I have a 5 year old son, diagnosed with ADHD and I am not keen on medication yet.Do they ever settle, if not on medication? Most people say he is naughty and do not seem to understand. Hi myobf -
It's too bad most people don't seem to understand ADHD, but that's sadly the way it is. Keep your head up, and know that you are doing great things by looking for additional ways to help support your son! That's the key!
To answer your question, there are a lot of things you can be doing to help support your child. Here's a few suggestions, and I'd be more than happy to help expand on these ideas or even provide additional approaches.
1. Working Memory Training (see below for more)
2. Study Skills
3. Social Skills
4. Coaching
5. Strategies
6. Family Support
7. Mentoring
8. Tutoring
9. Fun Activities
10.Neurofeedback
This list might seem a little basic, but here's one of the most misunderstood facts about a child with ADHD: Most people will tell you ADHD is about "inattention," but it's actually about variable attention or selective attention.
People with ADHD (particularly children) need to be doing things they are passionate about - activities that really engage them. For instance, does your son have any time during the day where he gets to do what he wants?
I don't like the term "behavior modification" because, well--for me, it seems like we are blaming the child. I am NOT suggesting that is what you are doing -- but ADHD in a lot of cases has more to do with developing the right skills and strategies to navigate the challenges of life than it does about following the rules.
As a coach, I help my clients focus on the following (and in this order):
1. Understanding ADHD
2. Understanding their own ADHD
3. Finding Strengths
4. Setting Goals
5. Developing Strengths
6. Leveraging Other People's Strengths
7. Developing Tools and Strategies
I'm not sure if this is necessarily what you are looking for, but I think you are on the right path.
As for your last question - Yes, a good number of children with ADHD do eventually "settle" if not on medication. It might not happen until they reach young adulthood - but it's possible. Typically we see a decrease in the "hyperactive - impulsive" behaviors as a child matures and gets older. However, that doesn't suggest the ADHD goes away...
Instead, successful adults have typically found tools and strategies to help them.
For more information on working memory, there is a 50+ minute audio interview on Working Memory Training at my blog:
http://thetruthbehindadhd.com/working-me...
Please feel free to contact me if I can be of further support!
Rory
Rory F. Stern, PsyD
ADHD Coach & "Former" Therapist
http://www.adhdsuccessaudio.com
Oh yea - I had to come back and say that activities like Karate and anything else that encourages mindfulness (mind-body connection) can be very powerful too! try natural things like chammomile and/or viatamin B
also lots of structure, firm and consistant limits, and plenty of time to let out extra energy
how about you have him take karate classes.
Its a good self discipline and it will give him a chance to let out his excess energy
The Benefits Of Martial Arts Training
For Children With ADD/ADHD.
Can Children Diagnosed With ADD/ADHD
Benefit From The Martial Arts.
Date : Friday, February 04, 2005
Windsor, Ontario Canada -- (ArriveNet - Feb 04, 2005) -- Martial Arts Help Children With ADD And ADHD
WIndsor Ontario -- Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) affects up to 5 percent of all North American children ages 5-18, according to Sports Illustrated For Kids writer Rose Kennedy. Furthermore, estimates range from one to four million youngsters take Ritalin, the drug of choice in treating ADD and Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
One conclusion drawn from numerous studies is that children diagnosed with ADD or ADHD are more successful in structured activities.
ABC News correspondent Karen Chase writes, "It's so simple it's hard to believe, but the latest technique for combating the symptoms of ADD is martial arts." Parents see increased self-esteem and improved focus and concentration abilities in their children.
"Using mind-body disciplines, martial arts seem to address the short attention spans of today's children, even those diagnosed with ADHD," says a recent report by HealthAtoZ.com. Boys diagnosed with ADHD outnumber girls three to one.
Many martial arts schools are teaching the principles advocated by Mr. Miyagi in the "Karate Kid" movies and moving away from the beat-em-up tactics portrayed in most other fictional karate and kung fu films. In an interview for Children Today, martial arts expert and author Joyce Roberson explains that "contrary to the visual perception of karate being a violent sport, the premiere dictate of this sport is nonviolence above all else."
http://www.rska.com/news_04.html All the kids in my family were like that until they reached 10. I am keeping my 5 year old off medications. Off the meds they learn to calm their behavior but on the meds they have no chance to learn that and are dependent on the medication for controlling the way they feel.
I warn people who deal with my son without me present that IF you wind him up, he will NOT wind down and I say it sternly as if you will get what's coming to you if you do this to him. And that helps.
And no, people who have never dealt with differently abled kids just don't get that they can't pretend to be different than how they are. I appreciate the fact that my son can eat 3 huge meals, snack round the clock, and still is so skinny all his ribs stick out front and back. I think it's wonderful that he can stay physically fit on his own. I think it's wonderful that when there is strenuous work to do, I can get my 5 year old to channel his energies to productive work, like dragging 16 bags of hedge prunings to my back yard for the trash or more recently he set up 42 chairs for me around tables for an event I was hosting. 5yo boys are very naughty, ADHD or not. I'd definitely get a second diagnosis before putting him on meds, because ADHD is way overdiagnosed. But no, I don't think there's anything out there besides diet, meds, and behavior modification. Of course, if you were to describe what you're doing behavior-wise, maybe someone could give you some other behavioral tips. I have to agree to a certain degree.
I'm not saying that you're one of those parents, but a lot of parents out there feel their kids are 'too loud' and then they feed them Ritalin and turn them into quiet zombies in front of the television when in actual fact, they're just kids. They're supposed to be energetic and building their muscles by playing outside and riding their bikes.
I take my hat off to you though for not opting for the medication option.
I knew a kid with ADD and his parents sent him for horse riding lessons and Brain Training (mental fitness course) and he starting showing remarkable improvement in his school work, so maybe that's an option, something physical and mental in combination? Lots and lots of outside time if you can. My kids can be terrible, or they can be angels. It depends on how long they have been cooped up in the house. My honest opinion about boys who are "diagnosed" with ADHD? They are just being LITTLE BOYS!!!! |
