Long-Term Effects of ADHD Medication
July 3rd, 2011
The following article was contributed by Jeremy Fordham
Archive for the ‘ADD/ADHD’ Category
Is It ADD or ADHD? Attention Deficit Disorder
June 26th, 2011Is It ADD or ADHD? Attention Deficit Disorder
The term ADD attention deficit disorder is a common one today as is ADHD. In fact it is so common because the incidence of attention deficit disorder in 2007 of 4 year- old's to 17 year-old's was 9.5%. That is almost 1 out of every 10 in a classroom. As an adult it is rare that I am out socializing and another adult refers to their own ADD. This happens at the park, coffee shop, even on cruises.The actual term ADD is now considered the "old" term for Attention Deficit Disorder. It was generally used for those of us who have ADHD without the hyper activity component. ADHD was ADD with the hyper-activity. Nowadays the 'proper term' is ADHD with the specifics added. Remember, there are a variety of specific types of attention deficit problems. Each child will deal with the problems slightly differently because each child is unique.The DSMIV Identifies and Defines ADHD
The DSM IV combined ADD and ADHD into one disorder with multiple parts. So now the proper terms are: ADHD-HI (primarily hyperactive impulsive) ADHD-I (primarily inattentive) ADHD-C (combined) ADHD-NOS (not otherwise specified) It is rare to be diagnosed with this type.What Is Combined Type Attention Deficit Disorder?
A combined type of attention deficit disorder is someone who has all the diagnostic criteria for both the HI type and the I type. The diagnostic criteria for HI type are very different than for I type. You can find the diagnostic criteria for each type by simply doing a google search for DSM IV and ADHD.Important Points to Remember About ADHD
- Attention Deficit Disorder has been recognized as a disorder for over 150 years.
- ADHD has gone through over 50 name changes in those 150 years, some of those names were pretty nasty.
- It is likely that there will be more tweaking of the diagnosis when the next revised addition of the DSM IV comes out.
- This is due to the debate about the difference in people who are inattentive versus hyperactive.
Here are 9 of 18 common symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder
- Not following through with instructions.
- Not paying attention appropriately to what they need to attend to.
- Seeming not to listen.
- Being disorganized.
- Having poor handwriting.
- Missing details.
- Appearing to be easily distracted.
- Appearing fidgety.
- Being verbally impulsive.
Diagnosis of Attention Deficit or Is It a Learning Problem or Is It Both?
One other important point that has to be made is that a diagnosis of attention deficit disorder is not the 'end of the world.' In fact, there are many successful business persons with attention deficit disorder, so your child does have a lot going for them. In fact, there is much you can do at home to help your child. Additionally, there are often other issues that may compound the difficulties of attention deficit such as problems in one or more areas of visual, auditory, or tactile/kinesthetic processing. And, sometimes a child is misdiagnosed due to problems in so many areas of perception. when one are is overwhelmed, it shuts down. This 'shutting down' can be mistaken for inattention. Identifying and addressing the underlying causes of any of those problems will make coping with any of the types of attention deficit easier.Family Activities to Improve Learning Skills
Other things you can do to help your child is to incorporate learning games into their learning. This is because when your child is playing a learning game it is appropriate to move around while they are learning. They are also learning skills of getting along with others, cooperating with others while playing. Some great games that are very successful with ADHD children that teach learning skills at the same time are The Sentence Zone, The Comprehension Zone, and The Math Zone.6 Steps to Take to Improve Your Child’s Learning Skills Over the Summer
May 27th, 2011Improve Your Child's Learning Skills
Over the Summer
Even though the school year is winding down, as a parent you are thinking about how to improve your child's learning skills. You know learning shouldn’t end with the end of school. Learning is something that continues throughout life. I know your children don’t want to hear that, but you know that is the reality. You have the opportunity to improve your learning skills throughout life. My children were always excited when summer vacation started, but within a few days they were bored. I wanted to be sure that my children had fun, but also keep their learning skills up or even improve them over the summer. I found that if I set up a daily/weekly routine they actually improved their learning skills and blossomed.There are 6 Steps to Take to Improve Your Child’s Learning Skills Over the Summer
-
Improve Learning Skills by a Trip to the Book Store or Library
The day or day after your child gets out of school take a trip to your local library and check out a minimum of three books for each of your children. When you check out three books they seem interested in, they will typically read at least one of them. You know as well as I do that when you bring a book home it isn’t always as good as you think it might be. So, with three to choose from you will have at least one that your child will read. -
Improve Learning Skills by Setting Up a Daily Routine. Do this with your child’s input.
