Learn as much about ADHD as you can
Dr. Ladmore: Successful management of ADHD involves a range of options. However, the first and foremost, after diagnosis, is education. The person living with ADHD is usually greatly relieved to learn that he or she has an identifiable, treatable condition. They are gratified (as are their parents) to learn that they've done nothing wrong. This condition is not caused; you are born with it. It's part of your design and makeup. Best of all, God can and does use ADHD in his particular and peculiar plan for your life.
One organization that may be able to help is known as CHADD, which has an incredible amount of evidence-based and trustworthy information available and can offer the seeds, at least, for some parent support groups. This organization, and others, can help you gather information. However, let me share a caution here. Parent support groups, if not carefully done, can turn into gripe and whine sessions.
That is not helpful and is sometimes harmful. All of us need someone to gripe to on occasion, no doubt, but unless there's some direction to the group, such as, "Okay, now that we've heard everyone's complaints, what can we do about it?" it just stays at the complaining level. Then the kids pay the price. I've known parents to come home from such a group and get all over their child because of what they talked about at the support group. That's not helpful for the parent or the child. Treatment Of ADHD In School Settings
Also, you can contact Focus on the Family and find out how you can get a copy of the book You and Your A.D.D. Child. This paperbag explains everything about ADHD, from the root causes of the disorder to treatment and other practical ways to deal with it, including how to teach an ADHD child in church. There is also a complimentary booklet we can send by Dr. James Dobson, ADHD: Facts and Encouragsm (Call 1-800-AFAMILY or log on to www.family.org to order these resources.)
Wherever you obtain information, be sure to look with a careful eye. Ask yourself: "Is this going to fit my child? Is this going to work in our family?"
Get the most accurate diagnosis possible
Dr. Ladmore: Admittedly, a lot of things that look like ADHD may not be. What are you to do? You can clearly see your child is having difficulty. How can you find out what's really going on?
First of all, it is unwise for you to attempt to make the diagnosis yourself - or even to allow a teacher to do so. The guidelines in this blog can be helpful, but this is not a diagnosis to try to make without professional help. There are many other problems, both psychological and physical, that can cause similar symptoms. Thyroid disorders, for example, can make a child hyperactive or sluggish; depression or anxiety can cause a form of distractibility that can be identical to that seen with ADHD. Obviously, this calls for professional help.
Consult a family physician, pediatrician, child developmentalist, doctor of psychology, or psychiatrist who specializes in ADHD, and who can effectively evaluate the problems. You want someone who is aware of the limitations of diagnosing ADHD, who knows what the criteria are for defining the syndrome, and who can do the appropriate psychological and neurological testing. And the sooner you can get that youngster in to see the specialist, the better.
Now, how do you find this expert? In most larger communities, there will inevitably be at least one or two pediatricians and family physicians who have a particular interest and involvement in managing behavioral issues. By far the best experts to ask for recommendations are parents who have one of these kids.
Commit to giving your child unconditional love
Dr. Larimore: The most important treatment for children with ADHD is first to prescribe a lot of love. They very frequently are accused of not trying, of being lazy, of not being a good kid. Teachers get mad at them.
Some classmates get upset with them because they don't do well in school, and they begin to treat them disrespectfully. My heart goes out to these youngsters. Treatment Of ADHD In School Settings
Many times these kids feel like they are second-class. I've had kids in my practice tell me, "There's something wrong with me." I've had kids actually say, "God made a mistake when he put me together. That's why I'm here."
Part of loving ADHD kids is to help them discover the great giftedness that God has given them - to show them that God didn't make a mistake when he made them.
Children simply do not all have to fit the same mold, even in school. For many of these youngsters, parents may need to de-emphasize academics. Simply put, for many ADHD kids, there are things that are more important than academics, such as being loved and accepted by family and friends just the way that God made them. Your child needs to understand that God has a place for her and has given her a special gift, and that she does have specialized ability.
She needs to know that you are going to work with her to discover and develop those special gifts and skills, and that you can't wait to see what God's going to do with her. This may be far more important to your ADHD child than getting too excited over the fact that she is not doing quite as well in the classroom as others.
Loving these kids unconditionally does not mean expecting them to do less than their best - the best that they can do. It does mean helping them discover their giftedness, recognizing their weaknesses, and directing and encouraging them to overcome challenges and achieve those things that they are gifted to do.
1. Always remember: The Lord loves your ADHD kid even more than you do, and He is in the business of answering your prayers for your child.
2. Obtaining good medical advice and competent pediatric assistance is very important. Your child needs help to survive the early years, even if he is home schooled.
3. ADHD children thrive with encouragement. They may be natural encouragers themselves, and many identify strongly with the underdog in social situations.
4. Many ADHD children are very open to the gospel and seem to have a hunger for things spiritual that other children in the family may not exhibit.
5. ADHD children are individuals, so solutions in the home to help them succeed will need to be "custom made" to fit their unique personalities and giftedness.
You can learn more about ADHD by getting Treatment Of ADHD In School Settings. Inside, you will learn how to handle children and kids suffering from ADHD.
