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Raising
Special Kids is Changing to My Special Kids
Raising Special Kids site is coming down soon - by the end of the month, but don't worry, I am putting together a brand new site from Raising Special Kids - and because that brand is already in use by www.raisingspecialkids.org, I am changing my site to www.my-special-kids.com. I will have the index page up and will rewrite and post the pages as I go along, updating and adding new information and experiences. Stay tuned! Finding Answers about ADHDWhat is ADHD?Finding answers about ADHD is not as simple as it sounds. You hear the terms everyday: ADHD, ADD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, attention deficit disorder, or even just attention disorder, but just not sure what they mean. What is it? And what is the difference? How can I know if my child is affected? Parents whose children have been diagnosed with an Attention Deficit Disorder need the answers to these questions and a whole lot more. They are not exactly sure what causes ADHD, but the latest research is pointing to a lack of certain chemicals (called neurotransmitters) that help the brain control behavior. One of the answers about ADHD that is for sure is that YOU are not the cause of the ADHD; your child’s teacher isn’t to blame either. Not your ex, your mother-in-law, your doctor, and certainly not your child. It is a malfunction in the brain, and they can’t control it by just “trying harder”. There are things that will help. DSM-IVThe Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV (DSM IV) has answers about ADHD and breaks it down into three major categories based on what symptoms are displayed: Inattentive Type where the child can’t seem to get focused or stay focused on a specific activity or task. Hyperactive-impulsive Type is when the child is overly active and often does things without thinking. Combined Type is when the active, impulsive child can’t focus, or the symptoms of both types all wrapped up into one child. ADHD SymptomsThe best way to look at symptoms is to break down the major categories into behaviors that can be observed.The Inattentive Type ADHD child often:
The Hyperactive Type seems to be much easier to identify because it is much easier to notice an over-active child who can’t seem to sit still than one who is so easily distracted that they are just not paying attention. And the hyperactivity and being impulsive just seem to go together with these kids. You may notice them:
Combined Type is a little or a lot of both the Inattentive and Hyperactive types. Of course, everybody knows that from time to time, all children are inattentive, impulsive, and too active. That kind of goes along with being a child! But finding anwers about ADHD with children, these behaviors are the rule, not the exception, and the behavior has lasted over 6 months and causes problems in day to day life. Is this Disorder Common?As many as 5 out of every 100 children in school may have ADHD and boys are three times more likely than girls to have ADHD. The “official” estimate by the Mayo Clinic according to an article by CNN (How common is ADHD? March 14, 2002 Posted: 12:19 PM EST (1719 GMT) By Rhonda Rowland CNN Medical Unit http://archives.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/parenting/03/13/adhd.study/index.html) puts the percentage at 3% to 5% of school aged children have ADHD at any given time. TreatmentThere is no quick cure for ADHD and no quick answers about ADHD, although it is estimated that 30% to 70% of children diagnosed with ADHD will continue to experience symptoms as adults, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (MIMH). Given these statistics, it becomes important to provide children who are diagnosed with ADHD the tools and coping skills they will need to be successful in society as adults. The main therapeutic approaches in use today for ADHD and methods of treatment often involve some combination of behavior modification, medication, life-style changes, and counseling.
Therapy: Behavior modification and counseling are most often used with ADHD kids to help them develop coping skills that help them to stay organized, focused and control impulses. Positive behavior supports and techniques work very well along with counseling to help children make the right choices. Lifestyle changes: these include eating a good healthy diet, getting plenty or rest and exercise consistently, and making good choices about things like food additives, substitute sweeteners, high fructose corn syrup, and other things that have been shown, or may possibly cause problems for kids with attention deficit. What to Do If You Think Your Child Is ADHDIf you suspect that your child may have a problem with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, the first thing you should do is sit down and start making a list of the behaviors or situations with your child that makes you think they may be attention deficit. Then call your pediatrician and make an appointment for a checkup and (bring your list) discuss your thoughts and observations with the doctor. The child’s primary care physician can help you to know what to do next. Share your StoryDo you have a child struggling with ADHD and would like to share your experiences, or even offer some suggestons or comments? Just fill in the Contact Us form Here. The ADHD/ADD Natural Remedy Report - A Safe, Natural And Proven Home Remedy To Cure Your ADHD & ADD. More infomation Click Here
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