Understanding ADHD
Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder – excerpt from www.mentalhealth.org.nz
Children with attention deficit /hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are constantly distractible, impulsive and unusually active. They may also have other serious behavioural, emotional and learning problems which can get them into an awful lot of trouble if ADHD is not recognised and treated.
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Self-help websites
These websites are recommended by our clinicians:
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Self-help books
These books are recommended by our clinicians, and you can look at the book by clicking on the picture:
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When it’s hard to pay attention
It’s 8.20 on a school day and 8-year old Josh isn’t ready for school. Each time he’s given a list of instructions, he completes the first one and then seems to wander off and get involved in something completely different. He is half-dressed, hasn’t had his breakfast or cleaned his teeth, and doesn’t know where his homework is from last night. His father is ready to leave for work and is frustrated that Josh is late – again! His dad complains that Josh has the attention span of a flea, is easily distractible, doesn’t "listen", and never finishes anything. He’s always been like this, but as he’s got older, the increasing demands of school are highlighting the problems and the strain results in lots of shouting and punishment for Josh and frustration for his parents.
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Understanding the parent-child relationship
Jenny, a 25-year old mum, complains that her daughter, Mary, aged 4, is “never satisfied” with the attention she gives her. “It doesn’t matter what I do, it’s never enough”, she says. Mary demands Jenny’s undivided attention and yet, when Jenny tries to provide this, something goes wrong. Mary wants it all her way, is easily frustrated and even pushes Jenny away. Jenny tries hard to be patient but finds herself wanting to withdraw from Mary because she feels herself getting angry at Mary’s confusing demands.
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Understanding and managing eating problems
Ten-year old Mandy takes three times as long to finish her meal as the rest of the family; three-year old Cameron objects to eating meat and he protests loudly and gags when it is placed in his mouth; fourteen-year old Jackie will only eat very small amounts and refuses foods perceived to be high in fat or sugar; six-year old Cheryl dawdles through breakfast and is always late for school; and eight-year old Shamus will not eat his meal if the different food types have touched each other on the plate. In all of these cases, there is significant stress for parents and children at mealtimes.
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Tips for reducing distractibility
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1 Carefully consider if your child is capable of performing the responsibilities expected. Do not give your child too many chores to do at once, make sure he/she gets up early enough to get to school on time, provide more than enough time to perform a responsibility etc, and do not expect perfection. |
Tips for parenting a child with ADHD
- Remember the child will have more energy and needs less sleep than you do. To be safe and successful, he also needs more structure and more supervision to an older age than other children. He will never handle free time well – that’s when to expect trouble. He will be disorganised and socially immature but does want to please.
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The attachment relationship between child and parent
(Adapted from www.attachmentexperts.com)
What is Attachment?
Attachment is the deep and enduring connection established between a child and caregiver in the first several years of life. It profoundly influences every component of the human condition – mind, body, emotions, relationships and values.
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Specific learning disabilities
Seven-year old James is having considerable difficulty learning to read; nine-year old Chrissie hates maths and has trouble remembering her times tables from one week to the next; eleven-year old Martin has always had trouble with spelling; and ten-year old Simon writes really slowly if he wants it to be tidy.
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