What Causes ADD & ADHD?

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is considered to be a neurological disorder that manifests in childhood. Symptoms of ADHD may include inattentiveness and increased distractibility, as well as high energy and hyperactivity. When only distractibility and inattentiveness are manifested, the disorder is referred to as Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD. With the rising number of reported cases of ADD, research is consistently being conducted in understanding the disorder, as well as exploring the link between attention deficit disorder and nutrition.

ADD symptoms are classified into two main groups: inattentiveness and hyperactive-impulsive behavior. Inattentiveness is manifested most explicitly in school, where ADD children have a hard time following instructions, concentrating on their work, keeping their work error-free, and even finishing it. They will often avoid difficult schoolwork, and will sometimes lose important school items such as books or pens. ADD children can appear inattentive if they are spoken to. If people with ADD do strike up a conversation, they can speak excessively, only to break off the conversation abruptly as they are distracted by something that catches their fancy.

People with ADD can also be forgetful, and they may find it hard to sleep, due to the many, varied thoughts they have at night. They may also be easily frustrated, and may exhibit emotional outbursts frequently. Although hyperactive-impulsive behavior is more characteristic of those who suffer from ADHD, there are a few habits that ADD persons may have, such as occasional fidgeting or talkativeness.

Thanks to much research, there are now therapies and medications available to treat ADD and ADHD. Research is still being conducted in the field of attention deficit disorder and nutrition links, although changing diets is often recommended as an alternative, if not experimental treatment. In the early years of studies seeking to find the link between attention deficit disorder and nutrition, research proposed diets that excluded stimulants, such as coffee, tea, or sugar. Other studies proposed diets that removed allergenic foods from meals, such as eggs, milk, and wheat. Despite these findings, no study has yet shown a conclusive link between diets and improved ADD symptoms.

Research still does show, however, that ADD and ADHD children have differences in their metabolism compared with non-ADD and non-ADHD children. For instance, Neil Ward, a chemist from the United Kingdom, showed in 1990 that ADHD children lost zinc quickly when they took tartrazine. Other studies suggested that lack of omega-3 fatty acids could trigger ADHD development. Despite these and other findings, a concrete link between attention deficit disorder and nutrition has yet to be established, although the research is often used as the basis for supplementary diets in addition to existing medication and therapy techniques.

A popular supplementary diet is the Feingold diet, where artificial flavors and colors, such as salicylates and preservatives, are removed from an ADD or ADHD person’s diet. Another school of thought on the link between attention deficit disorder and nutrition dictates that a balanced diet is essential for the proper health and nutrition of any person, whether with ADD, ADHD, or any other disorder. Scientists have therefore taken middle ground in the debate: no diet has yet been approved for ADD or ADHD treatment, and any diet proposed to patients must always be used in conjunction with therapy and medication.

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http://www.drnathaliefiset.com
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Is It Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Just Boy Behavior?

Have you ever wondered if your son had A.

Is It Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or Just Boy Behavior?

It has been suggested to you that your son may be suffering from attention deficit. This information has come to you via a teacher or a child care worker or family member or maybe it has crept into your own mind without any suggestion from anyone. You struggle with the idea and you wonder, is it really attention deficit or is he just being an active boy. After all, the symptoms of attention deficit and the normal behavior of boys can look remarkably alike. They are distractible, don’t stay focused on one thing for very long, can be impulsive, are forgetful (except for details of video games!) don’t listen for directions and are constantly moving. Sound like your boy?

The diagnosis of ADHD has increased tremendously over the past three decades, if the prescription of medication to treat the disorder is any indication. In the years between 1987 and 1996 there was a 600% increase in the prescription of medication for the treatment of ADHD. (the increase in the prescriptions was for children enrolled in HMOs, during that same period there was only a 17% increase in enrollment in the HMOs). This is a staggering increase in the diagnosis of ADHD, add to this that boys are three times more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than are girls and the question of if this is boy behavior or ADHD is a significant one.

The only way to really tell the difference between the two is a very thorough diagnosis. Unfortunately, between the pressures on teachers and classrooms and the busy health care practitioner there can be a rush to diagnose a child with ADHD simply by looking at the diagnostic criteria from the Diagnostic and Statistics Manual Fourth Edition (DSM IV) and declare a child to be indeed ADHD, particularly if his behavior and academic performance is suffering. One study in Australia showed that three fourths of the children diagnosed with ADHD had been improperly diagnosed (Australia has the highest use of psychostimulants for ADHD in children).

Fortunately, most experts agree that there is a way to accurately diagnose ADHD but they are also quick to point out that there are a number of disorders in children that can present like ADHD. Some of these disorders are depression, anxiety, learning disabilities among others. It is also possible that what looks like ADHD simply is immaturity due to the fact that the maturity rate among boys varies significantly from boy to boy, particularly compared to girls. If you suspect that there may be a problem with ADHD, make sure that you are getting a good assessment, remembering that ADHD is what is called a “rule out” disorder. A rule out disorder is one that is diagnosed partially by ruling out other, more readily identifiable disorders.

The diagnosis of ADHD is done usually by comparing your son’s behavior with boys his own age. Even within this comparison there are tolerances built into the measures to account for variability among individuals. It is also important to note that behavior that is showing up in only one setting (such as at home but not school, or school but not after care, or at school but nowhere else) is not likely to be ADHD, it is most probable that something else is going on. These comparisons are done using questionnaires constructed specifically to evaluate children for a select number of disorders, including ADHD. It is also widely accepted that children less than elementary school age should not be diagnosed with ADHD as the symptoms of ADHD and toddlerhood are too similar.

So the question of whether it is boy behavior or ADHD can really only be answered with a thorough evaluation. If you choose to ask your pediatrician about the issue, make sure he or she is familiar with the guidelines established by the American Academy of Pediatrics for diagnosing ADHD. This will demonstrate that at least they have some awareness of the complexity of diagnosing ADHD and will not be in a hurry to prescribe medication. Recognize that you son is going to active and distractible unless actively enganged in an activity. Don’t expect him to sit quietly and play without movement or noise. This is just not the way boys are. However, if his distractibility or activity seems to be excessive, make sure that you get a good assessment.

Needing more information about ADHD? A more detailed and complete article on this important issue of boys and ADHD can be read at Boys Behavior, a web page dedicated to Boys and Their Unique Behavior http://boysbehavior.thehomeschoolorganizer.com

Problems associated with ADD

There are many conditions that co-exist with ADD /ADHD such as dyslexia and other learning difficulties, OCD, ODD, and so on.

Beware of lumping in other problems that often
occur in children with ADHD – including depression, anxiety
and learning difficulties – under the single diagnosis of ADHD.

