ADHD Guide

CrazyChick asked:


In the past three days, since my four-year-old changed classes in his daycare twice in two weeks, he’s been getting in trouble for not minding the teacher and just generally being difficult. So they moved him back to the three-year-old room when the afternoon teacher was having trouble with him. When I called to complain about him being sent BACK to the younger class, the woman I spoke to in the office (not the teacher, she had already left) suggested “maybe it’s his ADHD…..”

He’s never been diagnosed with ADHD, and he’s never had discipline problems other than the occasional time-out, in any of his classes, or at home. And he minds the morning teacher.

I think the problem stems from him not handling change well (never has) and being shuffled from class to class in a very short time, and every move makes it worse.

Even if he’s never shown signs of it before, and it’s been only three days, is it something that can be brought on by circumstances, or just naturally?
Thanks everyone. We had a conference with the morning teacher (he behaves pretty well for), two former teachers (who were more than happy to testify that with a few exceptions, usually around major changes, he never had behavioral issues) and the office worker I spoke with. All three teachers said they think that afternoon teacher is possibly in over her head, and that even if he DID have ADHD, part of the package of working with children is to deal with that and provide them an education as well. They also pointed out that ALL of the kids are acting unusual right now, because of the change of class and routine, by being moody, regressing in potty-training, or acting out.

Long story not so short, they’re going to call me if there are more issues, and that teacher is NOT to single him out and hold him back like that again.

Ben

Rachel Broune asked:


Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is the name of a group of behaviors found in many children and adults. This is mostly occur in boys than in girls. These behaviors contribute to significant problems in relationships, learning and behavior. About half of children who have ADHD continue to be easily distracted, have mood swings, hot tempers and are unable to complete tasks. There must be clear evidence of clinically significant impairment in social, academic, or occupational functioning.

The causes of the child ADHD are food allergies, depression, genetics, diet, undetected seizures. The very real need for structure with a child with ADD the desperate need for rebuilding and maintaining self esteem and far from least, names of organizations and educational institutions which would be of value not only to your child but to yourself as a parent. Childhood ADHD is diagnosed after a child has shown six or more specific symptoms of inactivity and/or hyperactivity on a regular basis for more than six months in more than two settings.

Types of Child ADHD

There are three types of the child ADHD. They are as follows

Combination of Inattentive/Hyperactive/Impulsive Child ADHD

Combination of Hyperactive/Impulsive Type Child ADHD

Inattentive Type Child ADHD

Symptoms of Child ADHD

Difficulty following instructions

Loses things necessary for tasks or activities

Low concentration

Have difficulty playing quietly.

Talks excessively

Forgets things

Do not finish tasks.

Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work, or other activities.

Prevention for Child ADHD

Set specific times for waking up, eating, playing, doing homework, doing chores, watching TV or playing video games, and going to bed. Post the schedule where your child will always see it. Explain any changes to the routine in advance.

Use More Immediate Consequences - ADHD children require more immediate feedback or consequences for their behavior and activities than do normal children.This feedback must be clear, specific, and occur as close in time after the behavior that is the target of change as circumstances permit, if it is to be maximally effective in developing and maintaining positive behaviors in ADHD children.

Reward your child when he or she tries to finish school work, not just for good grades. You can give extra rewards for earning better grades.

Diagnosis of Child ADHD

The diagnosis of ADHD involves the gathering of information from several sources, including school, caregivers, and parents. Your childs primary care doctor can determine whether your child has ADHD using standard guidelines developed by the American Academy of Pediatrics. These diagnosis guidelines are for children 6 to 12 years of age.

Treatment for Child ADHD

All doctors across the board - agree that ADHD medications are not the cure for Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder and A.D.D., but simply a means of minimizing the symptoms.

A team effort, with parents, teachers and doctors working together, is the best way to help your child.

The long-term treatment with a combination of medications and behavioral therapy is far superior to just medication treatment.

Some children benefit from counseling or from structured therapy.

