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Regular Features
THE
PARENT COACH
Dr.
Steven Richfield provides articles on many different aspects of raising a child
with ADHD.
ASK
THE ADVOCATE
Each
month we our advocate will be answering questions from our visitors about yours
and your children's rights in the educational system.
PARENTS
TALK
A mother is trying to help her teenage son learn anger management.
MOTIVATION
TIPS
Five great ideas for motivation, including The Shoe Race, Trading Places
and more.
ORGANIZATION
TIPS
Organize your child at home, and maybe find some tips that will help you
as well.
ADHD
IN THE NEWS
Headlines about ADHD, Learning Disability and Mental Disorders
Study on ADD and TV
The recent study published on watching television between the ages of one and
three and the possible link to ADD/ADHD did not take many considerations into
account. The author of the study even admits that he cannot conclude that
television watching and ADD/ADHD are linked.
Read the
Article
Back To General Information Articles
So You Think Your Child Has ADHD?
by George and Eileen Bailey
So you think your child has ADHD! Teachers tell you he is easily distracted.
Friends shy away from activities that include your child. Other children make
fun of your child. Relatives say he is immature for his age and will snap out of
it. You've checked the lists and he fits the criteria. Now what?
Your first step is to contact the school guidance counselor and begin a
relationship with those that are in a position to help. Set up a meeting with
the guidance counselor and the teacher(s) to discuss your child's progress. Make
it clear that you want positive steps to ensure your child's progress. This is
not a "bash your child" session. DO NOT allow it to become one. Take
notes and ask for specific examples of misbehaviors:
Walking around during class
Sharpening his pencil often
Looking out the window, at the other kids, at the floor
Losing his supplies
Not handing in homework you know he has done
Get as many specific examples as you can.
Next, ask the teacher what special adaptations she is willing to put into place.
Some examples are:
Seating him in front
Tapping his desk when his mind seems to wander
Writing homework assignments down
Giving extra time for homework/tests
Set up a meeting the following month. Use this time to look objectively at
behaviors and come up with some possible solutions. Review what is working and
what needs changing. If necessary continue monthly meetings. Once you receive an
official diagnosis, bring it to the school to be kept on file, should special
education be required.
Start the process with the school as soon as possible. Many teachers are willing
to make reasonable adaptations. It is in the best interest of your child if all
the major adults in his life are willing to work together.
The second step you should take is to read the symptoms of ADHD. Keep a
checklist of what symptoms you feel your child shows and write down examples.
The third step is to make an appointment with your pediatrician/family doctor.
Be armed with your checklist and notes from the school meeting. Thoroughly
explain the reasons you feel your child has ADHD.
Your doctor should do a thorough physical exam, testing specifically for thyroid conditions,
allergy problems and rule out all physical causes. Some physical problems can
cause hyperactivity and/or inattention, mimicing symptoms of ADHD. A thorough
exam and a correct diagnosis is important in receiving the proper treatment.
Ask for a referral to a child psychologist that specializes in ADHD. Talk with
the psychologist by phone and ask about their experience with ADHD. The meeting
with the psychologist should be to rule out any emotional problems and to set up
a course of action.
At this point, you will want to begin educating yourself (if you have not
already started) on all of the treatment options available.
Your doctor and the psychologist might recommend medication. Consider a trial
period to see if it will help. There are many different medications available
today and children react to each one differently, so it may take awhile to find
the appropriate medication and dosage. Observe your child on and off the
medicine and ask him to read a story about an hour after he has taken it. Then
ask questions about the story, determine if you notice any difference in reading
retention. Ask your child to complete 2-3 tasks and see if he is more able to
remember all the tasks.
Medication alone, however, does not make a successful ADHD child. Create an ADHD
Friendly House. Take a proactive approach. Think of everything that could
possibly go wrong and make up rules to combat them. Expect the worse and
determine your response to that action. For example: how are you going to react
if your child is caught stealing? This approach is used so that you will be calm
during all situations and provide support rather than negativity during a
crisis. Write down all rules, rewards for following them and consequences for
not. Make sure that this is done when the house is quiet, the kids are asleep
and you can think rationally.
Now that you have your complete list of rules, look at them again and take out
what is unnecessary. Keep it simple.
Keeping an ADHD Friendly house also requires reorganization. Provide materials
to help keep his room organized. A clear hanging shoe holder hung over the
closet door works extremely well. It keeps all of the "junk" off the
floor but allows your child to see everything.
Continue being proactive in your approach, objectively seeing problems and finding
solutions and changing the household to work with and for your child, rather
than against him.