Experts are getting better at understanding the
differences between learning disabilities and ADHD.
Sometimes they can overlap and that can be tricky and
complicated to dissect.

ADHD is different for every child. It’s important to
understand which problems are truly part of ADHD and which
are not, so that each problem can be dealt with appropriately

How Do You Integrate Your ADD /ADHD Child Successfully Into The Family Unit.

What you need to do is fully integrate the child into the
family and make them feel a part of the larger unit. Use
routines and give clear rules: explain how you expect your child
to behave in situations and teach him what to do when he feels
he’s heading for trouble.

1. Watch for trigger behaviors and step in to avert the
problem before it starts.

2. Negotiate rules with older children.

3. Criticize the behavior, not the child. Instead of: ‘You’re so spaced-out, it drives me crazy,’ say ‘It makes me unhappy
when you forget things.'

4. Get everyone to cool off. Don’t escalate arguments or
inflame them.

5. When boundaries are broken, make other family members
realize it isn’t personal.

6. Try to stay positive. Avoid sounding disappointed in your
child, which will lead to low self-esteem, and praise,
praise, praise good behavior - for siblings, too.

7. Make sure relatives and friends understand it’s important
for your child to feel accepted by them. 

Older relatives
may have less patience with a busy child, in which case it
can help to make visits short and sweet.

Dealing with critical family members

 Some friends and relatives don’t
believe ADHD exists. They think your child is deliberately
naughty and you are a bad parent - they will often say your
child just needs a good smack.

Friends and relatives may feel they know everything
about ADHD because they’ve read it in the paper or seen it on
TV. So they’ll berate you for not trying an exclusion diet, not
giving your child dietary supplements or not trying
complementary treatments for ADHD.

They can blame you for putting your child on medication -
or not putting your child on medication, depending on their
views.

Educate them, if they’re open-minded enough to listen.
Some people can see comprehensive reports by an expert, but
will still claim the expert doesn’t know what she is talking
about.

If this is the case, you can simply smile politely, thank
them for their advice and explain that you’re following your
doctor’s advice. A second option is to just ignore them - and
punch a cushion when you get home.

You may find that some friends decide to drop you
because they can’t deal with your child’s behavior. This is
hurtful but remember: it’s their problem, not yours or your
child’s. True friends will try to understand and help. A friend
who drops you isn’t worth worrying about.

When you are parenting a child with ADHD, there are
special considerations that need to be addressed – whether you
want them to be or not.

Parenting The ADD Child: Pick Your Battles wisely

Remember to pick your battles. We can’t stress this part
seriously enough. Look at what’s really important – what will
matter five years down the road – and choose to address those
issues.
 

IGNORE THE REST!!!

Some Quick Rule Setting Advice For the ADD / ADHD Child

For children with ADHD, it's better to praise the good
behavior (i.e. the one you want to see more of) and ignore the
bad behavior as much as you can. Negotiate rules with older
children so they'll have a say in what happens.

Empower the ADD Child With Choices

Let your child make choices for themselves. Instead of
giving them a myriad of options, set out two and let them
choose between one and the other. 

ADHD children can’t concentrate on many things all at the same time. 

When you taper down choices, you are giving them the ability to make
decisions but you are not overwhelming them either.

Discover the Secrets To Hassle Free Parenting of the Child With ADD/ADHD

Ditching The Guilt part 2

Sometimes you may wonder why you don't  have a nice, quiet child
instead of the livewire who never listens. But there are a
number of reasons why children  develop ADHD... none of which are your fault.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog post, your
parenting style can influence how you and your child deal with
ADHD. There is no one right way or one wrong way.

Dealing with a child who acts before she thinks things
through, loses and breaks things and forgets what you've said
30 seconds later can be frustrating and stressful.

 It can drive you to the point where you give up on discipline, and find
yourself being snappy, critical or even hating your child.

You need help to deal with the difficult behaviors and
accept that you're not perfect - and that what works for one
child might not work for yours.

Just as you might be dealing with some self-esteem
issues when it comes to your ADHD child, your kid is dealing
with the same issues in their own way.

Ditching The Guilt

Parenting the ADD Child is difficult enough without adding guilt to the mix.

Always keep in mind that you are not a bad parent in any
way shape or form just because your child has ADHD. As we’ve
said before, some people feel that ADHD is just a myth that
doesn’t truly exist.

 This simply isn’t true. ADHD is a medical condition with no one to blame. These
children are demanding and always on the go. That’s just the
way they are. It’s not your fault; it’s just the way they are
built.

Building Your ADD Child's Self-esteem

A child with ADD Often has a low self-esteem. Because they are more difficult and challenging to deal with, those around them tend to react in a negative manner toward them. Coupled with So how can you help your child with his or her self-esteem?

Praise and reward: you need to make your child feel
positive about himself or herself, so try and give praise
wherever possible. This can be for large or small actions -
for example if she's tried hard at school or has helped
clear up after a meal. As well as verbal praise, giving
small rewards can highlight accomplishments.

Building your ADD child's self-esteem Through Unconditional Love

 Love and trust are  vital ingredients if your child is to develop a healthy self-esteem.  

Don't attach conditions to your love. 

Your child needs to know you love her no matter how she
behaves. 

Tell your child she's special and let her know you
trust and respect her.

This will make all the difference in the world.

Building your ADD /ADHD Child's Self-esteem Through Sports and Hobbies

 Sports and hobbies: joining a club or having a hobby can

build self-esteem. Depending on your child's interests, the
activity could be swimming, dancing, martial arts, crafts
or cooking.

 No matter what the hobby, your child will gain
new skills to be proud of - and for you to praise.

Sometimes children with ADHD will go off their activity, so
be prepared to come up with new ideas.

For more ideas to help you to cope with your ADD child please take a look at 

The Calm Kids Program

Building Your ADD /ADHD Child's Self-esteem

 

Focus on the positive: get your child to write a list of
everything she likes about herself, such as her good
characteristics and things she can do. 

Stick it on her bedroom wall or in the kitchen, so she sees it every day.

Encourage your child to add to it regularly.

Helping your ADD Child to deal with criticism

Part of self-esteem has to do with criticism. You have to
teach your child the best way to deal with that criticism.
Tell them the following and then reinforce it:
1. Listen to what's being said. Don't interrupt to contradict
or make excuses.
2. Agree with it, where possible.
3. Ask questions if they are unsure about anything.
4. Admit mistakes and apologize.
5. Calmly disagree if it's unfair. For example, they can
politely say, 'I don't agree with you'.

