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ADHD

What is ADHD?

ADHD is attention deficit /hyperactivity disorder. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, sitting still or controlling their impulses.

How many children have ADHD?

Estimates vary, but most indicate roughly 5 percent of school-aged children have ADHD. However, the condition is still being studied, and some researchers think up to 12 percent of children may have ADHD. ADHD is the most common childhood neurobehavioral disorder.

Are boys or girls more likely to have ADHD?

Boys are two to three times more likely to be diagnosed with the condition that girls. Boys display hyperactivity and girls typically show inattentiveness, which may go unnoticed.

How does ADHD affect children?

A child with ADHD may have behavioral problems such as:

• difficulty focusing on classroom lessons
• problems making or keeping friends
• troubled relationships with family members
• difficulties participating in organized activities, such as sports

How do I know if my child has ADHD?

For a child to be diagnosed with ADHD, he or she must show symptoms in at least two different settings, such as in school or at home. The symptoms also must last for at least six months and be severe enough that they interfere with school, activities, sports and/or relationships.

If I have ADHD, will my child also have it?

Possibly. ADHD seems to run in families. Most children with ADHD have at least one relative with the disorder.

Symptoms of Inattention:

Does your child often:

• fail to give close attention to details or make careless mistakes in school, work or other activities?
• have difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities?
• not listen when spoken to directly?
• not follow through on instructions and fail to complete schoolwork, chores or duties (but not because of failure to understand the instructions)?
• have difficulty organizing tasks and activities?
• avoid or dislike engaging in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as homework) ?
• lose things (such as toys, school assignments, pencils, books or tools)?
• become distracted?
• forget things?

Symptoms of Hyperactivity/Impulsivity

Does your child often:

• fidget ?
• leave his or her seat?
• act as if "driven by a motor"?
• have difficulty playing quietly?
• talk too much?
• blurt out answers before questions are completed?
• have difficulty waiting for his or her turn?
• interrupt or intrude on others?
• run or climb excessively in inappropriate situations?

Myths About ADHD

Myth: ADHD isn't real. With better discipline, kids wouldn't be hyperactive or inattentive.

Reality: ADHD is real, and it's a neurobiological disorder. Scientists are finding more and more evidence that ADHD doesn't stem from home environment...but from biological causes.

Myth: My child will be fine without treatment. I can deal with him or her.

Reality: Children with untreated ADHD can develop other problems later in life, including depression, anxiety, violent behavior, addictions, problems at work and troubled marriages. Symptoms may change over time but it is unlikely that their ADHD will "go away" on its own.

Myth: The medicine used to treat ADHD is dangerous.

Reality: ADHD medicines and their safety have been studied for nearly 60 years. A recent study has shown that using medicine to treat ADHD in childhood actually does not lead to future substance use disorder.

Myth: Children should take medicine only for school- and only if they're already showing ADHD symptoms.

Reality: ADHD affects every part of a child's life...at school, at home and in social situations. ADHD medicine may help your child to participate in extracurricular activities, in relationships with peers and family members, during homework time....and at school.

Myth: It's scary that a medicine has control over my child's behavior.

Reality: The medicine isn't "in control." It simply improves your child's ability to control his behavior. It won't turn him into something he isn't. In fact, as the medicine begins to work and your child shows improvement, his self-esteem is likely to improve. Teachers, friends and family members often notice the positive changes and praise him.

How do ADHD medicines work?

ADHD medicines encourage the release of neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are brain chemicals that carry messages between nerves.

When the balance of neurotransmitters to send electrical signals across the space between nerves is not right, nerve cells cannot properly get messages to each other. With ADHD, the messages affected are those that help people pay close attention, guide their activities and control their impulses.

By establishing a balance or neurotransmitters, ADHD medicines help the messages cross the synapse or neural gap correctly. This relieves the symptoms of ADHD.

How is ADHD treated?

Treatment options include behavior management, medicine or a combination of both. Your doctor is the best person to determine if your child has ADHD and to establish a treatment plan.

Set the stage for school success:

ROUTINES

Set a specific time and place for homework. Routine is your friend.

ORGANIZATION

Help your child learn to use a daily assignment notebook to track his schoolwork. Encourage him to check off completed tasks. Review the notebook with him on a regular basis.

REWARDS AND CONSEQUENCES

Establish rewards for completing homework and consequences for not completing it. For example, if your child completes his homework on time, he gains a privilege.

PROGRAMS

ADHD makes children seem less mature and responsible than their peers. Get your child involved in the appropriate programs at school to help manage his ADHD.

5 Tips for Behavior Management

1. TELL AND SHOW YOUR CHILD THAT YOU LOVE AND APPRECIATE HIM.

Make a commitment on the positive aspects of your child's behavior.
It can be easy to focus only on the negative aspects of his behavior; however, guard against doing that. A focus on the negative can harm your relationship with your child and affect his self-confidence and self-esteem.

2. MAINTAIN A SCHEDULE, PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR CHANGE.

It can be difficult for children with ADHD to accept and adjust to change. That's why it's important to keep regular mealtimes, bedtimes and other home routines.
Mark special activities on a calendar and hang it where your child can see it. Discuss changes in schedule in advance to set expectations and help your child prepare.

3. MAINTAIN FIRM DISCIPLINE AND MAKE THE RULES EASY TO UNDERSTAND.

Children with ADHD may have trouble following rules compared with other children. Enforce a few clear, consistent, important rules and add more at your child's pace.

4. DON'T LET YOUR CHILD GET OVERTIRED.

As with any child who becomes exhausted, self-control can break down, and the ADHD behavior may become worse.

5. ENFORCE RULES WITH APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINE.

Use discipline techniques such as "time out" when your child becomes out of control. During a time out, remove your child from the situation and have him sit quietly alone for a short period of time. Time gives him a chance to calm down.

All information provided by Healthy Advice for Your Child © 2004 On Target Media, LLC

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