Managing ADHD
ADHD is a very common diagnosis, and misdiagnosis, and one which is almost taken for granted by the public at large. Certainly the general public underestimate the impact and isolation caused by the disorder for both the child and their family.
School-aged children with learning and behavioural problems who have symptoms of hyperactivity or attention deficit may have ADHD. The symptoms include poor attention to detail, inability to sustain attention to task or play, poor listening behaviours, inability to follow instructions and failure to complete tasks, poor organisation skills, avoidance of tasks which require mental effort losing things necessary to complete tasks, easily distracted;fidgeting, squirming while seated, but inability to remain seated as expected, running and climbing excessively difficulty focusing on play/tasks because of hyperactivity, excessive talking, interrupting others and blurting out answers unable to “hold back”.
ADHD often overlaps with other childhood disorders, and symptoms are not exclusive to ADHD, so diagnosis is difficult, and is best undertaken by a specialist such as a paediatrician, child psychiatrist, child clinical psychologist, clinical neuropsychologists, educational or developmental psychologist. Thereafter psychologists treating the child will focus on how the behavioural and cognitive pattens effects the child’s outcomes at school, at home and within the peer group. Behavioural management has been found to be an effective strategy, as has some pharmacotherapy. Many parents and children prefer to avoid drugs and rely heavily on behavioural interventions directed supplementing and supporting the child’s behaviours and the parents coping-responses to the child, school systems, family and wider community.
Poor self-esteem, anxiety and depression may become secondary outcomes of unmanaged ADHD, for family members as well as the child. there is much debate as to the appropriate treatments for ADHD. As indicated a holistic tailored psychological approach targets and supports the family, and teachers as well as the child in managing the disorder. Pharmacotherapy is widely used and much controversy surrounds the high rates of prescriptions of Ritalin and dexamphetamines for children and adolescents diagnosed with ADHD. Medication should not be considered to be sufficient of itself to maximise the outcomes for children and families suffering from ADHD.
Psychologists aim at long-term self regulation of symptoms/behaviours which involves education about, and self-monitoring of the symptomatic behaviours versus expected behaviours at home and school, exploration of options/solutions to behavioural/environmental challenges, negotiating the classroom environment to achieve optimal conditions of structure and order, implementation of positive reward for on task behaviours, and encouragement and support of teacher(s) and parent(s). For more information contact me.