Bessie

shelia j asked:


My nine year old can not read or remember how to spell little words like as and on. She also having major problems with complicated sorting that other children younger then her can do. The school says it is because she is not on medication for her ADHD. She has a younger sister who has ADHD and is not on medication and she is doing well in school. Can ADHD cause all her problems or is there something else going on.

Joy

Alvin Toh asked:


ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a common psychological disorder that often becomes perceptible once a child starts preschool. Millions of children are diagnosed with ADHD each year, many of them before the age of six. The most prevalent form of treatment is typically prescription medication, which may help to reduce the symptoms of ADHD so the child can function normally in a school setting. Unfortunately, drug medications are not without side effects and can be addictive. For these reasons, many parents seek treatment for ADHD through behavior therapy.

Behavioral therapy, also known as behavior management, is shown to have positive results on ADHD children. The goal of behavior therapy in ADHD children is to increase the desired behaviors. This is typically achieved through using positive reinforcements when the child acts appropriately. The first step of therapy is typically to improve the relationship between the child and the parents. This is coupled with providing negative consequences and positive reinforcements to help the child increase his or her interest in pleasing the parents.

Part of the success of behavior therapy for ADHD children lies in the active interest and support of the child’s parents. Parents need to take an active role in making the therapy work for their child. This includes making and following a game plan to which both parents need to use to help guide the child to success. Parents should discuss the ongoing therapy with the doctor to ensure that the program is working for their child.

One of the most important factors in using behavioral therapy is to identify the problem early and start treatment as soon as possible. Even very young ADHD children will benefit from some form of behavioral therapy. One problem has always been early detection of ADHD in children. In the past small children that had disciplinary problems may have been expelled and told to wait until they matured slightly to enter pre-school.

Recent studies have found that when behavior therapy is started very young it can be quite successful as an alternative treatment for ADHD. In a 5-year study conducted by researchers at Lehigh University, Pennsylvania, 135 preschoolers with ADHD were treated with a variety of behavior-only therapies. After a year, researchers found that the children’s behavior and learning had improved by about 30 percent. The most effective techniques are based on consistency in rules and routine when dealing with good and bad behaviors.

In many cases, ADHD children can be treated successfully without the use of medications or through the use of reduced medication coupled with behavior therapy. ADHD children respond well the younger they are when they are diagnosed and treated. If you have concerns about whether or not your child is exhibiting symptoms of ADHD you should consult with a doctor. A qualified specialist can perform simple tests to determine if the child has ADHD and if so the severity of the condition.

Floyd

Derek H asked:


I’m have an appointment with my primary care physician to be screened for adult ADHD. Does anyone know what he will do in order to test and diagnose me?

Stanley

Mitamins Team asked:


It is startling to know that 3 to 7 percent of children in the US suffer from ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This means it affects over 2 million children in America, that is, one in every class of 25 would have ADHD. This condition is usually diagnosed in the pre-school and early school years. Children with these symptoms are unusually fidgety and restless. They could even have problems paying attention in school, waiting in lines or taking turns. Some children could be very aggressive. ADHD is usually diagnosed more in boys that girls, but that could be because girls tend to be quieter and less aggressive than boys. In girls it could manifest itself as talkativeness rather than aggression.

The U.S. Surgeon General has defined ADHD as a metabolic form of encephalopathy. The disease weakens the release and homeostasis of neurological chemicals, reducing the function of the limbic system. Other relevant research however points out that some part of the brain could be involved. These are the frontal lobes, their connections to the basal ganglia, the central aspects of the cerebellum and the middle or medial aspect of the frontal lobe.

Four types of ADHD types have been recognized. These are the Predominantly Inattentive, Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive, and Combined Type of ADHD (hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive) and ADHD Not Otherwise Specified. As a person gets older, the symptoms of ADHD could reduce, but many children diagnosed with ADHD retain this disorder into adulthood too. It is then known as Adult Attention-Deficit Disorder or AADD. In adults, it manifests itself in the need to be physically busy all time, excessive talking, interrupting others, risk taking, speaking out without regard to the consequences and even daydreaming.

