(ARA) - Chances are you have begun to think about your child’s needs for the
upcoming school year. If your child has Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity
Disorder (ADHD), this may include working with your child’s doctor and
teacher, and developing an individualized learning plan that will result in
a positive experience for you and your child. ADHD, often linked to
concentration and behavioral difficulties in the classroom, doesn’t end with
the school day. In fact, the condition often affects a child’s ability to
participate in extracurricular activities, complete homework assignments,
sit through family meals or participate in other family activities without
disruption -- all leading to increased family stress.
"ADHD affects many aspects of a child's life," says Christopher J.
Kratochvil, M.D., associate professor, Department of Psychiatry and
assistant director, Psychopharmacology Research Center, University of
Nebraska Medical Center. "Combining input from the school, prescribing
physician, and therpaist, along with the parent and the child with ADHD, can
help the child to function better in all areas affected by the disorder." As
you develop your learning plan, consider the following elements for
back-to-school and beyond.
Back-to-School Plan
You can help improve your child’s school experience by working with his/her
teacher(s) to address your child’s needs to avoid distraction and follow
instructions.
* Try to limit distractions by seating your child near the teacher, but away
from the door or window
* Support your child’s concentration process, which may require additional
time for tests or assignments, reading test questions aloud and providing a
non-distracting environment
* Provide written materials to support information that is delivered
verbally
* Include visual, auditory, and hands-on learning opportunities to maintain
the child’s attention
* Redirect your child without embarrassment if he or she becomes distracted
Beyond-the-School-Day Plan
Children with ADHD may have a tendency to interrupt conversations to share
an idea before forgetting it, mix up words or fail to understand
instructions, which can lead to frustration all around. As a parent, you can
use everyday activities to help your child overcome these issues.
* Help your child recognize visual or verbal signs of other people that
indicate his or her conversation may not be appropriate
* Identify and support creative activities that your child enjoys, such as
music, art and computer design, to increase your child’s focus and
self-esteem
* Consider alerting your child’s coach, music instructor, scout leader or
other adult in charge of your child’s extracurricular activities about his
or her ADHD, and what works and doesn’t work for your child
* Ask your child to name what he or she sees during car rides to the grocery
store, music or sports practice to develop his or her ability to think and
respond quickly
* Encourage your child to tell you about his or her day during dinner to
strengthen his or her thought process and communication skills
* Balance constructive feedback with positive encouragement
Physician Partnership Plan
Parents also need to partner with their physician to design a treatment plan
for their child with ADHD that works during and beyond the school day.
Treatment may consist of appropriate medication, developing behavioral
skills and coaching. With the availability of a nonstimulant treatment that
provides full-day relief of symptoms without insomnia or abuse potential,
parents can now expect more from their child’s ADHD medication. A medication
that controls symptoms after school and into the evening can help to improve
interaction with family and friends and reduce stress for parents. ADHD
affects 3 to 7 percent of school-aged children and is the most commonly
diagnosed behavioral disorder of childhood. This medical condition manifests
itself in levels of attention, concentration, activity, distractibility and
impulsivity that may be inappropriate to the child’s age. In the last
decade, experts have recognized that 60 percent of children will carry
symptoms into adulthood.
For more information on
ADHD and a nonstimulant treatment option, call (800) 545-5979. Courtesy of
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