Can Preschoolers Have ADHD?

Posted on 06/04/2011 by Advisor

The answer to this perplexing question is an unequivocal YES. While most preschoolers have a log of energy and love to run around endlessly, some do so more than others and do exhibit the signs of attention deficit hyperactive disorder.  When a child is having problems such as persistent aggression, violent outbursts for little reason, high distractability, out of control impulses and risky behavior such as running into the street or not listening to parent commands while away from home,  the child may indeed have ADHD.  If you suspect that your preschooler may have this disorder, the best thing to do is to seek the help of a competent medical professional in this area. Only a professional can really determine if your child does have ADHD and provide guidance in this area.

If you are not quite sure, some good ideas are to provide consistent routines with regard to the child’s day.  Helping the child get used to a consistent routine will help him respond better to his daily environment.  Structure and order are also necessary for preschool children who may have ADHD.  For example, instead of giving the child a whole toy box of toys to play with, provide 1 or 2 toys and help the child interact with these toys.  Avoid large groups of children and instead, help your child learn to play well with just 1 child at a time.  Create rules that both of you can understand and live with.  When the child’s life is more structured and predictable, there will be fewer outbursts and family life will be more calm and peaceful.

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Being a Sibling of an ADHD Child

Posted on 03/18/2011 by Advisor

Being a sibling of a child with ADHD can be a demanding and sometimes exhausting task for children who do not suffer this disability.  Parents should think about the role of non-ADHD children and their needs as well as those of the child who has ADHD when setting family rules and enforcing family interactions. Many times, particularly during adolescence, disruptive behaviors exhibited by the ADHD child can lead to siblings feeling victimized by overt acts of violence, verbal aggression or manipulative behaviors exhibited by the ADHD child. Children reported that sometimes their parents were simply too exhausted or too overwhelmed to discipline the ADHD child. This made it appear to the non-ADHD children that the ADHD child was “out of control.” Often, they interpreted it that parents were minimizing the seriousness of the treatment that the non-ADHD children received from their sibling. This caused feelings of powerlessness.  Non-ADHD siblings often expressed yearnings for peace and quiet in the home and reported frequently accommodating the wishes of the ADHD child to avoid anger and disruption in the family that could be caused if they did not avoid potentially confrontational situations.

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Treating ADHD with Alternative Medicine

Posted on 01/20/2011 by Advisor

Although many alternative treatments that are suggested for the treatment of ADHD do not work, here are some that may have some benefit in some individuals. While not fool-proof, some of these treatments can be helpful alternatives for some people so it might be worth giving them a try.

1.  Special Diets: Some people advocate eliminating certain foods such as sugar, caffeine, wheat, milk or eggs. While studies have not found a consistent link between diet and reduced ADHD symptoms, there are a few studies that do indicate that diet changes could be helpful. Exploring this area with your doctor is certainly worth a try.

2.  Supplements: Some people believe that taking hypericum, ginseng, ginkgo or other herbal remedies may help. There is no evidence to suggest that this is the case but some studies have found helpful benefits of some of these ingredients on ADHD. Again, exploring this area can be something to speak with your doctor about. One remedy that is definitely not beneficial and can even be harmful is megadoses of various vitamins.

3.  Yoga, Biofeedback and Relaxation Therapy:  There is growing evidence that these activities may slow brain wave patterns and may actually help calm an individual with ADHD. Again, results may vary by individual but is definitely worth exploring with your physician.

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Common Problems Co-Existing with ADD

Posted on 10/07/2010 by Advisor

For children with ADD, there may be many other behaviors and problems that also present themselves. For example, as a result of ADD problems, children may be underachieving or performing sporadically in school. They may also have a learning disability which might be masked by the problems resulting from the ADD and difficulty focusing.  Emotionally, many of these individuals may have a low frustration tolerance and as a result, may overreact to stressful situations. These issues may all contribute to overall poor self-esteem. Socially, children with ADD may seem aggressive to other children and may blurt out inappropriate things to others. They may exhibit a poor sense of self-awareness and seem immature both in their interests and actions. They may also have conduct disorder problems such as defiance, temper tantrums or other angry outbursts. They may be subject to destructive types of behaviors such as lying, stealing or substance abuse to mask or self-medicate due to other problems mentioned above.  If your child exhibits any of the other problems, be sure to seek the advice of a physician or a qualified ADD therapist who can help suggest ways to help the child handle the other problems that may also come with having ADD.

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Children with Organizational Disabilities.

Posted on 07/11/2010 by Advisor

Children or adolescents who struggle with disorganization are difficult to live with. Not only are they disorganized at home, but this also extends to school and causes them to receive poor grades even when they are smart kids. Their notebooks are a mess, their backpacks full of irrelevant stuff and constantly lose things like their pencils, papers or even books.  They may do their homework but it never manages to get turned in because it gets lost or misplaced somewhere between completion and the teacher’s desk.  When they get home, they never seem to bring home the right books or assignment details that will help them do their assignments once they leave the classroom.  Sound familiar?  Nothing could be more frustrating for parents.

Fortunately, there are some things that you can do to help your child if s/he suffers from organizational disabilities. First, clear all of that “clutter” and “mess” that typically covers the floor of your child’s bedroom. Purchase some plastic tubs, crates or wire baskets and help him or her organize those “treasured” items into the various spaces. Place pegs or hangers on the walls or backs of doors so that clothes can go on the hanger instead of directly on the floor. Set family routines for times to go to bed, to do homework and to get up in the morning. Be sure to allow adequate time to dress, have breakfast and get needed supplies before the child heads off to school. There is nothing worse for getting the day off to a hectic start than having to rush around like a chicken with its head cut off. Regular routines help children better predict what will happen in their day and plan for these events.

Getting homework completed and returned to school can also be a challenge for children with organizational disabilities. Make sure that your child has a specific desk area all of his or her own where school work is completed. Again, set a specific time with ample breaks for the completion of homework. Purchase a 3 ring notebook with a plastic, pencil pouch and place pocket folders for each subject in the 3 ring binder.  The notebook should filled with the nightly homework and should be placed back in the child’s backpack. The backpack is then hung on the back of the door he or she will use to go to school each day. This will help ensure that all materials go back to school that need to be returned.

Be sure to also praise your child often when he or she follows the established routines and gets his or her homework back and forth as needed. Remember that habits take a long time to establish so don’t give up when there are setbacks. Simply remind your child of the goals and routines and begin again with a new day. With patience and persistence, your child will slowly learn to be less disorganized. This change will result in less stress for everyone and better grades at school.

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