Every morning after breakfast spend 15 minutes either reading or doing some math - get a reading & math workbook from Longs, Kmart, or Target. If they are behind in their reading skills, get workbooks that are from their current reading level, you want them to be stretched but not overwhelmed. Review the schedule once a week to be sure the schedule is working for you. -
Improve Learning Skills with Reading Fluency Practice
Fluency training is one of the most ignored reading skills and the easiest one for parents to do with their kids. Time involved is just 5 minutes per day, and you make great improvement even if you only do it twice a week. An easy program for this is Five Minutes to Better Reading Skills. -
Improve Learning Skills with a Weekly Field Trip
Good readers are people who know a bit about everything, so they have prior knowledge to connect to when they are reading. So, go on a weekly field trip, providing rich experiences for your kids. These trips can even be just a walk around the block or a trip to the grocery store, park, or mall. The important thing to do after the trip is to take notes or write a summary of what you did. You can do this easily with Ten Minutes to Better Study Skills. Then, keep all of your notes or summaries in a notebook – the summer family trip notebook. -
Improve Learning Skills by Reading a Book Together as a Family.
Pick out funny books or mysteries and take turns reading. This can be done every night or just once or twice a week. -
Improve Learning Skills by Playing Games With Your Child.
Have a game day or game night once a week.
- The Sentence Zone Game (English Grammar)
- The Comprehension Zone (Reading Comprehension Game)
- The Math Zone (Math Calculation practice Game)
Improve Learning Skills with Bonnie Terry, M. Ed., BCET…
Bonnie has been teaching for over 35 years and has created numerous books, games, and guides to help students reach their full potential. She specializes in helping parents and teachers identify and address learning problems. Bonnie is know as the nation's learning expert as well as a contributing author to numerous educational journals and magazines including: The Old Schoolhouse Magazine, Homeschooling Parent, Parent's Monthly, and The LINK Newspaper, CEC Today, Education Update, and LDA-CA. Bonnie, mom to 3, was a girl scout leader for 10 years, a cub scout leader and assistant cub master for 8 years, and boy scout troop committee chairman for 5 years. http://www.bonnieterrylearning.comStay tuned for more information on summer activities...
Bonnie is doing a FREE webinar on Wed June 8th where she will show you specific steps to improve your child's learning skills and still have fun.Misdiagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder – ADHD
March 21st, 2011Misdiagnosed Attention Deficit Disorder - ADHD
Nearly 1 million children in the US are potentially misdiagnosed with ADHD simply because they are the youngest and most immature in their kindergarten class. This is according to Todd Elder’s research at Michigan State University as reported in Science Daily. Think about this for a minute. Almost 1 million children are potentially misdiagnosed with ADHD. And what happens when a child is misdiagnosed? More often than not that child is prescribed to take behavior-modifying stimulants such as Ritalin and they don’t need them!Diagnosing ADHD or Misdiagnosing ADHD
There are two important criteria to look at in the diagnosis and misdiagnosis of ADHD. The first is the most obvious criteria. Look at the behaviors a child is having, doing, exhibiting. For example, can they sit still for a lesson or while you read to them? The second criteria is critical! What is the age of the child doing the behavior, and do look at others of the same age. If a child can’t seem to sit still but he is only 5 and the rest of the children are 6 or close to being 6, that is a big difference! It is much harder for a 5 year old to sit still than for a 6 year old to sit still. Teachers and medical practitioners need to remember this when evaluating whether a child has ADHD.Additional Situations to Look at Regarding Diagnosis and Misdiagnosis of Attention Deficit Disorder - ADHD
1. Is the problem you are seeing situational (e.g. Only one parent sees it as a problem; at school they don’t seem to have the problems, when they are with dad they don’t seem to have the problems, or when they are with mom they don’t seem to have the problems.) 2. If only one parent is having problems with the child, it may be a problem with parenting skills (e.g. Yelling at the child such as “You don’t act like you want to be part of the family.” or “Get up right now or else” and then not follow through with a consequence.). 3. If the teacher is the only one having a problem it may be a problem with the way the teacher is dealing with the child or it may be an inexperienced teacher. 4. Other times a child is misdiagnosed with attention deficit disorder is when the actual problem occurs through a shutdown of either their auditory system or their vision system.- When the auditory or vision system becomes overloaded, it shuts down and needs a break. When either of these systems shuts down temporarily, the child often appears to be not paying attention. What is happening is either the vision system or the auditory system is resting.