Giving your ADD Child Constructive Criticism

There are times when criticism is necessary, but children
with low self-esteem aren't good at accepting criticism - or
giving it nicely. Most children with ADD /ADHD have had more than their fair share of criticism, most of it fairly destructive. Therefore you are going to have to exercise extreme caution with this child.


How you give criticism is important. Sarcastic, negative
comments can undo all your hard work to be encouraging. So is
there such a thing as good criticism?

If you want to teach your child how to accept criticism, you
need to give it in a constructive way.

Rather criticize the behavior you want to change instead of criticizing the person.


It also helps if you can find positive things to say to balance the
criticism. Using 'I' tends to be less aggressive than 'you'.

So if your child is struggling with a piece of school work,
rather than say 'you're stupid', say 'I loved the way you read the first
page. It's only a couple of words you're stumbling on.'

For more positive ways to love and live with the ADD or ADHD Child, please visit www.maximindpower.com today and claim your 2 free reports.

Focus on the positives instead of the negatives. Your child will be better
for it.

All these things apply when your child gives criticism as
well. For example, 'I like playing with you, but it's too cold to
play outside today.'

The idea is to learn techniques to cope with criticism, give
confidence and generally make your child feel better about
himself/herself.

For more practical examples and guidelines on giving constructive criticism to your child sign up for the Make Your ADD Child A Winner e-Course.

Dealing with the misbehavior that is part and parcel of ADD & ADHD.

All children behave badly from time to time, and
sometimes get aggressive, but it's more common for children
with ADHD to have problems with their behavior.

This is because the core symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity
and inattention all affect the way your child interacts.
If you look at how these symptoms can affect a child's
behavior, it's easy to see how they are linked to bad or
aggressive behavior.

1 Hyperactivity causes a child to fidget, run about
excessively, talk excessively and have difficulty in playing
quietly. It can cause your child to accidentally damage
others' belongings, play too roughly and hurt other
children.

2 Impulsivity causes a child to blurt out answers, speak
before thinking, interrupt, barge into games and have
volatile moods. It can result in your child having a short
fuse and to lash out when frustrated.

3 Inattention causes poor attention to detail and problems
with following instructions. A child with inattention
problems may not appear to listen to requests.

Could Your parenting style be making your child more prone to OCD - Oppositional Conduct Disorder

Dealing with the tough behaviors that children with ADHD can exhibit can push parenting and
teaching skills to the limit. 

This means children with ADHD
often receive a lot of negative feedback and critical comments.

It's thought that these negative parenting and relating
styles increase the likelihood of aggressive behavior that, if
unchecked, can lead to oppositional disorder or the more
severe conduct disorder.

 Children with ADHD are more likely to
have oppositional or conduct disorder than other children.

For the best parenting advice for your ADD Child see The Calm Kids Program 

The two most essential elements in disciplining the ADD / ADHD Child

Put simply, there are two parts to tackling any behavioral
problem:
1. Encouraging the behavior you want through rewards,
praise, or attention and
2. Reducing the behavior you don't with clear, consistent
rules and quick punishments.

Children with ADHD thrive on consistency and routines, so
to improve the chances of good behavior, let them keep to their
routine, such as getting up, eating or leaving for school at the
same time each day.

The most effective way of enforcing rules is to decide on
them together with your child - so agree in advance things such
as bedtimes, how long friends can come over and play for, etc.

Why punishment fails with the ADD /ADHD Child and what to do instead.

Bad behavior often decreases when it costs your child
something. 

The three main costs are:

•  time, 
• money 
• and undesirable consequences such as briefly removing your child from an activity he/she enjoys.

The main reasons a punishment fails are:

•  because it’s too severe, 
• it’s given too late,
•  or it’s inconsistent.

Some Simple Tips To Reduce Bad Behavior in Your ADD /ADHD Child

Where possible, make sure you give your child a good
reason for the behavior you want. For example, tidying up your
room will mean you'll find things more easily.

There are actually some very effective ways to reduce bad
behavior.
1 Get your child's attention. Address him/her by name and
speak clearly.
2 Keep commands short and simple.
3 Give quick punishments that can be enforced now.
It's not always possible to ignore bad behavior and focus
on the good. Instant, mild punishments - sometimes called
'negative consequences' - can reduce aggressive and angry
behavior.

The problem with punishing your ADD/ADHD Child for his "bad" behavior

Avoid punishments that have the potential to harm your
child either physically or psychologically. For example, keep
from insulting your child publicly.

Be careful not to reward bad behavior. For example,
items you buy after a tantrum on a shopping trip could be seen
as a reward. Keep consequences small and instant. It's
consistency that's effective - not severity. Monitor the effect of
the punishment. If it isn't changing behavior, it's time to try a
different tack.

When your child has calmed down and returned to his/her
normal self, talk to him/her and be clear about what was
wrong and what you'd like to see changed. You may be
tempted to ask 'why', but with younger children especially, it's
best to keep any analysis to a minimum. Often tantrums and
anger are your child's way of expressing things she can't put
into words.

For more discipline tactics for the ADD/ADHD Child, please go to 

www.maximindpower.com and claim your FREE Reports today.

Teaching the ADD child

Speaking from personal experience, this author can tell
you that having an ADHD child in the classroom can be one of
life’s most difficult situations. ADHD children require a lot of
attention and constant supervision to be kept on task.

When there are several other children that need your
attention as well, it’s not always possible to focus enough
attention on that one student who is disruptive even when you
know you need to do exactly that.

An ADHD student is amazingly disorganized with papers
and school supplies bursting out of his or her desk. They can’t
sit still unless you have them entranced in the lesson,and they
are constantly interrupting you while you are teaching.

There are times when it literally takes every ounce of
patience you can muster up not to yell at the little angel at the
top of your lungs. The upside is that these kids can often be
real joys as well. They can be good workers, very funny, and
are often extremely personable.

The structured school classroom setting can be a
tremendous challenge for individuals who have difficulty sitting
still, being quiet, and paying attention to the right thing.
One of the worst parts of trying to educate an ADHD child
is keeping him or her on task to make sure he or she doesn’t
fall behind. Often these kids will “hit a wall” during the school
year.

Every week they just get a little farther and farther
behind, until they're so far behind that it's impossible to catch
up. They lose their homework assignments, even after they
have spent hours working on them. And they study hard for
tests only to perform poorly the next day. They just slip farther
and farther behind with each passing week.

ADHD is most often recognized and referred for treatment
in third grade. This is when elementary school kids most often
hit the "academic wall."

The most common time for ADD Diagnosis

ADHD is most often recognized and referred for treatment
in third grade. This is when elementary school kids most often
hit the "academic wall."

