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Attention Deficit Disorder
What is ADD/AHDH?
ADD is Attention Deficit Disorder,
while AHDH is ADD with hyperactivity. These are neurological disorders,
and the actions resulting from these disorders are not instances of wilful
disobedience. Children with these disorders need to be brought up with
extra care and attention. They have difficulty following rules and regulations,
and are unable to complete school work. Such children tend to be extremely
disorganised. They cannot keep track of time. They tend to constantly misplace
their things and to be generally scatterbrained. Children with ADD tend
to be shy, while those with AHDH are hyperactive and tend to throw violent
temper tantrums.
My child is a
scatterbrain! Does he have ADD of AHDH?
If your child seems to be a bit of
a scatterbrain or/and has a bad temper, don't jump to the conclusion that
he has this disorder. Only when his symptoms seem to be extreme, need you
be concerned. In any case, it is best that you consult a child psychologist
for a diagnosis if you feel that your child could be suffering from either
of these problems. Other disorders (sleep disorders, autism, hearing disorders)
could be confused with ADD.
Does this mean
that my child will be poor in studies?
Yes, in all likelihood children with
ADD or AHDH tend to be poor students. Some children may require special
education aids. This may not be easy to arrange with schools as a lot of
institutions do not recognise this disorder. However, you should definitely
have a talk with your child's teacher. The teacher could perhaps accordingly
schedule homework for the child. Remember, children with ADD or AHDH are
just as intelligent as the next child. However, they may often feel overwhelmed
with the workload and may have problems proceeding.
Are children with
ADD 'stupid'?
Definitely not! Nevertheless, they
do tend to find schoolwork more of a struggle than most other children.
If they have difficulty comprehending a new subject, they may feel hesitant
to ask a teacher to explain something again. So if you as a parent go through
their schoolwork with them, it would help tremendously.
How can your child's
teacher help?
If your child has been diagnosed
with AHDH, speak to his teacher. Children with AHDH have difficulty sitting
in one place for extended periods of time. Thus, in between class periods,
the teacher could perhaps have all the children stretch for two minutes.
She should also praise your child every time he fares well or does something
right. She could call upon him to read aloud from a textbook every once
in a while.
What will a child
with AHDH be like in the classroom?
A child suffering from AHDH is relatively
easier to spot than one suffering from ADD. He will probably be one of
the most boisterous children in the class. He will be constantly forgetting
to complete his homework. He will also keep forgetting books, pens and
pencils at home. He would be poor in studies and would be aggressive -
a true 'fighter cock'! A child suffering from ADD would be a loner, shy
and would have low self-esteem.
Is ADD/AHDH more
common in boys?
There was a time when this was thought
to be the case, but now it has been found that these disorders are just
as common in girls. In fact, as these disorders are recently coming to
light, a lot of adults have also been diagnosed as having ADD/AHDH. They
may lead perfectly normal lives, be happily married, have children, but
every once in a while suffer an incomprehensible breakdown - as if they
are losing control. Sometimes events seem to overwhelm them, and they don't
know how to cope.
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