Coping With a Child That Has ADHD

ADHD, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a condition characterized by developmentally inappropriate impulsivity, inattention, and in some...

ADHD, or attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, is a condition characterized by developmentally inappropriate impulsivity, inattention, and in some cases, hyperactivity. The behavior can affect academic performance in school, as well as relationships with other people.

It is still not known what causes ADHD, but research has shown that it is a neurological condition. An array of biological factors may bring it about. ADHD has a tendency to run in families, so it may be hereditary. Just as there is no identified cause, there is no cure for it. It can only be managed. It is a lifetime thing but it does not mean that the future is bleak for people with ADHD.

ADHD in Children

Children with ADHD can grow up to be as successful as anyone else. Suspected to have had the disorder were Albert Einstein, Amadeus Mozart, Thomas Edison, and Benjamin Franklin. People with ADHD are more creative than other individuals because they don’t feel boxed in by convention. They are free to think. They can become very good painters, writers, storytellers, chefs, and musicians, among other things.

But there is the other side of the coin. When not properly guided and treated, people with ADHD are prone to school failure, depression, disorderly conduct, failed relationships, and substance abuse. This is because other people regard them as weird, lazy, crazy, or bad – and they begin to think that they are.

It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. They start believing they are “bad” when in fact they just have ADHD. That is why it is important to diagnose the condition early on.

Guiding your child

1. Have structures at home. There should be rules to follow and consequences for inappropriate behavior. For them to know what impulsivity means, ADHD children have to learn lessons on consequences. There should be no special treatment. The method of discipline should be the same for all. Firmness is important, as well as consistency and constancy.

2. Teach them to organize. ADHD children cannot focus on one thing. Introduce them early to planners. Give them a desk, a corner, or a space all their own. They need routine, so keep a schedule. Warn them beforehand if the routine will change.

3. Teach them how to read other people’s behavior. Because they are inattentive, ADHD children may not understand what another person is trying to tell them. They may not know that a frown may mean disapproval. They may not even notice the frown at all. Help them become sensitive to others by taking note of other people’s body language.

4. Teach them to say no to others early on. Because they are impulsive, they have a tendency to say yes all the time; they don’t think about consequences.

5. Teach them to focus. Watching TV or playing on the computer by himself will not help the ADHD child, especially if he is below eight years old. They see colorful images changing fast, and will find books dull since there are no colorful, fast-changing pictures. Be wary of getting them hyper-focused, though. Give them cues to let them know that they are spending too much time on a detail and that they should move on.

6. Steer them toward careers that would bring out the best in them, like fine arts, advertising, culinary arts, and music. Their positive traits can be celebrated in creative endeavors. Don’t put them in accounting, engineering, or architecture where they have to sit down and do heavy planning and focusing.

It can’t be denied that living with ADHD is challenging. But however trying it can become, you should remain your children’s most ardent supporter. Don’t see it as a disorder; see it as a difference. Your children just look at things differently. If properly nurtured and guided, their traits can be tapped and they may actually change the world by their potential to do so much.