In third grade they are expected to do more and more
work on their own, and they are given more homework to do as
well. There are also many referrals in seventh grade, or when
the child leaves Elementary School for Junior High School, with
several classes and several teachers.

There are times when elementary students find ways to
compensate in their younger years. However, once they move
to the higher grades – junior high – they find that these same
coping strategies just don’t work anymore.

Tips For Teacher's - Teaching the ADD/ADHD Child

So, as an educator, what can you do to help your ADHD
child in the classroom? Well, the first step is to recommend an
IEP (Individualized Education Plan) meeting. This may scare
many parents because IEPs are often used for special
education students.

Calm the parent’s fears by pointing out to them that an
IEP is simply a “game plan” to address problematic issues and
figure out ways that all teachers and school personnel can help
their child succeed academically.

Proper Seating for better teaching

Aside from an IEP, what else can you do in the classroom?
These children are very easily distracted, and the classroom is
the worst place for them since there can be so much going on
all at the same time. Consider your seating plan.

1 Move your ADD ADHD student's desk to where there are
fewer distractions, close to the teacher to monitor and
encourage, or near a well-focused child.

2 It is usually better to use rows for seating arrangement
and to try to avoid tables with groups of students. Often
the groups are too distracting for the ADHD child.

3 In the ideal setting, provide tables for specific group
projects, and traditional rows for independent work. Of
course, we are rarely in an ideal setting.

4 Every once in a while, try arranging desks in a horseshoe
shape to allow for appropriate discussion while permitting
independent work.

5 Your ADD ADHD student's desk should be near the teacher
(for prompting and redirection), away from other
challenging students, and not touching others' desks.
However, if you notice that your attention deficit student
looks around a lot to see where noises are coming from,
because he is very auditorily distractible, he may benefit
from being seated near the rear of the classroom.

6 Experiment with seat location in the front of the
classroom (near the board) and instructional area if your
student is more visually distracted.

7 It is important for the teacher to be able to move about
the entire room and to have access to all students.

Practice "Management by Walking Around" in the
classroom. The more personal interaction, the better.

8 Have all of the distractible ADD ADHD students seated
nearest to place in the class where you will give directions
or lectures. At least as close as possible without being
punitive.

Tips For Teacher's Tips

Right from day one, make the classroom rules clear and
post them where they are visible every moment of every day.
Be sure all students know the consequences for violating the
rules and be consistent.

Teaching Strategies for success

When you give assignments to the ADHD child, break
them up into small, manageable pieces. By doing this, you are
acknowledging that their attention span is a hindrance to them
and they can complete the smaller parts of an assignment
without losing their train of thought.

It might also help to provide these kids with step-by-step
instructions on how to complete an assignment. Give them a
checklist that allows them to cross off a step once they
complete it. This will give them a sense of success also which
is good for all students!

Getting the support you need in your community

 ADHD can be a difficult problem to understand
and cope with. When you are faced with this disorder in any
way, it can be extremely beneficial to surround yourself with
people who know how you feel.

You can pool your resources to find help and get support
that will help you cope with the daily frustrations of ADHD. So
where do you find that support?

Start by looking around your community. Talk to a
doctor, contact the local hospital, or even at the local
community center. Scan the newspapers for daily club
meetings and support groups.

Finding the support you need with online support groups.

You can also look on the Internet for a message board
that addresses ADHD. I’ve found some great boards just by
doing a Google search.

 Among other, they include:
www.adders.org
www.adhdnews.com
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/ivpsaddchild?ice=ivl,searchmb 

(for parents of ADHD children)
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/ivbhgenadd?ice=ivl,searchmb (for adults with ADHD)

Help is out there whether you have to make it yourself or
simply join in. Don’t discount support groups. They can be a
lifesaver for people who are confused and need a little extra
help in dealing with ADHD

Why It's So Important for you and your partner to mantain a united fron even when you disagree about how to handle your ADD Child.

Do not in any way contradict another parent or authority
figure in the presence of your child. Cohesiveness
is important. If the child knows that they have one person who
they can go to who will let the rules slide, they win.

ADHD kids need consistency. If you undermine each other’s behavior, you
are taking steps back and not helping your child at all.

You must be equipped to handle problem situations.

ADHD children can be difficult and disruptive in the most public
of places and parents tend to get caught on the wrong foot
every time.

Most parents can anticipate a problem situation.
What they have to do is devise a strategy to deal with it in
advance so that they are prepared when it happens. They will
need to make all the rules clear to their children in advance
too.

Thus, when the problem occurs, both parent and child
know the routine.

For more tips and strategies on how to deal effectively with the ADD & ADHD Child, please go to http://www.maximindpower.com/add/calmkids.html

What Is Short Term Memory & Why Is It So Important To Your ADD / ADHD Child.

I would often get annoyed and frustrated with my ADHD son because I would tell him to finish his snack and get started on his homework only to find him playing outside or watching TV.
When I asked him why, his usual response was that he forgot. He was also very forgetful in general, as most children with ADD are.

ADD kids have trouble with both long-term and short-term memory. The problem these children experience with Short-term memory is that they cannot keep something in the forefront of their memory to use immediately. This leads to all sorts of problems both in the home and at school.

This short-term memory loss makes him forget simple instructions that either you or his teacher have given him, making it very difficult for your child to follow simple instructions, simply because he cannot remember what those instructions were, or he may have forgotten that you gave them in the first place.

Short term memory loss also leads to other school problems for children with Attention Deficit Disorder. Short term memory is also called working memory and your child needs it in order to remember the question that the teacher has asked, as well as to remember new information learned in class and apply it to her work.

Whilst reading, short-term memory helps us to understand what we are reading. When writing, short-term memory helps us to get our thoughts down on paper and keeping the main idea in mind simultaneously.

In math, short-term memory helps us to keep track of the numbers and calculations throughout the steps of a more complex problem, such as long-division.

A strong short –term memory is the first step to a strong long-term memory.
Your ADD child may be having trouble with his long-term memory if he forgets information that he once knew well. He may have trouble retrieving the information that is filed away in his long-term memory.

In order to understand and remember something, we need to be able to build on previous material learned. Good examples of this type of material include vocabulary words, math facts, history facts and so on.

Without this ability to build on previous facts, learning can be painful and slow, simply because we have to start from scratch and re-learn all that has been forgotten over and over again.

Attention Deficit Disorder (with or without hyperactivity) and other Learning Disabilities affect both the short-term and long-term memory causing your child to have endless problems at home, school and in other social settings.

For tips on how to help your ADD child boost his memoryand succeed at school ,click the link below.

