Seek first to understand
MORE than six in 10 parents of children with Attention Hyperactivity Deficit Disorder (ADHD) feel the condition isn’t properly recognised by society. Over eight in 10 feel judged by other parents, and almost half feel judged by family members. So says a new survey conducted by support group HADD.
While learning and physical disabilities get a lot of sympathy, the same isn’t true of ADHD, says HADD vice-chair Kate Carr-Fanning.
“There’s a lot of stigma associated with ADHD. Children’s hyperactive and erratic behaviour can be irritating to others. The socio-cultural norm is such that we automatically think it’s the result of bad parenting. We don’t look at the child’s brain and at what, in its environment, it can’t cope with.”
ADHD is a genetic condition caused by a different balance of chemicals in the brain to the average person. School and work require specific executive functioning skills — self-regulation, planning, organisation and time management — and pose real challenges for people with ADHD. The condition affects an estimated 60,000 children in Ireland, the majority diagnosed between ages five and seven.
Every child will be distracted or behave ‘badly’ at times, but it’s the chronicity and intensity with which the behaviour manifests that indicate ADHD, says Carr-Fanning. ADHD symptoms include verbal hyperactivity (shouting out in class, finishing others’ sentences, providing a constant running commentary); excess energy (finding it difficult to sit down/sit still); slowness in processing information; poor attention to detail and seeming to be in a haze.
“The ‘attention deficit’ aspect of ADHD is a misnomer — the child’s brain can’t choose what to attend to or what to ignore. They’re either bombarded by all the stimuli or their attention is very narrowly focused and they can’t pay attention to peripheral stimuli,” says Carr-Fanning.
“They have a biologically-based condition that disrupts self-regulation. Simply applying more discipline — without treating the ADHD — doesn’t work. The good news is that ADHD is a very treatable condition,” says McMahon.
¦ Notice and praise when child’s behaving well.
¦ Avoid imposing sanctions. Say: ‘I’m not sure I understand what’s going on here – can you explain it to me?’
¦ Asking the child with ADHD to sit quietly for 15 minutes is like asking for the moon. When they get fidgety, send them on a little errand.
¦ More info and support from www.hadd.ie.
