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RESOURCES - Articles
Attention-deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder — Q&A
What is attention-deficit hyperactivity
disorder (ADHD)?
ADHD refers to youngsters who have difficulty with inattention, impulsivity,
and overactivity. Approximately three to five percent of children have an attention-deficit
disorder, either with or without hyperactivity. The disorder affects a child’s
ability to concentrate, learn and maintain a normal level of activity. In about
half of all cases, children first show signs of ADHD before the age of four.
How can you tell if a youngster has ADHD?
If a child can’t seem to do a thing he’s told, and consistently starts
projects but doesn’t finish them, this hints at problems with paying attention.
If he constantly interrupts and butts into other people’s activities despite
reprimands, and if he has very frequent accidents such as knocking over a full
pitcher or grabbing a hot pan off the stove, this suggests unusual impulsivity.
If all his play involves deafening noise, and if he’s totally unable to
sit still through a meal or a movie, this indicates possible hyperactivity.
Why is it so often in school that a kid is first identified as having ADHD?
School may be the child’s real downfall because the typical school day
demands a measure of self-control. Even after weeks or months in school, the
kid with ADHD can’t fit into the mold. Because his everyday behavior antagonizes
the teacher and alienates the other kids, he stands out as a "bad apple." Teachers
and principals, who are trained to suspect ADHD in a child who is having school
problems, may refer a youngster to a school psychologist for a special evaluation.
Couldn’t he pay attention if he really wanted to?
It’s not that these youngsters cannot ever pay attention but it requires
a lot of extra effort. Their level of attention can vary with different situations.
Some youngsters may have difficulty sitting in their seat, while others may be
able to sit but are very fidgety and restless.
Is ADHD the result of poor parenting?
No, it’s not. The cause of the disorder is not yet known but it appears
to be a biologically based illness. A comfortable lifestyle, highly educated
parents, a functioning, intact family — none of these seem to lower the
incidence of ADHD.
Are children with ADHD at risk for other mental illnesses?
Studies indicate that children with ADHD are at risk for antisocial disorders
and substance abuse in later years. Children with ADHD are also at high risk
of academic failure, even if they don’t have a learning disability. Such
failure can lead to demoralization, which can contribute to more serious problems
later in life.
How do you treat ADHD?
Treatment must address the biological, psychosocial, and educational aspects
of the disorder. The mainstay of treatment is medication as part of a comprehensive
plan of treatment including ongoing evaluation and medical psychotherapy for
the child, help for the family, and consultation with teachers. While children
and their parents find it difficult to take daily medications, doctors have found
that certain medications produce extraordinary results — enabling troublesome
kids to study — and earn high marks in school.
What happens if ADHD goes untreated?
Without proper treatment, the child may fall behind in schoolwork, and friendships
may suffer because of poor cooperation in playing and other social activities.
Self-esteem suffers because the child experiences more failure than success and
is criticized by teachers and family who do not recognize a health problem. With
proper treatment, the story of ADHD can have a happy ending.
Foundations Behavioral Health
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