Memory Boosting Tips For The ADD Child

http://www.maximindpower.com/add/succeed-at-school.html

Tips for teachers

End the Homework Battles -Tips For Teachers Series

A successful homework session starts at school. Here are some tips to help you to assist ADD and other special needs kids in getting it done properly and handed in on time. This blog post is the start of a series of blog posts with tips just for Teachers with ADD, ADHD and LD kids. If you are a parent, then share these tips with your child's teacher.

1.Set aside some time each day for the students to copy down assignments into their homework planners or dairies. Assuming that children will copy the assignments down during the class without setting aside a specific time for this is a mistake. ADD kids find it hard to focus on more than one thing at a time.

2. Write the assignments down on the board and then read them out loud to make sure that everyone understands exactly what needs to be done.Never assume that all the students know exactly what needs to be done. Take the time to explain the homework assignment again, if need be.

For more great tips on helping your ADD Child succeed in school, take a look at the
“Make Your ADD Child A Winner Course” Get a free trial at
http://www.maximindpower.com/add/winner.html

Stay tuned for the next blog post where I will be sharing more tips with you.

Just Back From A Refreshing Holiday!!

I'm just back from a very refreshing holiday in a small fishing village called St. Lucia (which is on the far North Coast of KwaZulu Natal, South Africa) St. Lucia is a world heritage site and has some of the most beautiful, unspoilt beaches in the world.

I also included a few pictures of the wild animals we saw in the nearby game reserve.

This is a picture of me and my kids on a boat ride and a picture of the harbor at Richards Bay.



If you'd like to read more about our adventures in this World Heritage Site, Please read my Travelpod Blog.

After my holiday, I'm all refreshed and ready for some serious action. This quarter I will be bringing you some wonderful and exciting new ADD/ADHD related products as well as related special offers, so stay tuned.

Problems associated with ADD

There are many conditions that co-exist with ADD /ADHD such as dyslexia and other learning difficulties, OCD, ODD, and so on.

Beware of lumping in other problems that often
occur in children with ADHD – including depression, anxiety
and learning difficulties – under the single diagnosis of ADHD.

Experts are getting better at understanding the
differences between learning disabilities and ADHD.
Sometimes they can overlap and that can be tricky and
complicated to dissect.

ADHD is different for every child. It’s important to
understand which problems are truly part of ADHD and which
are not, so that each problem can be dealt with appropriately.

Lesson 1 of the Make Your Child A Winner ecourse deals with these coexisting conditions in depth. It also provides you with the information you need to choose the right healthcare professional to help your child.

How to criticize your ADD Childin a way that Builds his Self-esteem

There are times when criticism is necessary, but children
with low self-esteem aren't good at accepting criticism - or
giving it nicely. Most children with ADD /ADHD have had more than their fair share of criticism, most of it fairly destructive. Therefore you are going to have to exercise extreme caution with this child.


How you give criticism is important. Sarcastic, negative
comments can undo all your hard work to be encouraging. So is
there such a thing as good criticism?

If you want to teach your child how to accept criticism, you
need to give it in a constructive way.

Rather criticize the behavior you want to change instead of criticizing the person.


It also helps if you can find positive things to say to balance the
criticism. Using 'I' tends to be less aggressive than 'you'.

So if your child is struggling with a piece of school work,
rather than say 'you're stupid', say 'I loved the way you read the first
page. It's only a couple of words you're stumbling on.'

Focus on the positives instead of the negatives. Your child will be better
for it.

All these things apply when your child gives criticism as
well. For example, 'I like playing with you, but it's too cold to
play outside today.'

The idea is to learn techniques to cope with criticism, give
confidence and generally make your child feel better about
himself/herself.

For more practical examples and guidelines on giving constructive criticism to your child sign up for the Make Your ADD Child A Winner e-Course.

Building Your ADD Child's Self-esteem

Self-esteem is about self-value. It's not about being
bigheaded or bragging. It is about how we see ourselves, our
personal achievements and our sense of worth.

Self-esteem is important because it helps children feel
proud of who they are and what they do. It gives them the
power to believe in their abilities and the courage to try new
things. It helps them develop respect for themselves, which in
turn leads to being respected by other people.

Your child's self-esteem is shaped by:

1. How he/she thinks
2  What he/she expects of herself
3 How other people (family, friends, teachers) think and feel
about him/her

Many children with ADHD have problems in school and
with teachers and sometimes have difficulties at home. They
find it difficult to make and keep friends.

People often don't understand their behavior and judge
them because of it. They disrupt situations, often gaining
punishments, so they may find it easier not to bother trying to
fit in or do work at school.

All this means children witwith ADHD often feel badly about
themselves. They might think they're stupid, naughty, bad or a
failure. Not surprisingly, their self-esteem takes a battering and
they find it hard to think anything positive or good about
themselves.

Hyperactive, disruptive behavior is a key factor of ADHD.
Children with ADHD can't help behaving this way, but teachers
trying to cope with a disruptive child may deal with it by
excluding her from the classroom.

Birthday parties and social events are a natural part of
growing up, but other parents may not want to invite a child
who is known to have bad behavior.

 Again, this can lead to a
child with ADHD being excluded. Exclusion only adds to your
child's negative feelings and reinforces the idea that she's
naughty.

Parenting The ADD Child: Old Rules No Longer Apply

It used to be thought children shouldn't speak up, and it
was OK to hit them when they'd broken a rule.

Today, many parents have realized that children respond better if you make them feel
loved, secure and important, and you give them attention when
behaving well.
If children only get attention when they behave
badly, they'll behave even worse in order to get attention.

Some Parenting Tips For the ADD Child

With more than their share of behavioral problems, there's also a lot more chance that you and your child will be at loggerheads more often.

You may feel that you spend all your time nagging
your child, and the whole relationship can become strained and unpleasant.

You need to make sure you have good times
together and to practice positive discipline methods as well.

Set up special times to spend with your child doing things
you enjoy together and just playing.

Setting firm Rules and establishing boundaries are also vitally important because they help your
get on with other people. If your child knows what's acceptable as well as what's not and the consequences of doing something that's unacceptable, parenting becomes much easier.


For example, if a child knows he has to keep his hands to himself, he won't punch or hit other children in the playground.

If he doesn't know the rule or ignores it, other children will get hurt and they'll avoid him. He might also end up getting hurt.

For some more tips for parenting the ADD ADHD Child check out the Only Parenting Course especially designed with the needs of the ADD / ADHD Child in mind.

The Impact Of ADD on The Family

The impulsiveness of children with ADHD makes them act
before they think and their behavior can quickly get out of control.

They don’t mean to do damage and are upset when they hurt
people or break things, but they’ll still do exactly the same
thing next time round! It's almost as if they can't help themselves.

