ADHD: Back-to-School and Beyond
(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 ARA Content
