ADHD Angels

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Also ADD

Some of the more beautiful parents are given a special task which is to look after the wonderful children that often receive this misunderstood label.  I think that we are given these special little beings to bring up as we are special too and not everyone could cope.  These Little Angels are so full of life, willing to explore and investigate everything, several times if they feel it's necessary, they don't see danger, are very sensitive and basically don't miss a trick!

If you have been on Daisy Dan and Friends you may have seen Good Little Goat.  Goat is 8 and is really having problems with school right now and I'm sharing his experiences in a hope that it helps even one family stand up for their Little Angel.

About ADHD / ADD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) describes certain behaviour problems; children with ADHD have an unusually short attention span and become easily distracted (attention deficit). They are also overactive and restless (hyperactive).

Progress at school and development of social skills are often slowed down by ADHD.

It can be treated with a combination of behaviour management and medicines.

Many young children are naturally restless and full of energy. ADHD - which is also known as hyperkinetic disorder - defines a type of behaviour at the extreme end of the normal range of behaviour.

Children with ADHD demonstrate problem levels of:

inattention (difficulty concentrating)

hyperactivity (disorganised, fidgeting, excessive  activity)

impulsive behaviour

Estimates vary so ADHD is thought to affect between two to five percent of school-age children in England. It is at least four times more common in boys than girls.  With treatment your child's behaviour can greatly improve, though some problems with attention and lack of control may continue into later life. Aggressive or disobedient behaviour can get worse if ADHD is left untreated, so early diagnosis and management is important.

There are three main types of ADHD:

mostly hyperactive/impulsive type

mostly inattentive type - sometimes referred to attention deficit disorder (ADD)

combined type (these make up the majority of ADHD cases)

Behaviour problems are usually noticed in toddlers, if symptoms were present at home, there would also need to be problems in school and/or in social situations for a diagnosis of ADHD to be made.

You may notice that your child is constantly restless, irritable and emotionally immature, aggressiven and as poor self- discipline. He may climb fearlessly and ignore repeated warnings this can be wore to watch as these children are often clumsy. ADHD can affect social skill development, and problems with language and speech development are also common.

Starting school highlights any problems or makes it worse, learning can be slowed down by the lack of attention and concentration, and boys who are hyperactive and aggressive tend to become unpopular with other children. ADD, however, can often go unnoticed because the child is dreamy and inattentive, but not disruptive.

As your child grows older, he or she may engage in antisocial behaviour and be unaware of the consequences. But ADHD is not related to intelligence - children of all levels of ability can be affected.

The exact cause of ADHD isn't known, but there are likely to be a number of factors involved. Research suggests that people with ADHD may have differences in the parts of the brain which deal with controlling impulses and focusing attention. Many children with ADHD have another family member with the same problem offering a possible genetic link.In addition, children are more likely to have ADHD if they were born prematurely, or if their mother smoked or misused alcohol or drugs when pregnant.These factors can interact with other mental problems such as an anxiety disorder and a stressful family environment. This can make the behavioural and emotional symptoms of ADHD worse.

It is normal for children, especially under fives, to be inattentive and restless. A diagnosis of ADHD needs to be made by a trained professional. If you are concerned about your child, visit your GP.  If ADHD is suspected, the doctor will refer your child to a child psychiatrist (doctor specialising in children's mental health) or paediatrician (doctor that specialises in children's illnesses).There are no specific tests for ADHD. The specialist will usually make the diagnosis on the basis of observing the child and reports of the child's behaviour. Parents, carers or teachers may be asked to fill in a questionnaire about the child's behaviour.

You can help your child by providing a structured environment with clear rules of acceptable behaviour. The specialist seeing your child can help you learn how to manage his or her behaviour.

Make sure that your child's teacher knows about the condition. A structured and orderly classroom without too many distractions is helpful. Often, small-group or individual teaching can help.

An educational psychologist can help to check on your child's progress. Special help should focus on particular problem areas, such as difficulties with reading, spelling, maths and organisation.  Speech therapy, physical education therapy and counselling may also be available for your child at school.

Medication can be prescribed as part of the treatment for children with ADHD. A child psychiatrist, will first prescribe these.  Like all drugs, these medicines can sometimes have side-effects, including insomnia, headaches and irritability.

You can help your child by providing a structured environment with clear rules of acceptable behaviour. The specialist seeing your child can help you learn how to manage his or her behaviour.

Psychological and behavioural therapy can also help children with ADHD, and it is used in combination with drugs. The therapy is designed to help your child learn to cope with the condition and reduce impulsive behaviour. Some therapy can be offered to your child or your whole family. Talk to your GP or child's psychiatrist about what is best for you and your child.

The role of diet in ADHD is controversial. Many people believe that some types of food additives, such as artificial colourings or refined sugars, can make their child's behaviour worse. In fact, there is little evidence to support this.  If you do decide to make any changes to your child's diet, you should speak to a paediatric dietician first, because permanently eliminating certain foods may be harmful.Some experts think that certain vitamin, mineral, or omega-3 fatty supplements can help to treat ADHD. Again, the evidence is not conclusive, but the safety of high doses of supplements is unproven so care must be taken. Nevertheless, eating a varied and balanced diet, including oily fish (eg mackerel, herring, trout), which is high in omega-3 fatty acids, certainly helps to promote healthy development in children.

It can be difficult caring for a child with ADHD and the effects on family life can be dramatic. National support groups are available for these families, and your GP may be able to put you in touch with a local support group. Through one of these, you can meet other families in the same situation and get support and advice on behaviour management for your child.

Fairy Tara suggested we had a special page were everyone could support one another, I thought about adding it to the forum but this seems more comfortable.

So if you have any experience of these Magical Children, believe them to be Psychic kids, or the next level of evolution, or would like to share a problem or a strategy, please pop something here or email me:

magic@halosandrainbows.com

If you would like to discuss anything about ADHD or ADD please click the link to our message room and post a message for our Fairy Friends

http://www.halosandrainbows.com/fairychat.htm