ADHD children are untidy and disorganized, which will
irritate people who like tidy houses and regimented behavior.

They can be unpopular with other children, teachers,
friends and even family members because of their "bad" unruly behavior.

This can cause problems
with both family and friends.

Parents can feel overwhelmed and unable to cope with
their child’s behavior. They may avoid social situations in the
hope of avoiding problem behavior and then start to feel
isolated. always felt that people were judging me because of my son's behavior.

Friends, relatives and neighbors may feel entitled to
comment and give negative judgments, which can strain
relationships.

Your child may hurt other family members or damage
their belongings, to the point where relationships are very
strained. Your child can feel like a scapegoat and may start
ignoring what he feels is constant nagging from you. No matter how much I tried to use reason and logic to appeal to my son, his behavior never changed. It's only when I changed my parenting strategy from yelling and punishment to one more appropriate to the ADD Child, did his behavior improve.


When dealing with siblings, the issue becomes even more
sensitive. Children with ADHD need a lot of attention and may
need different treatment from other children in the family. This
can cause resentment and jealousy on the part of your other
children who don’t have ADHD.

Older children may resent the lack of attention or feel
forced to look after their sibling because of their special needs.

Younger children may copy the bad behavior of the ADHD child.
Siblings may feel their home life is disorganized and
tiring, with lots of conflict. They may resent the fact their
brother or sister breaks their possessions and interferes all the
time.
They may feel their sibling is favored because you’re using
different methods of discipline to manage ADHD. 'I’d never get
away with that' is a common complaint.

The Coping With ADHD ebook and The 'Make Your ADD Child A Winner e-course" offers some advice on dealing with these issues.


And what happens to your partnership – be it marriage or
otherwise? ADHD can put a strain on your partnership,
particularly if you have different view views on discipline or different
parenting styles.

One of you may feel you have to take the brunt of dealing
with ADHD and taking time off work, for example to deal with
problem behavior, attend school and medical consultations have meetings as part of the stalemating process.

You may also have to pay private specialists to deal with
medication, counseling and evaluations, which will put a strain
on the family budget.

If one parent leaves the relationship, it puts even more of a
burden on the parent left to deal with ADHD, and the
subsequent resentment may sour the relationship further.

There's also a danger of spending so much time on your
child that you don’t spend any time on your relationship as a
couple. If you find yourself unable to cope, talk to someone
before the strain gets too much.

It's best to get advice on how to deal with problems while
they’re still small and easier to manage. Talk to your doctor,
find a support group, and get counseling or family mediation.
It’s better to face the problem head on than to avoid it entirely.

Keeping Your Cool With Your ADD Child

Above all, try your very best to stay calm when dealing
with an ADHD child. It’s easy to lose your cool when the child
is out of control.

Speak slowly and precisely. Show them that
even though you are frustrated, you are still able to stay in
control.

Try to talk to them about your feelings and how you
are trying to cope with your own frustration.

Often, children learn by watching. When you talk to them
and bring them into your mindset, you could very well be
teaching them the tools they need to control their own
frustration.

And by all means, give yourself a break when you need
one. It takes a lot of energy to live and work with kids who
have ADHD, so try to give yourself some space occasionally –
either by using a sitter or by relaxing your demands for a
particular time period – so that you can have some time off.


If you want to know more about parenting the ADD Child, get a free trial of the only parenting e-course on the internet by going to http://www.maximindpower.com/add/winner.html

Parenting Your ADD Child: Trusting Your Instincts and labelling.

With an ADD Child, you are surrounded by 'experts' that are telling you what is best for your child. Real experts , and those 'self-appointed know-it-all's' who are only too eager to pass on their 'pearls' of parenting wisdom.

Remember that you are the expert on your child. ADHD is
just one of those controversial subjects that everybody and his
brother has an opinion on. Tune out those that are uninformed.

Trusting your instincts and keeping open communication
with your child about how he’s doing and really being
observant is invaluable because you’re really a case manager.


Stay away from labeling. Remember that you have to
look at the whole child – he’s got his own temperament, his
own talents and interests. It’s easy to let the label overshadow
everything.

Parenting The ADD Child: Accepting Your Child For What He Is.

This is such a vitally important aspect that if you can do this successfully, half the battle is won. Accept your child for who he or she is. Accept their limitations. Whether you like
it or not, your child has limitations. An ADHD child is never going to be a model child.

So stop your head against a brick wall trying to make him one. Try to see the virtues in your child -and there are many- and help him make the most of them. By looking for the good in him, you help him to see the good in himself. And that is a gift that's priceless.

Parenting The ADD Child: Dealing With Their Excess Energy.

Kis with ADHD have excess energy....and lots of it! It’s a fact.

Because of this you need to provide your child with some type of outlet for all this excess energy.

Vigorous physical activity is vitally important. Any sporting activity, exercise or outdoor play is a great idea, and should be highly encouraged.

Get out there with your child and get active yourself. On weekends take walks together, go for a hike or swim, play ball games, put on some music and dance.

Get up and get moving....you will both benefit.

Parenting The ADD Child: Make Lists.

Make lists. Seriously – as many lists as you can. And
teach your child to do the same.

• These lists should include:
  tasks that need completed,
• dates to be remembered,
• and activities that need to be attended.
  
  Provide them with a reward for completing their tasks,
  checking things off their lists, and remembering important
  dates. Keep in mind that these kids tend to brush off anything
  and everything in favor of whatever is in front of them at the
  time. When they are able to complete tasks and remember
  important dates, they will eventually modify their behavior to
  make it commonplace.

This is an excerpt from "Coping With ADHD" which is part of The Calm Kids Program

Parenting The ADD Child: Maintaining Your Sanity

Make sure you keep everything in perspective. Well,
maybe not everything. That might be impossible, but you at
least have to have perspective when it comes to your child and his/her ADD/ADHD.


Dealing with an ADHD child is no joke. You may find yourself frustrated, enraged, and
embarrassed. However, you must remember at all times that
you are the adults and cannot afford to lose control.

If both parent and child were to lose their cool, the situation would
deteriorate rapidly. It helps to remember that ADHD children are victims of a
disorder and often cannot help the way they behave.

When your child seems to be pushing your buttons, do whatever it takes to regain control. Count to 10 (or 100 if need be), take deep, calming breaths etc.

And have an action plan in place to deal with your child's misbehavior when it occurs, whether it be time out, removal of privileges or whatever else you have decided on.

For more information and advice:
Parenting the ADD Child

Parenting The ADD Child: Consistency Wins The Battle

What's the most important rule when it comes to parenting the ADD / ADHD Child?

BE CONSISTENT.