- Unfortunately, often the child has trouble bringing themselves back to the activity at hand. A gentle reminder to come back to the activity is all that is needed in this instance, and it may need to be given each time they aren’t paying attention until the child learns to come back on their own.
So, what happens educationally when your child has ADHD?
Educational Problems Caused by ADD/ADHD
Although attention deficit disorder (ADHD) is not a learning disability, ADD/ADHD obviously affects performance in a school setting, as well as affects other parts of their life. Kids and adults with ADD have neurological gaps that interfere with the cognitive processes of memory, concentration, and attention span. In other words, kids with attention deficit disorder have often missed out on instruction because they were distracted and attending to other things instead of the instruction that was being given. Assignments, especially homework may be missed because they were distracted and attending to other things instead of the assignment that was being given. When kids aren’t paying attention in class, they often miss bits and pieces of skills, content, and the easy tricks to becoming efficient learners. Dr. Daniel Amen states that school problems can include: o Restlessness o Short attention span and distractibility o Impulsiveness o Procrastination o Trouble shifting attention o Forgetfulness o Writing disabilities o Reading disabilities o Visual processing problems o Auditory processing problems o Unusual study habits o Difficulties with timed situations such as timed tests.ADHD and Learning Disabilities or Dyslexia
About 70% of kids with ADHD also have dyslexia, learning difficulties or learning disabilities. School age kids may have problems with reading, spelling, writing, penmanship, or arithmetic. The question then becomes one of, how do I help my ADHD kids to do well in school when they have such trouble attending to the instruction? How do I help them to improve their memory, mental energy, organizational skills, and expressive vocabulary so they can succeed in the school setting? There is a lot you can do to help your ADHD child in school. The key is to determine what specifically is interfering with their learning. Is it only the ADHD, or have they been misdiagnosed with ADHD? Are there other underlying causes interfering with their learning in addition to ADHD? For more information on the underlying causes of learning problems, you will want to check out our comprehensive behaviorally based learning assessment. It is critical to your child’s success, whether they have attention deficit disorder or not or whether they have been misdiagnosed with ADHD or not, to find out what other underlying causes may be contributing to your child’s educational struggles. Once you know exactly what is going on, there is so much you can do to help your child whether they have ADHD, have been misdiagnosed with ADHD or have a learning difficulty or learning disability.Suspect ADD or ADHD? Struggling and Feeling Like a Failure?
February 22nd, 2011Does Your ADD or ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder) Child Dread Going to School?
In my 37 years of experience as an Educator, a Learning Disabilities Specialist, and an Educational Therapist, I have found that kids struggling with ADD/ADHD often feel stupid, like a failure, and dread going to school. They may get frustrated with schoolwork because they missed out on instruction due to the difficulties caused by their attention deficit disorder. They may feel that their work isn’t going to be good enough so they stop trying. They may even get to the point of hating school. Ultimately they may not be able to get into the college of their choice or get the job of their choice. At times it can be extremely clear to a parent and teacher that a child possibly has ADD/ADHD. This is the child that won’t sit still, may jump out of their seat, and is disruptive in class as well as at home.However, there are times when an ADD or ADHD child isn’t disruptive in class, so it may take a long time for teachers to notice their problem.
They are often thought of as the ‘day-dreamers’ or ‘absent-minded professors’. For instance, Eric wasn’t disruptive in class. He sat quietly; his behavior didn’t cause any trouble for the teacher. His teacher realized that he was a bright student, but he had failing grades. He was found to have ADHD without hyperactivity. An accurate diagnosis of attention deficit disorder is helpful when dealing with the child that exhibits ADD/ADHD symptoms. However, the actual label of ADD/ADHD isn’t as important as being able to know and recognize the symptoms and to know how to treat or deal with the symptoms.The following symptoms or signs can be indicators of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
The DSM-IV Criteria for ADHD has provided this modified form for information purposes and should be used only by trained health care providers to diagnose or treat attention deficit disorder. I have provided this form as an indicator to parents, however, a trained health provider is needed to officially diagnose and treat ADHD. I. Part A: Having six or more of the following symptoms of inattention for at least 6 months to a point that is disruptive and inappropriate for developmental level: Inattention Do you have children that:- Do not give close attention to details or make careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities?
