Coping With Attention Deficit Disorder
Essentially, ADD affects a person’s ability to concentrate. Their mind wanders constantly, and it is hard for them to focus on tasks that don’t interest them. Often, they have no trouble with hobbies or interests that keep them occupied, but when sitting in class, for instance, they might not be able to stay focused on the lesson.
Behavioral problems are often associated with ADD because children with the disorder act out when they get frustrated. Trying to do math homework, for example, might be next-to-impossible because they don’t enjoy the subject and it requires acute concentration. When they get frustrated, they might yell or throw tantrums or refuse to complete the assignment.
ADD is not significantly debilitating to have special classes for students, but regular learning techniques do not always work. Teachers who aren’t trained in ADD and who don’t understand the effects of the disorder will just assume that the student has a behavior problem, which couldn’t be farther from the truth.
Many parents resort to medication like Ridalin and Attoral, which I think are more detrimental than beneficial. Given the smallest discrepency in dosage, these drugs can drain your child of personality and render him or her almost incapable of functioning in a normal capacity. They might become listless, and want to sleep all the time. They will lose interest even in those things that they used to love.
My advice, as always, is to get to the root of the problem. ADD affects the ability to concentrate, so help your child to concentrate.
First, try teaching word association tricks. If your child needs to memorize something for class, show him or her how to make it exciting. This will focus them on something other than just regular memorization, and might allow them to overcome their ADD (not permanently, but for this assignment).
I also recommend hiring a tutor for your child, and be sure to find someone who has experience with kids who are troubled by ADD. Let the tutor work with your child two or three days every week to be sure that schoolwork is completed and that concepts are understood. That way, if your child misses something in class, they can always work on it with their tutor.
It is important that you play an active roll in your child’s development. Keep on top off his or her progress at school, and talk with teachers if necessary. If there is a problem with a particular subject, then have his or her tutor concentrate on that for a few weeks until your child catches up.
In case your doctor hasn’t emphasized it enough, ADD is not a ‘mental disorder.’ It doesn’t mean that your child is retarded or slow or even incapable of learning as much as any other child. ADD is a learning disorder that impairs the brain’s ability to concentrate, as I said at the beginning. And just with all learning disorders, there are ways around the problem.
You should also remember to be your child’s “defender.” If teachers, principals, or other adults make disparaging remarks about children with ADD, take it upon yourself to educate them. Ignorance about the subject is a common source for depression among children with the disorder, and people who are involved with children should know what they are talking about and be educated on the subject.
You might also want to get involved with other parents who have children with ADD. There is nothing like a support group to keep you motivated and positive, and you can share ideas with one another that everyone may not have already considered. Keeping yourself under control and not letting stress get to you will greatly improve your relationship with your child, and your positivity will rub off on those who have the disorder.
And finally, if you have other children who do not have ADD, make sure that they understand what it is so that they don’t become frustrated as well. It can be tough for siblings to understand why their brother or sister has difficulty in school, and you want to eliminate the possibility of teasing and cruelty among siblings.