As parents of a hard to manage child, it’s tempting to give in more often should. What the child was punished for yesterday is overlooked today because of sheer exhaustion. But this only makes bad behavior worse.

Try to react in the same manner over a period of time to the child’s
behavior whenever it occurs.
You need to be persistent when dealing with an ADHD child, as they are not exactly the most obedient kind.

Even if you feel that your efforts to discipline your child are in vain,
they need to stick to it. Things often get worse before they get better.

Respond in the same way whether it be at home, at
school, or anywhere else.

Parents of ADHD children often tend
to respond to the same behavior differently at home and in
public.

Your child will be quick to notice where he can get away with misbehavior and will take full advantage of that. The ADHD child needs to know that the rules and consequences expected to occur at home will also apply away from home.

Parenting The ADD Child:What About Punishment?

What about punishment? Where does that fit in with the discipline of an ADD/ADHD Child?

Dole out the positive comments before the negative ones.
Try not to make punishment the first step in suppressing undesirable behavior. Rather look for ways you can reward the child when he behaves well.

I'm personally not in favor of spanking and feel that there are other methods of discipline that work very well. The 1-2-3 method works very well.



Excellent for kids with ADD/ADHD and can be used with your other children as well.

Parenting The ADD Child: The Importance Of Immediate Feedback

Children have a naturally short attention span. It is for
this very reason that you should give immediate feedback
along with consequences for behavior and activities.

Feedback must be clear, specific, and occur as close to the time after the
behavior that it refers to.

This feedback should be given often. Parents need to tell
ADHD children how they are faring in whatever activity they
are involved in or how well they are conducting themselves at
very short intervals.

Feedback can be in the form of praise or compliments but
should specify exactly what the child has done to earn it.

It can also be in the form of physical affection like a hug, extra
privileges or occasionally a food treat.

ADHD children have reduced sensitivity to rewards and
other consequences.

Hence, larger and more important rewards are needed to motivate
them to perform, follow rules or behave well.
Make the consequences powerful and worth avoiding or earning.

Parenting The ADD Child: Using Token Economics

You can also try using token economics. This is a tool that is often used in schools to promote good behavior. Some parents feel that it is ridiculous to rewarding a child for behavior that they should be exhibiting anyway.

But the truth is that ADHD kids benefit from having some sort of positive reinforcement such as rewards. It gives them something tangible to hold onto and something to look forward to.

Keep in mind that ADHD children have a tough time controlling their own behavior. Their head might be telling them to “behave”, but their disorder prevents them from doing so.

Setting up a system to use in the classroom and at home for children to earn points they can exchange for other rewards or privileges – such as computer time or an activity – can
provide kids with great incentive to adjust behavior.

You should also involve the child by allowing him or her to develop a list of rewards to choose from. These should be activities that he enjoys, such as watching TV, spending time with friends, etc. Or they can be exchanged for a predetermined amount of cash or some other material reward.

This method worked so well for my kids, that when because of a very hectic schedule, I stopped using the token system, my kids begged to have it reinstated.

It's amazing how, through using tokens, kids regulate their own behavior. The G.O.L.D Standard is the method that I used and I highly recommend.

Parenting The ADD Child: The Daily Diary & Why Your ADD Child Has To Have One.

It's vital that home, school, doctor, etc. work together for the benefit of the ADD /ADHD child concerned.

Collaboration between home and school, especially, is essential. It’s important to have everybody on the same page. A teacher that is sympathetic to the plight of the child with attention deficit disorder and is prepared to help and support the child as well as provide special accommodations can mean the difference between success and failure. The parent and teacher need to work together to help the child succeed.

One especially effective way hat has worked very well for many families is to keep a daily diary that the child carries back and forth between home and school.

The parent writes in the diary the child’s behavior at home as well as any concerns she may have regarding the child's academic progress. And the teacher writes in the diary the child’s behavior and academic progress as well as any homework, assignments and tests.

In this way the school and the home can work together for the benefit of the child.

Parenting The ADD Child: Change Your Focus To Improve Your Child's Behavior.

A highly effective strategy that I've used with my ADHD son is to emphasize the positive and
downplay the negative as much as possible.

Because they are so boisterous, impulsive and more generally more difficult to manage than others, these kids hear ‘no’ many times a day. In fact if you're not careful most of your interaction with your ADD child could be negative in nature. This is totally destructive to his developing self-concept.

Perhaps the biggest challenge for you, as a parent, is finding out what the child is doing right and focusing on those aspects instead of focusing on all the things he does wrong.

What we focus on expands. So if you focus on and praise your child for good behavior, the more likely he is to repeat it.

Behavior that is ignored decreases. So it makes sense to ignore behavior that you don't want ....if it's not harmful or dangerous.

At the moment you may be doing the exact opposite. Try ignoring minor things that your child does that irritate you and praise him when he behaves in ways that you approve of , and watch his behavior and self-worth improve.

Parenting The ADD Child: Getting your Child To Listen To You.

When you need to give your child any verbal instructions, the first rule of thumb is to keep the rules short and too the point. An ADHD child’s attention will drift if instructions for
anything are too long and rambling.

It also helps to maintain eye-contact with the child as you speak. A hand on his shoulder or touching his hand as you give the instructions also help the child to stay focused.

You could also ask your child to repeat the instruction back to you before he carries it out. For example, ask him "Jimmy, what do I want you to do?"

These 3 simple suggestions make it easier for the child to pay attention to your instructions and carry them out.

How can behavior modification help my child with attention deficit disorder.

What steps can you take in behavior modification to
minimize the symptoms of ADHD? The answer is – SO MUCH!
The basic principles of treatment – for adults and children
both – are:

• Structure
  

• lifestyle changes
  

• finding and developing talent.
  

There is a lot of focus on the medication, but you build a life on
identifying your talent and pursuing it.

Start by helping children find and develop their talents.
That is very important and is often overlooked. What happens
is people look for what’s wrong and how to re-mediate the
problems.

And so, the child is given the message that he’s a
walking defect. What builds a sense of confidence and joy in
life is helping a child find something that he or she is good at
What many people who suffer from ADHD lack is structure.

Planning out the steps it takes to accomplish daily tasks – for
instance, getting ready for school or completing homework –
lets everyone know what expectations are.

With many kids, you can take each day as it comes and
there may not be a huge amount of structure. But that’s really
hard for these kids. You can get in a tug-of-war over that and
have a lot of frustration.

When it comes to instruction, keep it brief and to the
point. An ADHD child’s attention will drift if instructions for
anything are too long and rambling. For both parents and
teachers, this means it’s best to break down tasks into little
pieces.

What are your feelings about Your Child's ADD Diagnosis?