The research into the causes of ADHD has thrown up a number of issues. Primarily it seems that both genetic and environmental factors play a role in ADHD. Significantly, research has shown that many critical food deficiencies could cause the problem. These could be as varied as deficiency of essential Omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidant vitamins like Vitamin C, iron and even zinc. This suggests a role for suppmentation in the treatment of ADHD

Omega 3 deficiency may lead to behavioral problems that are linked with ADHD. Some ADHD children show other symptoms connected with Omega 3 deficiency, such as dry skin and hair, thirst and even frequent urination. Trials in supplementing Omega 3 in children with ADHD revealed some surprising results. Over a period of time, fish oil supplements were given to a group of children and a placebo to another set. The children with fish oil supplements showed remarkable improvements in attentiveness and other attributes. Academic results were much better with better scores in reading, spelling, mathematics and other skills. No such improvements were seen in children given the placebo. Thus Omega 3 rich supplements such as fish oil could be a solution to help children with ADHD. Some researchers feel babies who are breast-fed have a lower chance of developing ADHD later because it is rich in Omega 3.

Children with ADHD usually suffer from food allergies. They could be losing vital vitamins, iron and even zinc because of their allergy to dairy products, wheat, corn, yeast, soy, citrus, eggs, chocolate, peanuts and artificial colors and preservatives. It has been seen that ADHD children lose zinc when exposed to a food dye. In a study that eliminated these allergens in the diet of some children, the majority of the children showed lower levels of hyperactivity. Once these were added back to diet, the problems associated with ADHD once again returned.

Research has also shown that iron levels are low in children suffering from ADHD. The children’s serum ferritin levels were measured to determine their iron status. It was seen that one-third of the ADHD children had a very low range of iron levels. It was noticed that the lower the iron levels, the higher were the severity of the ADHD symptoms. The researchers concluded that low iron stores might explain some ADHD cases. Iron supplements could be given but proper testing is required before doing so, because excess iron stored in the body can cause several other problems.

Supplements of zinc and zinc sulpahate have proved successful in the treatment of ADHD in small trials - more results are awaited. In the mean time, a good idea would be to remove additives from the diet along with all foods that the child could be allergic to. This could improve the absorption of natural zinc present in foods.

Vitamin C could also be supplemented in the treatment of ADHD, because sometimes it is not easily absorbed from natural foods. However, once again it might be good idea to remove additives and allergy-causing foods from the diet. This would result in better Vitamin C absorption.

Most ADHD children are on some prescribed drug or the other. Should drug interactions with dietary supplements be a concern? New research indicates that more often than not, mixing doesn’t produce side effects that are serious enough to warrant concern.

Most research indicates that a balanced diet rich in omega 3, antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, free from toxins, would be beneficial in the treatment of ADHD in children. What goes in seems to be so important to the proper functioning of the body and mind.

Maurice

jlyn2187 asked:


I was told by my boss that she thinks that I have ADD or ADHD….I can’t focus on just one thing at a time…And my knee always bounces up and down….Any ideas?

Deborah

steffi32086 asked:


I watch a little boy who has ADHD and homework is always a chore. He cries and makes up non stop excuses. I have to bribe him to do it and even that doesn’t work all the time. I was just wondering if anyone has any tips that have worked on kids. Thanks!

Valerie

ryk2051 asked:


I just met a grade seven kid who has ADHD (Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder).
Once in a while we go to church together, but he does all the symptoms of an adhd kid… I have to be seated away from my family and his sister with him so he’ll be less adhd-ish.
What do I do instead of of saying ‘no’ or try to make him sit still all the time? I unintentionally laugh at what he does which i think encourages him = =;;;
How should I act around him in general?

Dustin

ImJustNobodY asked:


And well, I just wonder why does kids with ADHD need to go to special school, as Autistic ones? I mean, I thought that with ADHD has no effect on development skills as Autistism?

Martin