Dictionary For Dads

Attention Deficit Hyper-activity disorder affect certain children's ability to function in at least two areas of life. This is usually defined as at home and at school. Therefore if your kid  experiences some difficulties at school l but gets along at home with his or her friends with minimal difficulties they are not considered to have ADHD. The same is true of children who are hyperactive or inattentive only at home but whose schoolwork and friendships at school are not affected by their behavior. According to research it is common for a parent to see signs of this disorder by the time the child is at age six or seven. However it has been identified at earlier stages of development.

Signs and symptoms of inattention may include:

• Often fails to pay close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities
• Often has trouble sustaining attention during tasks or play
• Seems not to listen even when spoken to directly
• Has difficulty following through on instructions and often fails to finish schoolwork, chores or other tasks
• Often has problems organizing tasks or activities
• Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort, such as schoolwork or homework
• Frequently loses needed items, such as books, pencils, toys or tools
• Can be easily distracted
• Forgetful often

Hyperactivity-impulsiveness
Signs and symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsive behavior may include:

• Fidgets or squirms frequently
• Often leaves his or her seat in the classroom or in other situations when remaining seated is expected
• Often runs or climbs excessively when it's not appropriate or, if an adolescent, might constantly feel restless
• Frequently has difficulty playing quietly
• Always seems on the go
• Talks excessively
• Blurts out the answers before questions have been completely asked
• Frequently has difficulty waiting for his or her turn
• Often interrupts or intrudes on others' conversations or games

However, environmental variables can contribute to or worsen the behavioral symptoms of a child who is suffering from ADHD. Again there is mixed research on this and much is still not proven but scientist have documented these four variables below:

• ADHD and the brain. While the exact cause of ADHD remains a mystery, researchers have discovered important differences in the brains of people with ADHD. For example, neurotransmitters — the brain's chemical messengers — aren't used properly in people with ADHD. Additionally, there appears to be less activity in the areas of the brain that control activity and attention in people with ADHD. In addition, brain scans have revealed that, on average, children with ADHD have up to 4 percent smaller brain volumes than do children without ADHD.
• Genetics. ADHD tends to run in families. About one in four children with ADHD have at least one relative with the disorder.
• Mother smoking, drug use and exposure to toxins. Pregnant women who smoke are at increased risk of having children with ADHD. In addition, alcohol/drug abuse during pregnancy may reduce activity of the nerve cells that produce neurotransmitters. Pregnant women who are exposed to environmental poisons, such as poly chlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), also may be more likely to have children with symptoms of ADHD. PCBs are industrial chemicals that were widely used in the past.
• Children and Toxins In The Environment. Infants and children who get exposed to certain environmental toxins, particularly lead and PCBs, are at increased risk of developmental and behavioral problems, many of which are similar to those found in children diagnosed with ADHD. Therefore be aware of lead, which is found mainly in paint and pipes in older buildings. Research indicates that exposure to lead  has been linked to disruptive, violent and a decreased attention span in children. 

If your child is displaying symptoms of Attention-deficit-hyper-activity disorder such as: difficulty paying attention, concentrating, sitting still or managing their behavior, and these problems are creating significant difficulties at home and school, this may be an indication of ADHD. However, it is important to  first have a medical evaluation of your child in order to rule out any other causes of your child's signs and symptoms.  If your medical doctor rules out all other causes, your next step is to have your child evaluated by an ADHD trained physician.  

Although manifestations of ADHD can sometimes appear in preschoolers, diagnosing the disorder in very young children is very difficult to do. This is mainly due to the fact that other developmental problems such as language delays and adjustment difficulties can be mistaken for ADHD.

To many parents frustration presently there is no single test for ADHD.  This  makes the Attention-deficit-hyper-activity disorder difficult to diagnose, even at times for professionals. Presently, a variety of exams are used to differentiate Attention-deficit-hyper-activity disorder from other diagnoses such as learning disabilities and mood disorders. It is imperative that you make sure your Pediatrician or Psychiatrist is trained and has a wealth of experience with Attention-deficit-hyper-activity disorder. As with any diagnosis, it is always a good idea to get a second opinion if possible. 