- Have trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities?
- Do not seem to listen when spoken to directly?
- Do not follow instructions and fail to finish schoolwork or chores?
- Has trouble organizing activities?
- Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn’t want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time?
- Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools)?
- Is often easily distracted?
- Is often forgetful in daily activities?
- Fidget with their hands or feet or squirm in their seat?
- Get up from their seat when it is expected that they should remain in their seat?
- Run about or climb when and where it is not appropriate? (Adolescents or adults may feel very restless.)
- Often have trouble playing or enjoying leisure activities quietly?
- Often is “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor”/
- Often talks excessively?
- Often blurts out answers before the questions have been finished?
- Often have trouble waiting their turn?
- Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games)?
Based on these criteria, three types of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADHD) are identified:
1. ADHD, Combined Type: if both criteria 1A and 1B are met for the past 6 months. 2. ADHD, Predominantly Inattentive Type: if criterion 1A is met but criterion 1B is not met for the past six months. 3. ADHD, Predominantly Hyper-Impulsive Type: if criterion 1B is met but criterion 1A is not met for the past six months. *American Psychiatric Association: diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth edition, Text Revision. Washington, DC, American Psychiatric Association, 2000. A definitive diagnosis for attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) can only be done with either an EEG which determines brain waves or from a Spectogram which maps out brain activity.Learning Reading, Dyslexia, ADHD, Homework Help Webinar
January 19th, 2011What the Schools Don't Tell You
That You Need To Know to Give
Your Kids a Learning Advantage
Even if They Struggle with Learning
Reading, Dyslexia, or ADHD
You will learn how to give your child a learning advantage even if they have dyslexia, struggle with learning reading, have ADHD, or take too long to do their homework.
You will learn: 1. The Cone of Learning 2. The 5-step formula to give your child a learning advantage 3. The 3 ways we learn and how to access the ‘sweet spot’ of learning reading, writing, and math 4. Specific tips to gain greater access to the brain, making your brain and your child’s brain learn more quickly 5. Activities to implement tomorrow As a parent you do have the power to really make a difference in your child's lives. Once you know the 5-step formula and start implementing it, your life and your child's life of learning will become much easier. I've been teaching well over 37 years and have taught just about every type of learning problem that exists whether it is dyslexia, ADHD, learning disabilities, deaf, blind, physical handicaps, or gifted. There are things you can do, simple exercises that will give your child greater access to their brain, making it work more efficiently. We will go over several of these brain efficiency exercises on the call. All children can learn and can learn with greater ease. Learning should be challenging and exciting, not stressful or boring.Be on the webinar and see what you can do to make learning reading, writing, and math easy for your child even if they have dyslexia or ADHD.
Common Symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
January 12th, 2011Common Symptoms of Attention
Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
A lot of emails have been coming in regarding attention deficit disorder, often referred to as ADD and ADHD recently. Parents are wondering if their child has attention deficit disorder. Some parents are being told by their child's teacher that their child has ADD. Others are questioning it themselves. ADD or ADHD is nothing to be scared of. I know life can be quite difficult at times when you have a child with ADD. Not only have I taught many students over the years with ADD, one of my son's also has ADD. The good news is there is a lot that can be done to get through life and learning with greater ease once you know what is going on. One of the most critical things is to understand what is going on, then you are able to deal with it and cope with greater ease. Here is a list of common symptoms of ADD/ADHD:Eighteen typical symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD) are:
- Not following through with instructions.
- Not paying attention appropriately to what they need to attend to.
- Seeming not to listen.
- Being disorganized.
- Having poor handwriting.
- Missing details.
- Appearing to be easily distracted.
- Appearing fidgety.
- Being verbally impulsive.
- Difficulty waiting for their turn.
- Acting on impulse regardless of consequences.
- Do not give close attention to details or make careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities
- Have trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities
- Fail to finish schoolwork or chores
- Often avoids, dislikes, or doesn’t want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time
- Often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g. toys, school assignments, pencils, books, or tools)
- Is often easily distracted
- Is often forgetful in daily activities
Note: Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD/ADHD)
Remember, not all people with attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) have all of these difficulties, and they usually do not have all of these difficulties all of the time. It is also important to know that everybody has some of these symptoms some of the time. There are many things you can do as a parent to help your kids with attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD). Look for part two where I will go into more depth on attention deficit disorder (ADD/ADHD) In the meantime, for more information on attention deficit disorder you will want to check outWe suspect ADHD…Help!
