ADD/ADHD & Related Disorders: Is This For Real?
Articles
Researched and Written by Susan Ibarra
Yes, ADD/ADHD and other behavioral disorders are very real.
For starters, everyone has seen its affects; That kid who won’t
sit still; The restless
child, fidgeting and squirming in their seat; The boy that doesn’t
listen to the teacher, can’t follow directions or acts up; Or the girl
who is always daydreaming and is not trying hard enough. These kids don’t do what you tell them to.
They interrupt conversations, have trouble waiting, blurt out
answers without raising their hand and don’t think about the consequences
before doing something that causes a problem.
Time and time again these kids are at the center of a problem or
misunderstanding either in school, at home, at play activities, etc. Are these kids spoiled?
Do they look for ways to annoy you?
Do you wonder if you should punish this child more harshly?
STOP!
Such ideas suggest these children intend to be difficult on
purpose. That misguided idea
could NOT be farther from the truth!
No one likes being at the center of a problem and that includes
kids in this situation. In spite of what you may think, these kids are not looking
for any attention or even negative attention.
It is, however, quite the opposite.
The
facts are that if these kids could do better they would.
There are numerous factors and conditions that contribute to
the problems of inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, opposition or
obsessive compulsion. Attention
Deficit Disorder (ADD) and/or Attention Deficit combined with
Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are only two very real conditions as are
Oppositional Defiant Disorder and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (ODD and
OCD).
Children
with either or combined disorders can be easily frustrated and may have
difficultly explaining what is bothering them.
They cannot help being easily distracted by extraneous stimuli,
being impulsive or even becoming emotionally reactive at times.
If you think that you can dismiss or ignore any one or part of
these disorders, think again.
When
a person exhibits continuous problems with any one or all of
these behaviors you have to look at the situation from this person’s
point of view more carefully, not yours, to find out what’s
really going on. There are no
medical tests to diagnose these behavioral disorders, but there are
criteria and frequencies of certain behaviors used to evaluate their
severity to establish a diagnosis. Parents,
caregivers and even teachers need to become enlightened through
appropriate parental training and specific education.
You
also have to recognize and deal with your own frustration or anger so that
you can make parenting decisions based on your child’s needs rather than
satisfying onlookers or even yourself.
Remember,
ADD/ADHD or any related disorder is not the child’s issue alone to deal
with -- it is the family’s. Parents,
siblings (and anyone living in the home) are part of the problem and must
be part of the solution. Only when you are empowered with the appropriate
knowledge can you help your child, student or family member with ADD,
ADHD, ODD or OCD.
Join
us on Wednesday, April 9th from 7:30 -9:30 PM at Park Middle
School in Scotch Plains
as Irv Finkelstein, LCSW & Psychotherapist leads the group through
this very complex and challenging area of difficulties associated with, ADD/ADHD
& Related Disorders. Mr.
Finkelstein will explain how to affect a positive change with specific
parental education, accommodations to be applied in the home, at school,
in the community, useful strategies that work and other treatments
available.
When
you understand the problem, with the right tools in place, difficulties
are overcome.
This FREE program is part of the regular monthly programming sponsored by The CHILD Organization of Scotch Plains Fanwood and ALL are welcome to attend. Please RSVP 908.322.4020 to guarantee your seat and materials or if you need professional development hours for CEU’s.
# # #e C.H.I.L.D. Organization will address this amazing and unusual problem area causing difficulty at their upcoming educational workshop at Park Middle School in Scotch Plains from 7:30 – 9:30 PM on Wednesday, December about Raising Healthy Children Naturally , featuring Dr. Lawrence Vargas.