The process of assessing a child for Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder starts with a  complete medical exam to rule out any other causes for the symptoms/behavior. In addition, the doctor should request will school records and family histories to exclude any other causes of your child's behavior or symptoms.The doctor should also check for signs of Depression, Sleep Deprivation, as well as Anxiety, Learning and Language disorders.

Keep in mind, there are other conditions with symptoms similar to those of Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder including learning disabilities, mood disturbances, hyperthyroidism, seizure disorders, fetal alcohol syndrome, vision or hearing problems, and Tourette syndrome.

Gathering as much information as possible about your child is the best way to ensure an accurate diagnosis. Brain scans aren't a reliable way to diagnose the disorder, nor is a child's response to a psychostimulant medication.

According to our research Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder is best treated with a combination of medication and Behavioral therapy. In order to help you understand the services that are out there we have identified and explained them below for you:

Therapy
Children with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder often greatly benefit from behavioral therapy, which may be provided by a psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or other mental health care professional. Some individuals including children who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder.

Psychotherapy. This allows older children and adults with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder to talk about issues that bother them, explore negative behavioral patterns and learn ways to deal with their symptoms of their disorder.
Behavioral therapy. This type of therapy helps teachers and parents learn strategies (contingency management procedures) for dealing with childrens behavior. These strategies may include positive and negative reinforcement and timeouts. Behavior modification using contingency management techniques has proved especially beneficial for people with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder.
Family therapy. Family therapy can help parents and siblings deal with the stress of living with someone who has Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder.
Social skills training. This can help children learn appropriate social behaviors.
Support groups. Support groups can offer adults and children with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder and their parents a network of social support, information and education.
Parenting skills training. This can help parents develop ways to understand and guide their child's behavior.
The best results usually occur when a team approach is used, with teachers, parents, and therapists or physicians working together. You can help by making every effort to work with your child's teachers and by referring them to reliable sources of information to support their efforts in the classroom.

Medications
Drugs known as psycho stimulants are the most commonly prescribed medications for treating Attention-deficit-hyper-activity disorder in children and adults.

Children who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder often struggle in the classroom, which can lead to academic failure and verbal abuse from other children.This can lead to a child developing a low self esteem. The child can learn to dislike himself and define himself through his disorder as others have. If that occurs,  the essence of that child's identity is therefore devised out of shame and doubt. If the child feels flawed and damaged how much esteem can he develop? It is important for a child to realize he has many attributes and his Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder is a manageable disorder  which does not define who he is as a person.

One in three children with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder are affected by other disorders. Even though Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder does not biologically cause these other disorders many psychotherapist believe that the social, academic, and psychological affects of Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder can contribute to the manifestation of some of these other disorders such as:

Anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders tend to occur fairly often in children with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder and may cause overwhelming worry and nervousness as well as physical signs and symptoms, such as a rapid heartbeat, sweating and dizziness. Although anxiety disorders can cause severe signs and symptoms, most people can be helped with therapy or medication. Once anxiety is under control, children are better able to deal with the problems arising from Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder

Learning disabilities. Children with both Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder and learning disabilities are the children most in need of special education services.

Tourette syndrome. Many children with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder also have Tourette syndrome, a neurological disorder characterized by compulsive muscular or vocal tics.

Oppositional defiant disorder. Generally defined as a pattern of negative, defiant and hostile behavior toward authority figures, ODD occurs in as many as half of all children with ADHD. This condition is more common in boys.

Conduct disorder. Conduct disorder is marked by distinctly antisocial behavior: stealing, fighting, destroying property, harming people and animals. Children with conduct disorder need immediate help.
Depression may occur in both children and adults with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder.

The Disease of Alcohol And Drug Addiction has been closely associated with individuals who suffer from Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder.

If your child is being treated with medication they should see their doctors  at least once during the month following diagnosis, and then at least every six months after that. It is also recommended that you have your child re-tested for ADHD every few years.

Check out school programs. Take advantage of any special programs your school may have for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Always maintain communication with your child's teachers. Ask the teachers to closely monitor your child's work, provide positive feedback, and be flexible and patient with your child. The school should also be aware of your child's diagnosis. Let them know you are paying attention to everything they do and work with them to be as consistent as possible with each other.

