What is ADHD?
ADHD is a chronic, lifelong disorder of childhood that is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity that are inappropriate for the child’s age and developmental level. About 1 in 20 children have ADHD. However, most of them do not go to the doctor and therefore are not identified and diagnosed accordingly. Boys are more likely to have ADHD compared to girls.
The behavioral characteristics of ADHD vary widely among individuals.
The typical symptoms of children with ADHD fall into three main categories: inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These symptoms can occur separately or together.
Children with ADHD should be alerted to the presence of the following symptoms.
In class, they do not pay attention to lectures and often wander off, turning their heads as soon as they hear a sound in the classroom or see someone walking by outside the window. When doing homework, he or she does not pay attention to it, and is careless in doing it.
Whether at home or in the classroom, he is always busy like a motor, as if there is never a quiet time, talking too much, making too many small movements, and being particularly nosy.
In the classroom, he often answers questions before the teacher finishes asking them. When playing games with children, if they need to take turns in line, they often cut in line because they can’t wait, so they are often criticized by teachers for this. At home, they often talk back to their parents, do not listen to them, and often lose their temper.
Because of these bad performance, some parents always blame their children are not as good as other children, and even scold; some parents think that children are small, all will be naughty, and will be good when they grow up; some parents because of their children’s learning difficulties, reluctance to learn, disobedience, often by the teacher detention, often by the teacher to complain, appear anxiety, and even because of the children and family disagreement. These thoughts and practices are incorrect and negative.
Treatment for ADHD
Currently, a comprehensive treatment plan of “medication + non-pharmacological treatment” is generally used.
The use of medication along with non-pharmacological treatment can help to further consolidate and improve the outcome. This includes behavioral therapy, psychological counseling, parent training, and school intervention.
The cooperation of parents and teachers is crucial to the treatment of children. It is important to create a harmonious and warm environment for children with ADHD, so that they can establish good learning communication and living habits in a relaxed and pleasant atmosphere.
What can parents do?
Educational management.
Usually we should show more concern and sympathy for hyperactive children, give encouragement to children’s quiet behavior, and give timely praise to every small progress, i.e. positive reinforcement education; at the same time, parents should set an example to protect children’s self-esteem and avoid mental trauma. Neither coddle, indulge the child’s capricious and unreasonable demands; nor use corporal punishment, scolding means of management.
Dietary modifications.
Children hyperactivity and diet may have a certain relationship, eat less food containing additives, should eat more zinc-rich food, such as eggs, beans, liver, fish and shrimp, etc.
Attention training.
Every day after school you can arrange for your child to have free time for 20-30 minutes, followed by supervising your child to finish his homework.
Specific methods.
1, each time 15-30 minutes to focus on one content, do one and then change one. For example, writing, reading a book, telling a story, etc. After finishing the homework, you can watch TV or play games for about 30 minutes.
2. When doing homework, you should put only one content on the desktop. For example, when doing math practice problems, only math-related reference books, etc., so as to avoid distractions when doing homework. It is better not to do homework while listening to music with headphones.
Positive reinforcement training.
Use the above methods for a period of time and ask to repeat them several times. It is on this basis that the homework can be completed better (correct calculation, correct handwriting and neat writing). If it is completed well, it should be promptly stimulated by using various encouragements such as appreciative words, hugs, kisses and other positive ways of skin contact.
Mental stability training.
Do not arbitrarily deny or agree to the child’s requests, and try to meet appropriately.
1, appropriate to meet: adults keep their word, to ensure delivery, the child will be in a happy mood, there to promote learning.
2, arbitrarily satisfied: the child will be capricious, good tantrums, etc.
3, rarely meet or never meet: the child will be depressed or anxious, etc..
The child is, after all, a child, whose growth and progress cannot be achieved without the full cooperation of the child himself, parents, teachers and doctors.