ADHD Help
Help for Parents of ADHD Children
Facts About ADD and ADHD
I just read a letter from a distraught parent and felt that it needed an answer. The father was upset because a school teacher felt that his son had ADHD. He knew that his child could be difficult at times but also knew that his son was a good, smart child. Both parents were quite upset about just the thought of their child having to see a mental health professional for what they considered to be a questionable disorder at best.
ADHD is a real disorder which can be seen on PET scans. It has been diagnosed for over 100 years. Usually it is inherited but sometimes it is caused by trauma during the pregnancy or birth or exposure to toxins. We have used stimulant medications to treat it for over 60 years. ADHD is not something that we just invented so that we could put all of the difficult children on medications. In order to diagnose ADHD not only must the child have enough symptoms to justify the diagnosis but also there must be impairment in at least 2 different settings and significant impairment is one of those settings.
Having ADHD has nothing to do with how smart a child is. Some very intelligent children have ADHD, some children with average intelligence have it, and some with below average intelligence have the disorder. ADHD interferes with a child’s ability to function up to his or her capacity. Unfortunately, it often feels as if the child is just lazy when the parents see that he or she can stay on task to play video games but doesn’t appear to be able to complete or turn in school work.
ADHD interferes with a child’s ability to complete boring, redundant work which is not all that attractive from the very start. When I first heard this statement, I thought to myself “doesn’t everybody have this problem?” I asked one of my teachers and he told me that people without ADHD might have to force themselves to complete the work but children with ADHD really just can’t do it.
The parents who wrote the letter eventually did end up taking their child for an evaluation and the doctor diagnosed ADHD and recommended that the child start a trial on Adderall. The parents were very upset that the doctor made this recommendation and went on the internet googled Adderall.
Unfortunately googling ADHD or any of the medications often only increases parents’ confusion. Online there are all sorts of agendas regarding ADHD. There are people trying to convince you that ADHD is not real, there are people trying to tell you that the medications to treat ADHD are extremely dangerous, kiddy cocaine, and there are others trying to sell you a variety of unproven treatment strategies.
If you have questions regarding the safety of a recommended medication, discuss it with your doctor.
Get another opinion from another doctor. If you do go online, go to the ChADD webpage or some other mainstream page. Remember that nobody can force you to use medication to treat ADHD. This is a parental choice. Medication for ADHD is a symptomatic treatment and does not cure the disorder. There are many medication choices available. Most of them work quickly so that you can quickly find out whether or not the medication works. If you don’t see significant improvements, you should not even consider using the medication. Yes, I agree that it is a big decision to start your child on any medication and it should only be done with caution.
If you are told that you should have your child evaluated, remember that you are control of the ultimate decision. Also remember to beware of people who want to sell you unproven treatments. Researching your options is wise, but make sure that your research sources are legitimate. If you decide to try medication, look at it as a trial. If the medication doesn’t help significantly, don’t use it but do continue to work with legitimate doctors to determine your best options.
For more practical advice, exclusive videos, songs, activities and more, sign up for Dr. C & Elwood’s ADHD Club! We are limiting membership to 100 people at the special introductory rate, so time is limited! Click here for details.
Tags: add and adhd, adhd drugs, adhd help, adhd in children, adhd medications, adhd specialist, adhd therapy, attention deficit, causes of adhd, ChADD, child psychologist, hyperactivity disorder, what is adhdThe Children’s ADHD Video Network
“At Last, the Truth about ADHD”
Are you looking for reliable, solid information about ADHD? Do you want to learn how to help your child and your family cope with the challenges that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder can present? Are you tired of going in circles looking for good advice? Would you like to find out how to help your child succeed? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes”, then read on.
A New Way to Learn About ADHD
There is so much misinformation available that it’s hard to know where to turn. Now there is a source where you’ll find a wealth of knowledge, help and, believe it or not, fun! Imagine learning about ADHD with your child while laughing and having a great time. Picture yourself participating in educational and entertaining activities that your entire family can enjoy doing together. You can do all of this and more from the privacy and comfort of your own home.
For the past 30+ years, ADHD expert Dr. Sam Caron has been researching the disorder and has worked with hundreds of families, helping them to improve their quality of life. He has developed a comprehensive program to educate you and your family about ADHD in an entertaining way. These lessons are designed for elementary school children. Younger and older children can also benefit, depending upon their sophistication and maturity. You’ll learn about the symptoms of ADHD and how they can affect your child and family. You’ll find out the causes of ADHD. You’ll even learn the purpose of medication and counseling.
Help For ADHD
You’ll be shown specific techniques for making your family environment more ADHD friendly. In addition, you’ll be educated about the symptoms of oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and be given recommendations on how to use behavioral programs to reduce the symptoms. The program discusses how ADHD can affect siblings, and suggestions for intervening on each specific main symptom. And let’s not forget to mention the numerous songs which teach the main points in an entertaining and memorable fashion! You’d pay hundreds of dollars every week for professional counseling or coaching. Now, for less than the price of one cup of coffee per day, you can have access to Dr. Caron’s extensive knowledge and ever-growing number of entertaining videos, songs and articles about topics that have been a source of stress, confusion and anxiety for thousands of families.
A Musical, Magical Journey Through The World of ADHD!
With the help of the Splinter family and friends, Dr. C & Elwood explain everything in simple, easy to understand terms and will guide you along your journey of discovery. You’ll find valuable information about treating the disorder, various medications, and how to help your child succeed in school and at home.
Volume 1 of this exciting series is now available to view on your computer. For only $7, you’ll get instant access to the video for 30 days and the discussion guide for the entire program. You’ll also get a free trial to Dr. C & Elwood’s ADHD Club. During your trial you’ll see new premium content added regularly that isn’t available to non-members. Brand new videos about how ADHD affects girls, types of medication currently available, and social skills training are in production right now. You’ll also get to participate in private tele-seminars that only members can access. If, at the end of the 30 days, you decide the program is not for you, simply send us an e-mail and your $7 will be refunded, no questions asked. There is absolutely no risk to you whatsoever! The discussion guide is yours to keep, our gift to you. However, if you want to continue laughing and learning with Dr. C & Elwood, simply do nothing and your membership will begin for the low price of $17 a month. You can cancel at any time.
“I watched these videos with our ADHD son, Richard, who sat engrossed and couldn’t stop talking about them for days after.
With the use of ventriloquism, humor, song and magic, Dr. C (and of course Elwood and the rest of the puppet family) take the whole family through the diagnosis and explaination of ADHD. The use of various techniques and stratagies helps the family cope and works to improve the whole family situation.
Highly recommended for use by families and professionals working with families affected by ADHD.”
Caroline Hensby
adders.org
“Dr. Caron’s video program for ADHD children and their families has proved to be a valuable addition to my repertoire of practical, hands-on tools for the patients and parents I treat everyday. He has devised a very creative, inspiring and entertaining series that brings to light a myriad of critical issues. I have witnessed children watching “The Dr. C and Elwood Show” with smiles on their faces and seen how well it serves as a springboard for them to begin to question and understand their behavior. Unlike books for ADHD
children, the video provides a more powerful impact because the child viewer so easily identifies with Elwood’s circumstances.”
Dr. Steven Richfield
Clinical Psychologist
Developer, Parent Coaching Cards