Inquire about having your child use a computer in the classroom. Children with ADHD often have trouble with handwriting and can greatly benefit from using a computer or a typewriter.

Medication Considerations. Children are not to be in charge of managing and/or administering their own medication. Therefore, keep all medication locked in a childproof container. Psycho-stimulant drugs are nervous system stimulants. An overdose can cause severe confusion, agitation and an accelerated heart rate and is potentially fatal. It is the parents responsibility to Deliver any medicine your child is taking to the school nurse or health office personally.

Explain to your children that selling or abusing of any medication is against the law. Create and sign a contract with them that states they agree to tell you right away if classmates pressure or threaten them for medication.

Show your child lots of affection. Children need to hear that they're loved and appreciated. Focusing only on the negative aspects of your child's behavior can harm your relationship with him or her and affect self-confidence and self-esteem. If your child has a hard time accepting verbal signs of affection, a smile, a pat on the shoulder or a hug can show you care.

Be patient. Try to remain patient and calm when dealing with your child, even when your child is out of control. If you're calm, your child is more likely to calm down too.

Keep things in perspective. Be realistic in your expectations for improvement — both your own and your child's.

Keep a regular schedule for meals, naps and bedtime. Use a big calendar to mark special activities that will be coming up. Children with ADHD have a hard time accepting and adjusting to change.

Make sure your child is rested. Try to keep your child from becoming overtired, because fatigue often makes symptoms of ADHD worse.
Identify difficult situations.

Try to avoid situations that are difficult for your child. These situations include but are not limited to sitting through long concerts, speeches or traveling through shopping malls where  an array of merchandise can be simply overwhelming.

Use timeouts or the loss of a privilege to discipline your child.  When giving Time-outs they should be relatively brief, but long enough for your child to regain control. The idea of a "Time-out" is to interrupt any out of control behavior.

Work on organization. Assist your child in implementing and maintaining a daily calender book. Create a quite space in your home which is your child's special place to do school work.

Be Creative
Children with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder often do very well with art projects, music or dance lessons, or martial arts classes, especially karate or judo. That said, be careful to never force your child into activities that are beyond their mental and physical capabilities.

Use simple words and demonstrate when giving your child directions. Speak slowly and quietly and be very specific and concrete. Give one direction at a time. Stop and make eye contact with the child when giving directions.
Take a break yourself. If you're exhausted and stressed, you're a much less effective parent.

Resources
There are no easy answers for struggling families, but many resources are available that may help. Parents can get advice on raising a child with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder from a social worker or other mental health care professional or from a support group. These resources can provide parents with excellent information about coping with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder.We recommend using all of the support available.
There is some great literature and many online communities that are solely dedicated to Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder as well. We encourage you to use all the available tools and support that you have access to. 

Managing Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder
Part of coping and managing behavior is understanding behavior. Many parents at times fail to realize that they reinforce disruptive behavior. These reinforcements are usually done to just provide the parent a moment of peace during a tantrum. For instance: If your son is throwing a fit at the check out line in the grocery store because you did not get him gummy bears. Naturally you are embarrassed and stressed and therefore give in to the gummy bears request to stop the noise.  Guess what? You just reinforced that negative and disruptive behavior and it will come back again. It is important to understand how behavior repeats itself and how to manage discourage behavior. 

You can help make change easier by ensuring that your child has the right kind of structure. For children with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder, structure doesn't mean rigidity or iron discipline. Instead, it means arranging things so that a child's life is as predictable, calm and organized as possible. Kids with Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder don't handle change well, and having predictable routines makes them feel safe and helps improve behavior.

It's also important to have realistic expectations and not ask more of your child than is physically or mentally possible. Set small goals for both yourself and your child and don't try to make a lot of changes all at once. This will help your child develop self esteem and a sense of value and purpose. If you constantly have unrealistic expectations you will be let down by your child and your child will never feel he is good enough.

One of the best ways to instill new habits is to provide firm, loving discipline that rewards good behavior and discourages destructive actions. Children with ADHD usually respond well to positive reinforcement, as long as it's genuinely earned. It's best to start by rewarding or reinforcing a new behavior every time it occurs. After a short time, this probably won't be necessary, but you need to continue to let your child know that you're serious about encouraging new habits.

