|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
Being a Parent of an ADHD Child
Roughly five to eight percent of school age children are said to have
attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, otherwise known as ADHD or
ADD. With ADHD/ADD affecting so many children it would be assumed
treating and dealing with ADHD/ADD would be easy, but this is not often
the case.
I am an educated individual, not a scientist mind you
but educated nonetheless. Seven years ago I encountered something I knew
nothing about and it's something I still am still learning about today.
My name is Tamara, and my son has ADHD.
What Exactly Is ADHD/ADD?In
a nutshell, ADHD/ADD is an individual's inability to remain focused,
and be subject to frequent bouts of impulsiveness and hyperactivity. The
primary difference between ADHD and ADD is the hyperactivity component.
My
son went for the whole package and got the all inclusive deal with the
hyperactivity which has made the last seven years very interesting to
say the least! Most challenging would be distinguishing between "normal"
children's behavior and "not normal" children's behavior: it has not
been easy.
How I Knew my Child Had Attention Deficit Hyperactivity DisorderChildren
are supposed to be hyperactive, impulsive and sometimes, just downright
out of control; it's their nature! However, when those traits affected
my child's ability to perform daily tasks and succeeding at school, then
I knew it was time to look deeper.
At first, our son seemed like
any other boy his age but as he got older we noticed subtle differences
between him and his peers. Once he entered school it became more
obvious there was something getting in the way of his learning and
development but it still took years before we figured it out and got him
the help he needed.
How We Deal With Our Son's ADHD/ADDThere
are no quick solutions, no perfect quick fix when it comes to dealing
with ADHD/ADD, this much I have learned! We've listened to doctors,
tried the pharmaceutical drugs, seen psychiatrists and tried a variety
of natural alternative remedies. While some solutions worked, others
made it worse and it has been seven years of ups and downs.
What I
can convey is this: Dealing with ADHD/ADD takes time, understanding and
a whole world of patience! I had to understand all I could about
ADHD/ADD in order to understand how my son's mind works. He does not
process things as I do, nor can he multi-task as I do. Simple tasks to
me can be utterly inconceivable for him and while I can plan my entire
week out, he is lucky to have the next 10 minutes figured out!
Some successful and not successful treatments we have tried:
- Pharmaceutical Drugs: Strattera, Concerta, Adderall – Not successful
- Behavior Modification: Using lists, rewards & consequences, following schedules – Very successful
- Dietary Changes: Limiting sugar intake, eliminating cow's milk (soy instead), drinking lots of water and eating healthy snacks – Successful
- Essential Fatty Acids: Consuming extra omega 3 oils – Not successful
- Herbal supplements: Native Remedies – Very successful
Continuing to Parent Our ADHD/ADD SonThe
challenges never seem to go away and each day appears to bring
something new. As our son gets older his body chemistry changes and
often we need to modify whatever treatments we are currently running
with. The key is to always keep up to date with ADHD/ADD through support
groups and research and try new solutions as they become available.
Trying to understand ADHD/ADD has helped me understand our son a little
better, which allows for better communication.
At the end of the
day, he is still my son and still a good kid. I know he tries and all
things considered, he has done a great job in expressing himself and
trying to keep on track. Despite the frustrations of parenting an
ADHD/ADD child it has also been very rewarding to see how working with
my child and communicating with him has helped us reach the goals we all
want.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this
article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for
diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health
professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should
contact a doctor for advice.
National Resource Center on AD|HD. "What is ADHD or ADD" (accessed September 9, 2010).
|
|
About the Author Author of "The Cosmetic Chemicals Guide", and "Helping Your ADHD/ADD Child,
Tamara Laschinsky has published over 550 articles since 2010. Her work
has been published in a variety of magazines, health newsletters and
online publications across the world and her books are also sold world-wide.
Tamara is the owner of the natural health & wellness store,
Natural e GREEN, based in Airdrie, Alberta. She divides her time between
running the store and researching new stories for her readers. Dedicated to helping consumers make safe choices and to providing information for the younger generation, Tamara continues to find the safest products available and share them with her readers and customers.
|
|
|
|
