How to handle children with ADD?
ADD is a behavior and attention related ailment. Children with ADD exhibit troublesome and impulsive behavior, which can be extremely disturbing and annoying to the parents. It must be understood that the traditional “carrot and stick” type of guidance may not be effective with ADD afflicted children. They will require a far more serious and detailed approach of guidance. It is also important to understand that ADD in children is not because of bad parenting; the actual causes and reasons for ADD is still not determined and is a subject of intense scientific research. Parents can take heart from the fact that children with ADD can be controlled and can also be taught to cope with their affliction. The role played by the parents in the treatment of children with ADD is very important for the overall success of the treatment. Apart from following the treatment regimen religiously, parents must also be prepared to make some sacrifices of their own. They must be extremely patient and must not lose heart if the children are not responding to their instructions. Children with ADD may be incapable of grasping concepts and instructions, so, the parents must be very patient and perseverant with their wards.
What are the ADD symptoms and how are they diagnosed?
ADD in children can be symptomized by behavioral traits like impulsiveness, hyperactivity, inattentiveness, lethargy, etc. ADD symptoms in children can be contradictory in nature and can confuse parents. The same child can be lethargic and inattentive but can also be hyperactive and impulsive on other occasions. It is very difficult to diagnose these symptoms and associate them with the ADD disease. It is therefore important to seek expert medical advice for the diagnosis. ADD symptoms can also be easily confused with the general behavioral traits of children and this is the primary reason for the non diagnosis of this disease in the early stages.
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How is ADD treatment done?
ADD is a complex disease and involves different and often, contradictory symptoms in people. This affliction is diagnosed and treated from childhood onwards; this makes the issue of treatment and medication, even more sensitive because it involves children. There is also a real risk of wrongly treated children, o carry the repercussions throughout their lives. So, the diagnosis, treatment methodology, medication and duration can only be determined by professionals. The treatment methodology is also highly individualized because every ADD afflicted child needs special diagnosis, attention and treatment. In general, ADD treatment involves combination of behavioral therapies, life style changes and medication. The emphasis is laid more on the life style changes and behavioral therapy because strong medication for children can lead to side effects that can last for their entire life time. Also, behavioral training can help the children in coping with their affliction in better way. Behavioral training can include many exercises that can help children to control their hyperactivity, impulsive behavior and also help them improve their concentration. The exercises can vary for each individual child, to suit the specific needs. Behavioral training must be continued religiously, without any breaks so that children get an opportunity to incorporate these changes into their routines.
What is ADD in children?
Attention deficit disorder or ADD is a combination of hyperactivity and lack of attention and is commonly diagnosed in children below the age of seven. The symptoms appear from age three onwards and the disorder continues into adulthood with many of the people. ADD in children makes hem unable to pay attention or concentrate on things for a longer time. This short attention span is also accompanied by isolated instances of impulsive behavior. This disease is also called disruptive behavioral disorder because children afflicted by it are unable to act and behave in conformation to the societal and socially acceptable behavioral norms. They behave and act impulsively and this can sometimes be against accepted practices. It is estimated that more than around 4% of children in the world are affected by ADD. It is also understood that the symptoms are more visible, within a couple of years of joining school. According to statistics, more male children are afflicted by ADD than girls but scientists point out that this may be due to biased reference by teachers who could find male children al little more difficult to handle than girls. It is more likely that ADD in children afflicts both boys and girls equally but the numbers of reported cases are more for boys.