Rewards can lose their effectiveness when they're overused. Instead of offering food  as treats which can lead to your child being  overweight or obese  try using a special privilege, such as staying up an extra half-hour or a trip to the batting cage. Don't promise a reward and then not follow through on it. This defeats the purpose of rewarding good behavior and can be extremely frustrating for your child. Special activities make better rewards than tangible objects do.

Model For Your Children
You also need to set a good example by acting the way you want your child to act. Try to remain patient and in control — even when your child is out of control. If you speak quietly and calmly, your child is more likely to calm down, too. Try  not to be one of those parents who want there children to do as they say not as they do. 

Daddy's Time Out  Parents and Caregivers need to spend a few hours apart from their child everyday. This will enable you to be a more attentive, patient and structured parent when you are present.  So go and get revived and interact with friends, family members or play a game of golf.  Do not be afraid to ask loved ones and relatives for help when you need a break. Make sure baby sitters or alternative caretakers are knowledgeable about ADHD and can provide you the break you need to continue to be a structured patient parent. 

Commonly used psycho stimulants include:

Methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta)
Dextroamphetamine/amphetamine (Adderall)
Dextroamphetamine (Dexedrine)
Another medication that works in a similar manner, but is not a stimulant, is atomoxetine (Strattera). Sometimes antidepressants also may be used —  for children who don't respond to stimulants or who are depressed or have other problems.

These medications are available in short-acting and long-acting forms. The short-acting forms last about four hours, while the long-acting preparations last between six and 12 hours. With the exception of methylphenidate, these medications come only in an oral form. Methylphenidate was recently introduced in a long-acting — about nine hours — patch that can be worn on the hip. This form was approved for use in children between the ages of 6 and 12 under the brand name Daytrana.

Although scientists don't understand exactly why these drugs work, stimulants appear to boost and balance levels of the brain chemicals called neurotransmitters which are responsible for transporting messages in the brain. These medications help to alleviate the symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity.

If your child who is taking medication for Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder and experiences any side effects, such as loss of appetite, trouble sleeping or increased irritability bring your child to the doctor or hospital immediately. Discuss all side effects of medication prior to giving them to your child and double check with the pharmacist when you pick up medication. There has been many errors with medication dispensing by pharmacist so do not assume you have the correct dose or medication always double check. In addition always get the side effect sheet with the medication do not rely on verbal information from your doctor. There is side effects to all medication.

Adderall is the most common medication prescribed for Attention Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder. Adderall is Psycho Stimulants medication. The known side effects of Psycho-Stimulants in children include decreased appetite, corresponding weight loss, nervousness and problems sleeping. Some children experience irritability or increased activity as the effect of the medication tapers off.  In addition, children may develop jerky muscle movements, such as grimaces or twitches which usually disappear when the dose of medication is reduced.

The Non-Stimulant medication Strattera has been linked to side effects that include rare liver problems. If your child is taking Strattera and develops yellow skin (jaundice), dark-colored urine or unexplained flu symptoms, contact your doctor right away. In September 2005, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued a public health warning to doctors about the risk of suicidal thinking in children and adolescents being treated with Strattera. The FDA urged doctors to closely observe children being treated with Strattera for signs of suicidal thinking.

Adderall has raised concerns because of reports of sudden unexplained deaths in children taking the medication. Health officials in Canada suspended sales of Adderall XR in February 2005, but allowed the drug back on the market in August 2005 after recommending that the drug not be used in children with heart abnormalities. In the United States, the FDA also is recommending that the medication not be used in anyone with known cardiac abnormalities.

Dextroamphetamine has also raised concerns because sudden deaths in youngsters with heart abnormalities have occurred. The drug may also cause troubling psychological side effects, such as delusional thoughts or hallucinations.

Many Fathers are understandably concerned about their children taking psycho-stimulants which are, similar to speed due to the risk of addiction. In addition, there's concern that siblings and classmates of children and teenagers with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder might abuse these medications which are commonly known on the street as "kiddie coke".

Therefore, parents should always monitor and account for all prescription medication in the household at all times. 

This is a valid issue which you should address with your pediatrician,  psychiatrist and school social worker.