News Taffy

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a term we’re all familiar with but how much do you really understand about this condition? It is important to learn all you can if you or someone in your family has this disorder. Many people may think that the condition is simply treated with medicine. If you’ve ever had experience dealing directly with someone who has the disorder, you will quickly learn it is anything but simple and that medicine alone may not be the answer.

ADHD is a neurological condition that is usually genetically transmitted and characterized by distractibility, impulsivity, and restlessness or hyperactivity. These symptoms are present from childhood and into adulthood and though we all may have these symptoms from time to time, they are of a much greater intensity in those with ADHD so that it interferes with everyday functioning. Care must be taken in diagnosing the problem. Young children are often very active and are too busy exploring their world to sit quietly just because you want them to do so and are NOT ADHD. On the other hand, a child may be perfectly capable of sitting quietly in class and may even be bright enough to do well in school even though they actually pay little attention to the teacher.

My son fell into the latter category, spending much of the school day daydreaming. He was not diagnosed until 10th grade when the school work had finally become difficult enough that he couldn’t maintain straight A’s easily. Unfortunately, many children are labeled as lazy, stubborn, uncooperative or even stupid when in reality they are struggling to focus. One of the worst things a parent can do is to blame or punish the child for not paying attention, doing better on school work, etc. Children with ADHD often suffer from self esteem issues and self doubt so it is important to be supportive. The second worst thing you can do is to ignore the problem or rely on drugs alone to fix the problem. ADHD can be a curse or a gift, depending on how it is dealt with by both the parents and the individual with the condition. It will benefit everyone to learn more.

There are three variations of ADHD, the predominantly inattentive type, predominately hyperactive-impulsive type or a combined type with equal symptoms.

Some signs of the inattentive type are:
easily distracted
not following instructions
careless mistakes in schoolwork or on the job
trouble paying attention to tasks
not listening when spoken to directly
trouble organizing
tendency to daydream
forgetful
loses things like books, assignments, belongings
failure to finish chores, school work or work assignments

Hyperactive/impulsive signs:
fidgets or squirms
can’t stay seated
talks excessively
always on the go
impulsive
blurts out answers
trouble waiting one’s turn
running or playing at inappropriate times
interrupts frequently

The problems of ADHD remain into adulthood and may make it difficult for the individual to hold a job or have a successful marriage. Don’t despair, there are many ways to cope with the problem. Next week I will cover some of the many ways you can tackle ADHD and some of the hidden benefits.