ADHD can exist with or without impulsivity. For some, ADHD-IA, or Inattentive type is common. Many symptoms associated with
ADHD are also associated with bipolar disorder, and there are errors in diagnosis. The most common form of treatment for ADHD
is medication, but there are many other forms of intervention that can help. (the medications most commonly used are stimulant
medicines.) Not everyone agrees with the labeling system that classifies children as ADHD. In fact, one respected physician,
educator and author, will not use or recongnize the term. (Dr. Mel Levine, All Kinds of Minds organization.) So there are
different ways of looking at mental health problems, espeically with children.
Side Effects of medications:
The most common side effects of stimulant medications are insomnia or depression. Also, jitteriness, facial
tics, and emotional sensitivity can also result from use of stimulant medications in children. Depression might be
more common with prolonged usage.
At times, there have been a very serious side effects with medicines for ADHD, such as
deaths associated with heart failure for children who have undetected heart problems. The testing for such congenital heart
defects is expensive and cost prohibitive, so testing for heart defects is generally not conducted when stimulant
medications are administered. Also, in 1 out of 1,000 cases, schizophrenia like symptoms have resulted from usage of stimulant
medications, bizarre behavior, voices, delusions.
For
most children, there will be serious side effects, with medication use:
School is usually where ADHD is first diagnosed in children.
* Boys with ADHD
outnumber
girls at least 2 to 1
* Up to 10% of children in some states
are diagnosed with ADHD.
Some other children's disorders:
*
Up to 10% of children in some states
are on psychotropic medications
* New Jersey has the highest
rate of
autism in the nation, with over 10 in 1,000
of children diagnosed with this
disorder.
Medications have not proven to be an
effective aid for children with autism.
ADHD can
be overcome. There are many positive steps that can be taken not only to control the symptoms but also to live a normal,
healthy life without the need to take daily medication. The more support a family has, the better they are to cope.
Children
with ADHD need positive, interactive educational instruction. They need attentive teachers, preferably, smaller classroom
settings. They often need one on one assistance. Tutoring, coaching, mentoring all positive areas of assistance in helping
children with ADHD.
One
reading coach who has worked with hundreds of students over the years with both learning disabilities and ADHD says that in
even the children that she has tutored with the worst ADHD symptoms, with support from professionals and from dedicated parents,
those whom she has worked with have been able to be successful in school without the need for medication to “help them
focus”.
One student with severe ADHD symptoms went on to successfully complete college, with
support from others for his special needs and without medication. Many other similar experiences have been reported.
Positive Attitude and Positive Teaching
The National Resource Center for CHADD gives this encouragement in an article entitled, “Science Update: Positive
Outlook and College Success: “A recent study by researchers at the Landmark
College (Putney, VT) found the “explanatory style” of college students with ADHD and/or LD (Learning Disabilities)
may have an effect on their grades. Students who have positive explanatory skills, that is they interpret what they see or
read in a positive way, with the same disabilities, do better in their grades than those who have a negative attitude or interpretation.
When a student has the attitude “I can do this: this problem will be fixed if I keep trying,” they are much more
likely to learn and succeed in education.
This
is an attitude that must be encouraged by parents at home, “You can succeed, You can finish, You can overcome this,”
and by teachers, if there are in a teacher’s eyes 20 negative points in a day for a student and one positive, focus
on the one positive.
If a teacher
tells a student every day, "you are misbehaved, you are no good, you never do anything in here, what’s wrong with you,”
a child or teenager can start to think, “why bother trying,” and take that attitude along with them for the rest
of their life. Often times, a child, teenager and even an adult with ADHD needs someone to believe in them and who focuses
on their positive traits to help them to develop self-esteem and a positive self-image.
Television,
video games and movies: It is generally believed that there is a connection
between ADHD and excessive television, video games and movies, the media. A 1994 study indicated that for every additional
hour of television children watched, there was a corresponding likelihood of diagnosis of ADHD symptoms. If children’s
television time can be diverted into other positive recreational forms, it can be helpful.
Some children play 2-6 hours of video games daily. An hour a day on the media is plenty for any child.
Content:
Violence effects children's mental health. There are some very violent horror movies that many children regularly watch on
televion and in the movies. This will effect many children emotionally. Parents need to be aware of this, and also to be aware
of what their children are watching when they are not at home. Many children and teens are being exposed to pornography, often
at pre-teen years. For some children, this is as young as eight years old. This does effect their mental health, and their
ability to concentrate. Children who have been sexually abused have also been mistakenly treated for ADHD. This would not
be the appropriate treatment. Therapy and loving support is needed for such children. For some sensitive children, exposure
to "dark" influences, magic or forms of spiritism or occultism is is evident in many popular books, (Harry Potter one example),
and movies, as well as television programs, can make it difficult for them to concentrate on school work. (this has been observed
with some children in grade schools.)
Music:
For teenagers, and some children, music is a most powerful influence. Helping a teenager to be balanced in the amount of time
as well as the type of music he or she listens to can be of help for some.
Exercise:
Studies indicate that time spent outdoors, Green Therapy, or exercise, can greatly reduce ADHD symptoms in children
and teens.
Art:
Art has proven to be effective therapy for children with ADHD symptoms. The concentration required helps to exercise the mind
of children (as opposed to the rapid-fire imagery of television, action movies, cartoons, superheros, and television commercials.)
Diet:
is said to be a contributing factor in 5-10% of cases of ADHD. Make sure a child
is having a good lunch and breakfast. Cutting down on sugar, soda, sweets, can be of some help. A good, healthy, and balanced
diet is of value.
Coaching, Tutoring and Therapy: Support in the form of tutoring, coaching or professional
therapy can all be of help for children, very often negating the need for medications. A professional ADHD coach can be of
much help for children, as can tutors. The local library may have tutoring programs, or you can contact one of these organizations
about coaching:
IAAC
www.adhdcoachinstitute.orge CO-(ADHD Coaches Organization)
www.adhdcoaches.org
ICF
www.coachfederation.org
ADD
Coach Academy
RECOMMENDED BOOK
FOR CHILDREN:
I Can Draw
by Terry Longhurst
Amanda O'Neill
Paragon Publishing 2000.
Excellent book to teach children 4-15 to draw.
Color, illustrated, animals, human figures. Simple, wonderfully illustrated.
For wonderful children' art see:
http://www.naturalchild.org/gallery/
