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ADHD, Frequently Asked Questions
With careful planning your child should remain safe in the home and outside. You may need to plan for times when there is a greater risk to safety so as to minimise the danger. Going out shopping needs careful attention as you do not want your child to becomes distracted and wander off. Keep your child informed about your plans and how to act in risk situations. Plan for times when the child may become separated from you. A card or a badge with your name and mobile phone number would be useful. Your child will need close supervision when playing outside the home. Plan to make sure there is an opportunity to play safely and still be able to practise being independent.
Although ADHD cannot be cured, for some children the main symptoms, such as attention difficulties, tend to improve with age and maturity. For others however, behaviour problems continue into adulthood, if the child does not receive help.
It is important that children are identified early and effectively managed in order to ensure additional difficulties are minimized.
Research studies have demonstrated that stimulant medication can produce benefits for many children with a diagnosis of ADHD. The medication works by stimulating those parts of the brain which control behaviour and regulate activity. This medicine can only be prescribed by a medical doctor, under the supervision of a consultant. The doctor will make you aware of some of the side effects of stimulant treatment like decreased appetite, problems with growth, change in sleeping pattern or mood. Should these occur the medication can be stopped simply and safely and the side effects will have gone away within a very short period, usually less than six hours.
The use of medication will not ‘cure’ ADHD but rather creates a window of opportunity to allow you to help the child learn more effective behaviours.
A common intervention for children with ADHD is a combination of approaches sometimes using medication along with behavioural interventions.
Some parents feel that children become more active after taking fizzy drinks or sweets. The main culprits are drinks which contain caffeine, like colas or tea and coffee. Your doctor can advise you about this but you could avoid these foods if you feel this makes a difference.
Many parents find that their child with ADHD experiences difficulties with sleep. In the first instance seek your child’s views and negotiate about the time for going to bed. This enables them to feel that they have some choice and will increase the chance of success.
- Signal the approach of bedtime in advance
This is particularly important for the younger child. Arrange for a ‘wind down’ time when boisterous play is replaced with a quiet activity such as listening to a story while having a warm drink. - Arrange the bedroom so that sleep is more likely
CD player with taped stories or relaxing music can be helpful. A television in the bedroom can keep your child awake. - Getting to sleep
Follow a routine such as get into your pyjamas, lie down on the bed, lower the lights, read your story or mum will read to you and try to sleep. This should be followed every night.
- Be consistent
If the child comes out of the bedroom insist on immediate return reminding them of the routine.
If your child is on medication and is experiencing persistent sleep difficulties you should bring this to the attention of your doctor.
Children with ADHD often experience social problems. They tend to be especially poor at
- interpreting social signs such as gestures and facial expressions;
- taking account of the feelings of others;
- resisting temptations;
- predicting the consequences of their behaviour.
While the child with ADHD wants and is eager to make and maintain friendships, they often have difficulty going about it - they are socially ‘out of tune’.
- As a parent you should look out for and reward and praise good social behaviour
- Teach how to exchange greeting with others
- Teach and practise how to make eye contact
- Teach and practise how to listen and take turns in conversation
- Opportunities could be arranged which encourage co-operative play with others such as board games, card games and team games.
- Assigning the child a special responsibility may encourage other children to observe them in a more positive light.
- Encourage your child to use and display his/her strengths and talents e.g. looking after the family pet, answering the telephone well.
Remember that in addition to direct teaching you also teach by your own example
