ADHD

Psychology 105
March 03, 2013
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) Through constant reminders to complete simple task, and feelings of disappointment are a few of the much emotional turmoil that a child goes through with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). Besides the inability to complete task and the feeling of disappointment, kids living with ADHD have to continuously communicate with the people they live with. Living with a child that has ADHD is just as hard as having ADHD yourself. Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder has three categories; combined (most common type), inattentive (known as ADD) and hyperactive-impulsive (hyperactivity without attention). Inattentive has the following symptoms: does not pay close attention to details often makes simple mistakes, has trouble paying attention, appears not listen, problems with following instructions or directions, difficulties in organization, tries to work on things that require a lot of mental effort, very distracted, loses things and forgetfulness’s. Hyperactive-impulsive contains the following symptoms: fidgety with hands or feet, cannot sit down or squeamish, runs around or climbs on everything, constant running around, inability to stay quite during activities, keeps talking like a motor install on him/her, interrupts others, and blurts out answers before the questions have been completed. Combined is self-explanatory, is the combination of inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive categories (http://www.help4adhd.org/en/treatment/guides/dsm). These symptoms are hard for child to grow out and to control but the biggest difficulty is trying to get the family to understand you and have understanding. Getting the family to be compassionate and understandable to the child that has ADHD is very hard. My oldest son was diagnosed with ADHD when he was 7 years old, and seven years later we are still going through difficult times. My son is very smart, intelligent but there are times you wonder why or how can you think or act like something even though he knows what he is doing. There will be numerous times he and I would have conversations and he would completely forget what we have talked about or doesn’t understand. It could be putting the dishes away or why didn’t you pick up your clothes from the bedroom. As I had stated earlier it has been a long seven years; there have been many of times my wife has to remind me that he has ADHD and I cannot treat him like a normal teenager. We have set routines that require not only for us to discipline our son with, but be disciplined ourselves as well. Setting timers to get ready in the morning and making schedules throughout the day to help teach him to be consistent and disciplined in his everyday life and activates. So by the time he can get his routines down the timer not always has to be put in place he is able to work through it and remember and to be organized. We have found out that taking him to psychologist has been a great help to teach him about impulsive behavior, and to learn how to learn to navigate through certain life situations and be able to slow down before making some rapid decision and learning what pros and cons our through behavioral therapy. Another great tool we have learned to use with him is maybe not as most parents think is a good idea, but with children like him it makes sense. When instructing him to do something you want done for example to clean we give him a choice a or b and he has to choose. Most parents would not give a child a choice if you were dealing with a “normal” behaving child. The meaning behind it is it gives him the sense of control and he has the power to choose but in reality he is learning to think through his decision and the consequences of if he doesn’t follow through and gives him the sense of accomplishment that he can do it. Having him involved in sports has helped him out in school and at home. It is a great outlet for a child with hyperactivity and to let some of that energy out. Being outdoors is almost therapeutic because being surrounding by greenery gives a sense of calmness. We told him that we want better grades and if he keeps a grade of B or higher then he can stay in football. By doing this his motivation to get his school work done and turn things on time has increased. His attitude toward everyone in the house has gotten a lot better. These are only a few of my experiences with dealing with ADHD, and they are not over with, not by a long shot. I love my son but there are times I wish I can take the ADHD out of him. My wife and I strongly believe that ADHD should not be used as a crutch or to hinder him from achieving his goals and aspirations. People think that you can outgrow Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder which is not true. If diagnosed early, that child would be able to get the proper treatments which can help the child control and maintain his/her ADHD. Diet is also important. According to two researchers from Children 's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, a relatively simple diet low in fats and high in whole grains, fruits, and vegetables is one of the best alternatives to drug therapy for ADHD. Omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acid supplements have also been shown to help in some controlled studies, they noted. (http://abcnews.go.com/Health/w_ParentingResource/healthy-diet-best-adhd-kids/story?id=15320571)While medicine cannot cure ADHD, it can help alleviate some of the symptoms and allow children to more easily learn important life skills, which allow for later success. A long range study by the National Institute of Health on effective ADHD treatment found behavioral interventions with medication were the most effective treatment for ADHD. (www.adhadaware.org)The effects of ADHD should not be as severe as an adult like it was as a child. If not diagnosed early but later in life, it can cause serious damage to oneself in relationships, the workforce and overall quality of life. Having a good support system as a child learns to navigate through ADHD can help improve their quality of life as well. ADHD I believe should not be viewed as a totally negative thing many children grow up and become very successful adults and contributors of society. Being positive and teaching your child with proper medical intervention can help tremendously with this disorder.

