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Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)
June 2, 2011 | 3 Comments
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a behavioural disorder associated with inattentiveness, over-activity, impulsivity, or a combination of all these characteristics. Generally, those diagnosed with ADHD have three major symptoms as discussed earlier. It can be detected at an early age when the child has difficulty to concentrate, listen and attend to details. He/she can be easily distracted by other things and is slightly disorganized as well as forgetful. Besides that, the child may have trouble waiting or sharing their objects with others due to impatience. And of course, they are constantly moving or fidgeting because the child cannot sit still at one place. He/she talks excessively without considering those people surrounding them. ADHD may run in families but there are other factors causing a child to suffer from ADHD.
Reports indicated that ADHD is more prevalent among boys (four to nine times) than in girls. Experts said children with this behavioural disorder perform better with male teachers because the teachers talk less as compared to female peers. Other than that, male teachers also have a different teaching style that enhances disorganized children to pay attention. Surprisingly, fathers are also more tolerant with the child’s behavior than mothers. Some reported child diagnosed with ADHD fall back academically due to poor concentration in class and they also struggle socially due to communication problems with those of their age. A study conducted by National Institute of Mental Health (NIH) found that girls with ADHD are more likely to have inattentive symptoms and display higher levels of mood swings and anxiety disorders. Affected girls are at higher risk of increased alcohol and drug usage.
If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, it is important for you to work constructively with teachers. And here are some practical guides for parents to handle ADHD kids without blowing a gasket – don’t punish them and try to distinguish between rebellion and distraction, perform all chores with love, incorporate positive values, be consistent among all your children and give the child something in hand to fidget as it helps to calm their emotions.
- do all things in love.
- positive reinforcement – let them become addicted to earning advancements, etc., as well as more immediate rewards. Go out of your way to catch them doing something well, and reward them for it immediately.
- discernment between rebellion and distraction: don’t punish mere distraction the same as rebellion.
- teaching/learning styles – don’t just stand in front of the class and drone in a monotone about something. Use hands-on and multimedia teaching techniques. When you talk, tell interesting stories (parables, etc.), like Jesus does.
- attention spans and dead time – “dead time” is an indication of poor preparation on the leader’s part, and has dreadful consequences with respect to classroom control and keeping kids’ attention focused. This is even more true with TV-trained kids.
- “pacifiers” – tangible rewards in hand and/or something to fidget with constructively can be helpful.
- classroom management – this is very important. Catch a session on this subject at this seminar, if you can.
- be careful what you say! – you frame your future and affect every child’s self-esteem and success by what you say.
- set consistent limits, and stick to them. Make sure that you don’t let your anger point be your limit line, because the limit line will be tested many times.
- don’t let repeating instructions and repeatedly challenging rules violations bother you.
- be consistent and fair among all of the children.