Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health condition that can cause unusual levels of hyperactivity and impulsive behaviours. Children with ADHD may also have trouble focusing their attention on a single task or sitting still for long periods of time. This disorder can have a significant effect on children’s education and relationships, both with family members and their peers.
As I prepared to write this blog a little boy that was placed in our care a few years ago came to mind. Let’s call him Kevin. When Kevin came to us, he had difficulty trusting people, especially adults and was often angry and withdrawn – swearing at adults, hitting other children, and breaking property. He struggled to adjust to the structure and routine of our Home and wouldn’t join in any of the programmes or activities. School was even more of a problem. Almost every day, he would sneak out of the school grounds and walk all the way back to DCYCC on his own. We were so worried something would happen to him! We tried a different school, but he remained defiant and refused to complete his schoolwork. A Cognitive and Emotional Assessment at the Children’s Assessment Centre in Sherwood concluded that undiagnosed ADHD had contributed to academic challenges resulting in previous poor school attendance. And that this resulted in him lacking the foundation needed to build academic development.
Effective treatment of ADHD includes behaviour therapy and medication. Generally, the two interventions used simultaneously result in the best outcome for children. The goal of behaviour therapy is to learn or strengthen positive behaviours and eliminate unwanted or problem behaviours. And the medication deals with the imbalance in levels of neurotransmitters in the brain.
There is no quick fix for ADHD. It takes time, patience, and special support to help children find their way. Some of the things that we were able to do to help Kevin cope were to; put him on the recommended medication to manage the condition, we enrolled him in a remedial school for children with special learning needs where the classes were smaller, and he was able to benefit from individual attention and sent him to a psychologist for therapy. Kevin is now enthusiastic about going to school and is thriving academically and beginning to feel good about himself again. He is also learning to trust adults and has developed a close bond with his social worker and caregivers. He is doing much better now than when he first arrived. He does have an outburst now and then, but we are consistent in the way our staff respond to help him during those times. Here are some of the steps that you could use to help your child:
- Create structure in your daily home routine
- Break the daily routine into manageable bite size tasks
- Simplify and organise your child’s schedule
- Limit distractions
- Encourage exercise
- Regulate sleeping patterns
- Model out-loud thinking
- Promote ‘wait-time’
- Find a professional to offer therapy
- Believe in your child
- Remember to factor in ‘break time’ for yourself
- And remember to breath and keep calm
https://www.healthline.com/health/adhd/parenting-tips#what-not-to-do