Attention Deficit / Hyperactiviity Disorder
What you should know about AD/HDAD/HD is a disorder of brain function. Most cases of AD/HD are genetic, but some result from brain injury. The National Institute of Mental Health has estimated that approximately 3% to 5% of school-aged children have AD/HD. People with AD/HD have difficulty regulating their behavior. There are different types of AD/HD - the predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and combined types.
Individuals with the inattentive type of AD/HD have difficulty:
- Paying attention to details
- Sustaining attention
- Listening to instructions
- Organizing themselves.
Children with the inattentive type avoid putting the attention and effort into their school work that is required. They have difficulty keeping track of assignments and homework papers. Organizational difficulties become increasingly apparent when the child must assume responsibility for school work and other aspects of their life-management.
Individuals with the hyperactive/impulsive type of AD/HD:
- Are very active - children are constantly moving and fidgeting; teenagers and adults may have only a sense of internal restlessness.
- Have difficulty taking turns in games and conversations.
- Often act without thinking or anticipating the consequences of their actions.
- Some have difficulty controlling temper outbursts.
- Children with this type are usually diagnosed at a younger age than the inattentive type.
AD/HD often occurs in combination with learning disabilities - reading, spelling, writing, arithmetic and language problems, as well as social and emotional problems. Different approaches to treatment are required, depending on what other problems are in the picture. It is very important that a thorough evaluation and diagnosis be made by a trained professional.
AD/HD cannot be "cured" but can be controlled with medication, which is the primary treatment. Parent training is very helpful because it teaches parents how to help their children. Older teenagers and adults may benefit from counseling. School is often very difficult for children with AD/HD, and teachers play a crucial part in helping the AD/HD child perform successfully in school.
Ways to Help a Child with AD/HD
- Provide structure and a consistent schedule - help the child learn routines around daily activities such as getting dressed and going to bed. Use a picture calendar/schedule for the young child. Make sure that the child gets enough sleep.
- Work out "clean up" routines and organize and label areas used for toy storage and clothing. Make picture labels for a young child and word labels for a child who can read.
- Provide consistent, low-key reminders, prompts and cues when needed.
- Be consistent about rewards and consequences, so that your child knows what to expect.
- Be generous with praise when your child performs well, but avoid being overly critical when things are not going well.
- AD/HD children need to be taught and monitored on the use of organizational strategies-color-coded folders for different subjects, labeling, the use of checklists and to-do lists, setting goals and breaking projects into small, manageable chunks.
- On a daily basis, supervise the school-age child in reviewing homework assignments, organizing the backpack and filing papers (but don't do it for him or her).
- Older children and adults benefit from all these organizational pointers.
- Teachers can help a lot by stressing organizational routines and staying in close communication with parents so that the parent knows what is going on in school.
- Teachers can allow hyperactive children to have movement breaks.
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