Improve Learning Reading, Writing, Spelling, and Math Skills
October 28th, 2010
“FACT – It's Not Too Late...
Give Your Child A 2 To 4 Year Advantage
in Learning Reading, Writing and Math
In Just 20 Minutes A Day!”
Does your child struggle with learning reading, writing, spelling, or math? Do they have reading comprehension problems? Do they understand their homework? Do they do their homework with ease or do they take what seems like forever to get their homework done? If you have answered yes to any of these questions...you want to be on the FREE private training call: How to Help Your Child Improve Learning Reading, Writing, Spelling, and Math.Private Training Call reveals:
1. The 5 things you need to know to put in place to accelerate your child's learning reading, writing, spelling, and math in just minutes a day. 2. Secrets to this proven, easy to understand, Speed To Learning Program. 3. The power of understanding the underlying causes of your child’s learning reading struggles. 4. How to turn Your Child’s Life of Learning Struggles into a Life of Joyful Learning in just 20 minutes a day using Speed to Learning principles. 5. Great for all children, no matter what learning age they are at and especially effective for those children with learning disabilities such as LD, Dyslexia and ADHD.Youngest in class get ADHD label
August 17th, 2010Youngest in class get ADHD label
Parents often wonder if they should enter their child into kindergarten when they are very close to the age cutoff for entering school. Should you have them start kindergarten or wait another year? A recent study from Michigan State University shows that kids who are the youngest in their grades are 60% more likely to exhibit Attention Deficit types of behaviors and actually be diagnosed with attention deficit disorder than the oldest children in the class.Nearly 1 million children diagnosed with ADHD
By Liz Szabo, USA TODAY Nearly 1 million children may have been misdiagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, not because they have real behavior problems, but because they're the youngest kids in their kindergarten class, researchers say. Kids who are the youngest in their grades are 60% more likely to be diagnosed with attention deficit disorder than the oldest children, according to a study out today from Michigan State University, given exclusively to USA TODAY. A second study, by researchers at North Carolina State University and elsewhere, came to similar conclusions. Both are scheduled for publication in the Journal of Health Economics. TEENS: 1/3 with ADHD drop out or delay graduation About 4.5 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD, according to the studies. Misdiagnosing children can have long-lasting effects, says assistant professor of economics Todd Elder, author of the Michigan State study. In fifth and eighth grade, the youngest kids in a class were more than twice as likely to use Ritalin, a stimulant commonly prescribed for ADHD, compared with the oldest students, his study says. Read More For more articles if you suspect ADHDCNN Survey on ADHD Just Released
July 20th, 2010
The CNN Survey concludes that at some point most parents turn to medication as a treatment to deal with their child's ADHD. The second most effective treatment parents have used is to make a switch in schools - to a school that is better equipped to work with children with attention deficit disorder.
When I speak to parents about attention deficit disorder I always try to be sure they are in the know on what they can do as well as what some of the best ways to advocate for their child in the school system. Many teachers are not equipped to deal with attention deficit disorder and don't want to deal with it. However, I don't know that there is a classroom in the US, or worldwide for that matter that doesn't have at least one ADHD student in the class. (Approximately 9-10% of the population has ADHD).
So, in my opinion what is key is for parents to build a strong working relationship with their child's teacher to help them help their child navigate through their education while learning to deal with their ADHD. There are many behavioral ways of dealing with attention deficit disorder that can be easily implemented in the classroom. Additionally, medication is sometimes warranted, but I always say, exhaust every other possibility first. Then if you still need to go the medication route, do it. If your child needed eye glasses you would not 'blink an eye' over the decision, you would get them glasses. If your child needed a hearing aid, again, you would do it. If your child does need medication to be able to function in a classroom because every avenue has been pursued and they still can't focus, do it.
But, medication is only one piece of the puzzle. Even with medication, behavioral interventions often still need to be in place and followed through on. So educating your child's teacher is often imperative in helping them have a good school year. When you create a good working relationship with your child's teacher you will have greater success in helping them understand what they need to know and do to help your child.
Here is a link to the CNN survey