EmpoweringParents.com

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder — ADHD or ADD — are often difficult to parent.  They can have trouble understanding important directions — and those with hyperactivity issues are usually in a constant state of activity! It’s an understatement to say that this can be a challenge to adults.  In my 25 years as a child psychologist, and as the father of a son with ADHD, I’ve found that it’s helpful to shift the way you think about parenting in some ways. (Warning: You may need to change your home life a bit to help your child!)

Here are 10 things you can do to help:

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Fact: for the child with ADHD, the difficult teen years are doubly hard. That’s because all the adolescent problems—peer pressure, the fear of failure both in school and with peers, low self-esteem—are harder for the ADHD child to handle. The desire to be independent, to try new and forbidden things—alcohol, drugs, and sexual activity—are ways that many teens with ADHD self-medicate. And you may wake up one morning to realize that the household rules that were working for years have been thrown out the window.

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Dr. Bob:

Help! I have a ten-year-old son with ADHD, and I’m dreading summer vacation. Last year was a disaster. He teased his younger brother and sister constantly, and was forever stomping around the house shouting “I’m bored!” — and then getting into trouble! Is there anything we can do this year to make the summer go more smoothly? I’m at my wit’s end and it’s only June!

–Janna P. in Kentucky

Dear Janna:

First of all, you’re not alone! I’ve talked to many, many parents who feel exactly the same way you do. The bottom line is that kids with ADHD have some special concerns, and it helps if parents can prepare a little ahead of time to ensure that the long stretch of summer vacation goes smoothly — and that their child is actually even learning something rather than getting into trouble all summer.

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When a set of parents — or a whole family — tries to deal with a child with ADHD in their midst without knowing what they are dealing with, the most well adjusted family can become quite dysfunctional. It’s the old “which came first ,the chicken or the egg?” conundrum.

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Can the behavior of kids with ADHD be turned around with praise and positive reinforcement? New research says, “Yes!”

A new study conducted in Germany found that boys ranging in age from 6 to 12 who were diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) were highly motivated to perform tasks successfully when they received ample doses of social reinforcement — i.e., smiles from the researchers.  In other words, social reinforcement improved their attention, concentration and impulse control (some of the primary symptoms of ADHD).  Other studies have indicated that positive social reinforcement also improves memory ability for these kids.

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In a recent commentary in The Boston Globe, pediatrician Claudia Meininger Gold wrote, “medication can’t fix a broken childhood.”  She goes on to say, “with our over-reliance on psychoactive medication, we have created another Ponzi scheme where, just as Bernard Madoff’s investment fund was not really earning any money, we are fooling ourselves into thinking that we are helping these children in any significant way.”

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A recent exploratory study conducted at a private school reported in Current Issues in Education stated that the use of meditation can be beneficial to 11 to 14 year old students diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. According to the researchers, “the technique has potential to improve attention, behavior regulation, and executive function by naturally reducing stress and anxiety and improving brain functioning.”

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In the past few years, there has been quite a bit of research done on the link between lead exposure and ADHD. Last year, a study conducted at Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center estimated that lead levels of more than 1.3 micrograms per deciliter may account for more than 500,000 cases of ADHD among children ages 8 to 15 nationwide.

This research is consistent with previous findings.  An article in Science Daily on a similar study conducted in 2007 by Michigan State University provides additional information on this topic.  Parents who suspect their child may have been exposed to lead around their home or some other location should share this information with their child’s physician.