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