solve all |
| poorly or fail in school because of lack of | | | | the problems and so cannot be used as an |
| concentration.b) Are constantly in trouble because | | | | excuse to opt out of the above ingredients. |
| of their impulsive behaviorc) may turn to social ills | | | | There are several types of medication that are |
| like drugs, crime, drink because of their constant | | | | used. The most common are the "stimulants" |
| failures. | | | | (discussed on the next page), but increasingly |
| All of these, in turn, can lead to long term | | | | common is the new medication atomoxetine, |
| complications that affect functioning in adulthood. | | | | which seems to work very well with few side |
| Effective management of ADHD starts at home. | | | | effects. Ask your doctor for full information. |
| Parents have to be very patient and give their | | | | As health professionals we cannot raise your child |
| best to their child. The treatment of ADHD is | | | | for you, nor can we solve all your problems as |
| very long, but it has to be given to the child so | | | | you travel with your child along life's journey. |
| that he is a better adjusted adult. The goal is to | | | | What we can do, however, is to assist you in |
| prevent those long term compliations. Since you | | | | getting unstuck when you get stuck along the |
| as the parent know your child the best, it is you | | | | way. We will try to help you to sort out all of the |
| who will have to take an active part in the | | | | above points as best you can. |
| management of his ADHD. An effective ADHD | | | | But, in the end, it is you and your family who |
| management program should include the following | | | | have to live with it, and so the more you learn |
| components: | | | | about it, and the more you learn the best ways |
| COMMITTED PARENTS. These are parents who | | | | to manage it, the better your chances of a good |
| work wholeheartedly towards the betterment of | | | | outcome. |
| the child. There is more than adequate information | | | | |