References
ADHD Mythbusters* » ADHD Aware. (n.d.). Home » ADHD Aware. Retrieved February 2013, from http://www.adhdaware.org/understanding-adhd/adhd-mythbusters/?gclid=COnx3sjL37UCFYFxQgodQDEAmw
Alexander-Roberts, C. (2006). The AD/HD parenting handbook: Practical advice for parents from parents. Lanham: Taylor Trade Pub.
CHADD Live | Understanding ADHD. (n.d.). CHADD Live | Home Page. Retrieved February 2013, from http://www.chadd.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Understanding
Deans, E. (2011, June 26). How Does Diet Affect Symptoms of ADHD? | Psychology Today. Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist. Retrieved February 2013, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201106/how-does-diet-affect-symptoms-adhd
Gever, J. (2012, January 9). 'Healthy ' Diet Best for ADHD Kids - ABC News. ABCNews.com - Breaking News, Latest News & Top Video News - ABC News. Retrieved February 2013, from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/w_ParentingResource/healthy-diet-best-adhd-kids/story?id=15320571
Katz, M. (n.d.). Symptoms of ADHD/ADD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). WebMD - Better information. Better health. Retrieved February 21, 2013, from http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/adhd-symptoms

Smith, M., & Segal, R. (2012, December). ADD / ADHD in Children: Signs & Symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder. Helpguide helps you help yourself and others. Retrieved February 2013, from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_signs_symptoms.htm
Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria. (n.d.). National Resource Center on AD/HD: A Program of CHADD. Retrieved February 2013, from http://www.help4adhd.org/en/treatment/guides/dsm
Zimbardo, P. G., Johnson, R. L., & McCann, V. (2011). Psychology: Core Concepts (6th ed.). Person Custom Publishing.

References: ADHD Mythbusters* » ADHD Aware. (n.d.). Home » ADHD Aware. Retrieved February 2013, from http://www.adhdaware.org/understanding-adhd/adhd-mythbusters/?gclid=COnx3sjL37UCFYFxQgodQDEAmw Alexander-Roberts, C. (2006). The AD/HD parenting handbook: Practical advice for parents from parents. Lanham: Taylor Trade Pub. CHADD Live | Understanding ADHD. (n.d.). CHADD Live | Home Page. Retrieved February 2013, from http://www.chadd.org/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Understanding Deans, E. (2011, June 26). How Does Diet Affect Symptoms of ADHD? | Psychology Today. Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist. Retrieved February 2013, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/evolutionary-psychiatry/201106/how-does-diet-affect-symptoms-adhd Gever, J. (2012, January 9). 'Healthy ' Diet Best for ADHD Kids - ABC News. ABCNews.com - Breaking News, Latest News & Top Video News - ABC News. Retrieved February 2013, from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/w_ParentingResource/healthy-diet-best-adhd-kids/story?id=15320571 Katz, M. (n.d.). Symptoms of ADHD/ADD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). WebMD - Better information. Better health. Retrieved February 21, 2013, from http://www.webmd.com/add-adhd/guide/adhd-symptoms Smith, M., & Segal, R. (2012, December). ADD / ADHD in Children: Signs & Symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder. Helpguide helps you help yourself and others. Retrieved February 2013, from http://www.helpguide.org/mental/adhd_add_signs_symptoms.htm Symptoms and Diagnostic Criteria. (n.d.). National Resource Center on AD/HD: A Program of CHADD. Retrieved February 2013, from http://www.help4adhd.org/en/treatment/guides/dsm Zimbardo, P. G., Johnson, R. L., & McCann, V. (2011). Psychology: Core Concepts (6th ed.). Person Custom Publishing.