Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
Page Two
- Teachers or caretakers have told you of frequent problems with inattention, distractibility, forgetfulness, noncompliance, daydreaming, impulsivity, problems with peers, underachievement, or incomplete assignments.
- As a parent, especially the mother, you have had a nagging concern for some time that there might be some type of problem based on the high maintenance requirements of your child.
- There are too many days when you find yourself getting continually frustrated and angry with your child, even to the point of not liking him or her very much.
- You see the self-esteem of your child growing lower and lower because of problems with self-control, social and school failure, or inability to sustain an interest in activities which occupy most children.
Whether or not your child has AD/HD these things are blinking red lights telling you it would be wise to seek professional help to find out what is causing the problem and where to turn for help.
No one simple test determines that a child has AD/HD. Diagnosis is a complicated process that requires the skill of a psychologist, psychiatrist, pediatrician, pediatric neurologist or some other mental health professional that specializes in special needs children. And because the diagnosis is not always precise, a second or third opinion may be needed. Once it is made, a thorough diagnosis will orient you and your child and other caregivers to the exact nature of your child's difficulties by providing information about strengths and weakness. It will clarify the specific problems involving attention, over-arousal, and impulsivity. It will reveal your child's learning style, academic capabilities, and strengths and weaknesses. And it will give you and your child's teachers direction and recommendations to maximize his learning and adjustment.
A thorough diagnosis will also tell you if your child has other problems such as learning disabilities, conduct disorder or poor socialization skills. Understanding of all these factors will allow you and your professional team to plan an effective intervention program.
As the primary advocate for your child, you have to be the one to take the initiative and find the best help available. Don't be afraid to ask questions. Become informed and read everything you can get your hands on. This will allow you to ask your medical or psychological specialist about those things that don't make sense to you. You should be an active collaborator in the process, not a passive bystander.
When you call or meet with a professional, ask if he or she has had experience in the diagnosis and treatment of AD/HD. What kind of professional workshops has s/he attended? How many children has s/he evaluated? How involved does he or she become in the ongoing monitoring of treatment? If you or your child has a problem, how available is the doctor to respond?
You need to feel comfortable and confident with the practitioner. If s/he won't answer your questions or gives unclear answers, look elsewhere. When you are uncomfortable with a practitioner's personality or professional approach, confront the problem or find someone else. This is too important an issue to tolerate incompetence or unprofessional conduct.
 The good news, however, is that there
are many strategies and procedures that
can improve your child's behavior,
self-esteem and overall quality of life.
At the same time, let me remind you there are no immediate cures or quick solutions to the problem of AD/HD. If you are looking for a doctor to immediately eliminate all stress and strain from your life, you will always be disappointed. Likewise, if a professional promises you quick fixes, charges unusual fees, and offers unorthodox methods, you should be extremely cautious.
Your local school district can be an additional resource for obtaining a diagnosis and prescription for classroom help. Ask your principal or school counselor if your school has the personnel to conduct an assessment of your child. You may also be able to obtain diagnostic help through a Christian counseling center in your area, other mental health agencies, university clinics, or home-school associations.
One great resource organization is Children & Adults with Attention Deficit Disorders (CH.A.D.D.). Local chapters of CH.A.D.D. can help you locate resources in your area for both diagnosis and multi–modal treatment. If you need help in locating a local chapter of CH.A.D.D., contact the national office in Plantation, Florida, at (800) 233–4050. It can be found on the internet at www.chadd.org.
An encouraging area of research on AD/HD children is currently being done by Dr. Daniel Amen. Dr. Amen is using a diagnostic process with radioactive isotopes which are taken up by the brain and show the actual metobolic activity and blood flow in each area of the brain. Dr. Amen and other colleagues around the country have used this method called SPECT scans to correlate the functions of different brain parts to certain behaviors, including different types of AD/HD symptoms.
Dr. Amen has identified six different types of Attention Deficit based on these brain imaging results. He also found that each type of disorder responds to different medications. The types are:
1. Classic ADD-hyperactive, restless, distracible, and impulsive.
2. Inattentive ADD-space cadets, daydreamers, couch potatoes.
3. Over-focused ADD-trouble shifting attention, stuck, obsessive and argumentative
4. Temporal Lobe ADD-aggressive, memory problems, headaches and dark thoughts.
5. Limbic ADD-depression, negativity and a negative internal filter.
6. Ring of Fire ADD-angry, overly sensitive, moody and oppositional.
The research shows a lot of promise for both diagnosis and treatment of AD/HD.
Treatment of AD/HD
If you find out your child has AD/HD, don't be in too big a rush to run out and make all sorts of changes. First, take some time to process your own feelings and reactions. Let God know how you feel and talk to some trusted friends or family members. There is "a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance" (Ecclesiastes 3:4). There is every reason to have hope, but before you can start helping your child, you need a little time to come to peace with your own questions and reactions.
Remember that there are no quick fixes for attention disorders. In spite of claims to the contrary, special diets, electronic gadgets, or singular environmental alterations have not been proven to be helpful with significant numbers of AD/HD children. The good news, however, is that there are many strategies and procedures that can improve your child's behavior, self-esteem and overall quality of life. Here are five categories of interventions, each with some specific suggestions:
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