Is this ADHD?

Cheryl Gowin and Dennis Gowin.  Call us at our counseling practice with your feedback, comments, issues, or questions at 434-808-2637.

Does this sound like your daughter?

Anne is 10 and her favorite pastime – daydreaming.  At parent-teacher conferences, her teachers describe Anne as a quiet student who spends most of her time looking off into space.  When asked what she is thinking about she will just shrug and say lots of stuff.   At home, she has every intention of studying.  Her studying starts out well planned but soon is interrupted by a task such as looking for a different pencil.  Then, the other objects on her desk distract her and the plans for studying are gone from her thoughts.  Ann also forgets to do her chores, loses objects that she needs, and has an overall tendency to lose focus.  As Anne’s parents, you are frustrated because you can’t find a way to motivate Anne to stay on task.

Does this sound like your son?

Paul is best described as an eight-year-old boy whose motor is always running.  When expected to sit during church or school, it is like his chair seat is made of hot coals.  He can’t stay seated for more than a few minutes and even those minutes, Paul is continually fidgeting.

It seems like every day, Paul is in trouble for not listening to his teachers, and constantly interrupting class by talking to his friends.  His teachers describe Paul as energetic, friendly and outgoing.   Although, his teachers voice concerns that he blurts out answers without raising his hand or waiting to be called on for his answer.

Both of these children have different types of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).   If this is your child, he or she is not alone; studies show a range of 5% to 11% of school-age children are affected by ADHD.   ADHD symptoms can include a combination of inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsivity actions.

What do you do if these scenarios are all too familiar?  First your child should be evaluated by a counselor and his or her medical doctor.  The counselor will use a variety of evaluation tools and assessment tests.  As an example, the Vanderbilt behavioral checklist is completed by parents and teachers as a means of pinpointing ADHD symptoms.  In addition to these assessments, your child’s hearing and vision should also be tested by his or her doctor to rule out any physical issues that might be causing the problem.

Let’s assume your child is diagnosed with ADHD.  What does that mean?  It does not mean your child can’t be successful.  Here are just a few people who have been diagnosed with ADHD: Simone Biles, Olympics Gold Gymnast, Sir Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group, which comprises more than 400 companies, Katherine Ellison, Pulitzer-prize winning foreign newspaper correspondent, Dr. Edward Hallowell, Harvard psychiatrist and author, and Jose Freeman, Buccaneers quarterback, to name a few.

Working with a team, counselor, medical doctor, teachers and yourself, you can develop a plan for helping your child succeed.  Here is a list of strategies for helping your child.

First, develop strong patterns in your child’s home life by defining consistent chores and set routines.  Also, create clear boundaries so that your child knows the rules and consequences.  Ambiguity is a stumbling block for a child with ADHD.

Help your child create a space to do homework that is quiet and free from distractions.  This space should not include cell phones, game stations, or a TV.  Work with your child to create an organizational system and ways for him or her to set reminders.

Teach your child good self-care, such as nutrition, getting enough sleep, and engaging in physical activities.  Help your child develop strategies for soothing emotions when he or she becomes overstimulated.  One effective technique is deep breathing.  Explain mindfulness activities to help your child learn to develop control over his or her thoughts.

This may be the hardest suggestion to implement with your child: limit video gaming.  Research has shown that gaming has a negative effect on ADHD tendencies.

It can feel overwhelming when you have a child with ADHD.  Thankfully, there are ways and people who can help!    

No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.  Hebrews 12:11

Cheryl Gowin and Dennis Gowin.  Call us with your feedback, comments, issues, or questions; our phone number is 434-808-2637.