Having worked for 25 years with children who have ADHD, I have come to one inescapable conclusion: children with ADHD whose parents participate in treatment improve academically, socially and emotionally much more than children whose parents are not involved at all.
In a nutshell, ADHD is not just in children, it’s in families. When one child has ADHD, parents and siblings are affected, and any child with ADHD is influenced by their reactions. It’s a system. No part is separate from the
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"I’ve never been able to focus on anything for more than five minutes at a time, especially if there are lots of things going on."
"Every single day is an exercise in patience and forgiveness; I try to forgive myself for lacking patience."
"When I realized I had ADHD, I was determined to overcome it."
These are things that people with ADHD frequently say. Perhaps you’ve had similar difficulties and are thinking of getting help. But who should you see and what help should you expect?
Family
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Posted by Dr. Kenneth Roberson on November 13, 2012 · 1 Comment
Quite a bit is known about treating childhood Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and research on adult treatment is growing. What studies tell us is clear; only three treatments have been proven to be effective for ADHD: medication, behavior modification, and the combination of the two.
Other treatments, including certain diets, retraining of sensory processing, biofeedback, play therapy, and pet therapy have not shown any effectiveness for ADHD.
Treating ADHD: Medication and
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Children affected by Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) often have other conditions that make it hard for them to conduct themselves appropriately. Knowing whether such conditions exist and what they are is a critical piece in diagnosing and treating ADHD.
When it appears that two or more conditions might be operating alongside ADHD symptoms, a professional, such as an ADHD psychologist, will attempt to determine whether one primary condition can fully account for the symptoms.
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Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a complex condition, and diagnosing ADHD can be difficult. However, the process of evaluating children or adults suspected of having ADHD is fairly straightforward.
As an ADHD psychologist, the process I use to evaluate children for ADHD is a typical one:
Preparation
Before I can evaluate children for ADHD, I need some information. I send packets of questionnaires to parents and teachers. The packets include rating scales for assessing
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“ADHD is like going through life carrying a one-man band contraption with a broken strap.” - Julie Smith-Ruitz
Imagine ADHD as a house nestled in the woods. Several paths lead there. Some make a straight line to the house, others wind their way, and a few start out separate but later join together, like the tributaries of a river.
These paths are the causes of ADHD. Some are wide, some are narrow, and together they explain our current understanding of how ADHD develops.
As an ADHD
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Do these conversations sound familiar?
“Ben, I told you to stop bouncing on the couch. Can you please do what I ask?”
“What?” Ben responds, “What’s wrong? I’m having fun. What’s for dinner? Can I have a snack? Can I watch TV? Whatdidyouthinkofthewafflesthismorning?”
Ben continues to bounce on the couch.
Susan walks up to a group of girls talking with each other outside the public library. She blurts out, “Why are you guys talking so loud? It’s supposed to be
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Nowadays, finding information about ADHD is easy. Type it into a search engine and out come millions of websites describing the condition along with ways to treat it. But everything written about ADHD boils down to two main ideas:
It is a problem of extreme inattention.
It is a problem of excessive impulsive behavior.
Once you understand those features, you’ve captured the essence of ADHD.
Inattention and Impulsive Behavior
Extreme inattention is pretty much what it sounds like.
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It’s impossible for anyone to know what it’s like to experience ADHD except those who actually struggle with it. However, engaging with children who have ADHD, asking them questions, and striving to understand what is going on with them mentally and emotionally can offer incredible insights to help us understand their internal experiences.
As an ADHD psychologist, I have found several common expressions among my patients and would like to share them with you.
Guilt and Shame: Children
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