Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a developmental disorder characterized by developmentally inappropriate degrees of inattention, over activity and impulsivity. This is one of the most common reasons for referral of children to mental health services. Childhood problems include lowered intellectual development, some minor physical abnormalities, sleeping disturbances, behavioral and emotional disturbances and difficulty in social relationships. Diagnosis is based on self-reports, parent and teacher reports, and psychological assessments.
Assessment includes:
• Fidgets with hands and feet or squirms in the seat.
• Easily distracted with external or internal stimuli.
• Difficulty with following through or instructions.
• Poor attention span
• Shifting from one uncompleted activity to another.
• Talking excessively.
• Interrupting or intruding to others.
• Engaging in physically dangerous activities without considering the possible consequences.
Parents should be guided on the signs and symptoms if their child exhibits behaviors that of ADHD so proper intervention can be implemented.
Being a parent is not easy, however, the wonderful world known as parenting involves a fulfilling and rewarding tasks of honing a child to grow up in the best way possible . Many parents create their own style from a combination of factors, and these may evolve over time as the children develop their own personalities and move through life’s stages.
Parenting style is affected by both the parents’ and children’s temperaments, and is largely based on the influence of one’s own parents and culture. Most parents learn parenting practices from their own parents – some they accept, some they discard.
Parenting skills are greatly challenge when a parent have children diagnosed with ADHD. Parenting styles may be of variety, but, each one differs to every situation and to the kind of a child being trained up.
Interventions for ADHD which parents can enforce include:
• Providing environmental and physical safety measures.
• Enhancing capabilities and self esteem.
• Administering prescribed medications; some commonly prescribed medications include methylphenidate
hydrochloride (Ritalin), pemoline (Cylert), and dextroamphetamine sulfate (Dexedrine).
Moreover, parents can benefit much from Behavioral Modification treatment as an adjunct therapy other than medication because children generally want to please their parents and feel good about themselves when their parent is proud of them. Often times, relationships between parents and children become fraught with conflict and angry feelings in response to the frustration caused by ADHD symptoms.
When the relationship between parent and child is basically positive, this is a very important source of motivation. A second reason that children behave appropriately is to obtain positive consequences for doing so (i.e. privileges or rewards). Finally, children will behave appropriately to avoid the negative consequences that follow inappropriate behavior.
The goal of parenting with children with ADHD is to build up good feelings between the child and the parents so that they will become more invested in wanting to please their parents. When this occurs, discipline and limit setting generally go much smoother.
The point is not to stifle individuality or assertiveness, but to teach children with ADHD on how and when to exercise these qualities in a positive, appropriate way. There are no perfect parents. What’s most important in what is being done overtime to become an effective parent.