Once your child is diagnosed, not only do you have to cope with your child's feelings about this but yours as well.

What do parents feel once their child has been diagnosed with ADD /ADHD?


Surprisingly, the most prevalent feelings parents had after ADHD diagnosis was – RELIEF!
Do you find that hard to believe? That’s understandable, but
it’s true. Why?

The sense of relief came from knowing that there was a medical reason for
their child’s behavior and/academic failure, and that it wasn't their fault.

It wasn't poor parenting skills, they were not bad parents (even though some may have suggested that). Mothers are especially prone to these feelings of maternal guilt.

Many parents were also relieved that they were not alone. For some, it even gave them insight as to how they behaved when they were a child. Perhaps one (or both) of these parents have ADD /ADHD and didn't know it... up till now.


Of course, along with that relief came another feeling –helplessness.

Many parents report that they felt completely alone and deprived of information or support for this new and challenging aspect of their lives. Forums and support groups abound on the internet. It's wonderful to have a chance to communicate with other parents who are facing the same challenges as you.
My 2 favorite forums are www.addforums.com
and the Bella Online ADD Forum

Most parents when told their child was suffering
with ADD/ADHD are sent home with a prescription without any
clues as to what their rights were, where to find help and
support and what to expect.

Many parents have questions and they want - and deserve- answers.
Questions such as

• Will my child ever grow out of it?
• 
  
• What are the treatment options?
  
• 
  
• How do I know what's best for my child?

And others. Reading this blog is a great way to start. There are many other informative resources listed in the links section of this blog, so check them out.

It's vital that you educate yourself, so that you make the best decision for your child.

What The Real Cause of ADD / ADHD?

It is only natural that once you are told that your child
has ADHD you will want to know what the cause of it is.

Unfortunately, there are no simple answers.

Recent research indicates that ADHD could be caused by a
developmental failure in the brain circuitry that underlies
inhibition and self-control.

This loss of self-control in turn reduces the ability to pay attention, and the ability to defer immediate rewards for later, greater gain.


Studies conducted by the National Institute of Mental Health in the United States has found that the right pre-frontal cortex of the brain, two basal ganglia and the vermis region of the cerebellum are significantly smaller in those with ADD.

These are the very areas of the brain areas that are the ones that regulate attention.

Genetics is also a significant factor in the development of ADHD. If you or your spouse has ADD, then the chances of your child having it increases dramatically.

Other factors that may predispose a child to ADD are:

• premature birth,
  
• maternal alcohol and tobacco use,
• exposure to high levels of lead in early childhood
  
• and brain injuries, especially those that involve the prefrontal cortex.

But even when put together, these factors can account for only between 20-30 % of ADHD cases among boys; among girls, they account for an even smaller percentage.

At one point, people believed that a poor home environment wasthe cause of ADHD. However, the latest research findings increasingly point to biological causes for the
disorder. (Although a poor environment can make ADD / ADHD symptoms more apparent)

Common sense tells us that not all children from unstable or dysfunctional homes have ADHD. And not all children with ADHD come from dysfunctional families!

Parents, especially moms, can heave a sigh of relief that this is something that is not their fault.

Another pet theory was that refined sugar and food additives make children hyperactive and inattentive. As a result, parents were encouraged to stop serving children foods
containing artificial flavorings, preservatives, and sugars.

However, data from a later study lead scientists to conclude that the restricted diet only seemed to help a small percentage of children with ADHD, mostly either young children or
children with food allergies. However I think that with todays high sugar, refined diets, diet always remains a viable option for treatment. If it doesn't work, then you can always try something else. And besides, a more nutritious diet can only benefit your child.
The C3 Program is a wonderful start. Simple, easy to understand and easy to implement as well, it has made a positive difference in the lives of many ADD kids.


In addition, ADHD hasn't been scientifically proven to be caused by too much TV, food allergies or poor schools.


But there are many ADD experts who feel that these are strong contributing factors. Whist they may not cause ADD, too much TV, food allergies and poor teaching methods can make an existing condition of Attention Deficit Disorder WORSE.

Regardless of the cause of ADD / ADHD you still have to do something to address the condition.
To receive an ongoing tips, coping strategies and the latest breakthrough treatment options please sign up for my mailing list by completing the optin form above.

The social implications that accompany attention deficit disorder are pretty scary.

Consider the following:
• 21 percent of teens with ADHD skip school repeatedly.
• 35 percent eventually drop out of school.
• ADD/ADHD children are much more likely to experiment with drugs and alcohol.
• ADD/ADHD children are more likely to get into accidents.
• When ADD/ADHD kids don’t do well in school, their self-esteem drops and they are less likely to succeed as adults.

Your child doesn't have to be part of these scary ADD statistics.
You can do something about it. Now is the time to act.
The Calm Kids Program Can Help.

Attitutor Blog: An Attention Deficit Disorder Story

Attitutor Blog: An Attention Deficit Disorder Story

If your ADD / ADHD child is having trouble at school, take a moment to read this post by Thom Hartman. It just might change your perspective on where the problem really is.

Teaching A Child With Attention Deficit Disorder

I came across a free government publication on Teaching A Child With Attention Deficit Disorder
Right-click and select 'save as' to download the report.

The report is aimed mainly at teacher's, but parents can pick up a few useful tips as well. Or you could always print out a copy and give one to your ADD Child's teacher.

Quick and Healthy Breakfasts For Your ADD Kids...On Squidoo

I've created a Squidoo Lens on Quick & Healthy Breakfasts for your ADD Child.
Click on the blue link above to read tips, techniques and secrets to making a delicious and healthy breakfast for your ADD Child.

4 Ways to Help Your Child With ADD

No matter what treatment option you choose, here are some tips that will benefit ALL kids with ADD:

1. A regular daily routine- bath time, mealtimes, bedtimes, homework time and so on happening at the same time each day. This repetition and familiarity helps a child remember what needs to be done when.

2."A Place for everything and everything in it's place" is a good motto for someone with ADD. Help your child get organized and stay organized.

3. Having a homework diary helps the child with ADD to remember what homework needs to be done as well as what assignments and other school events he may need to prepare for.

4. In the classroom, a teacher who invites interaction with the ADD pupil will find that he understands and retains the material far better than if she had just delivered a lecture.

And most of all, don't loose hope. Educate yourself about ADD and learn all you can about managing it as well as possible, then teach these coping skills to your child, and he is sure to thrive.

Is ADD /ADHD a learning disability?

If your child has been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD you may be wondering if that means that he is learning disabled as well?

Well, not exactly.

When we talk of the term 'learning disability' then what we generally mean is that it is a perceptual disability - such as autism or visual processing disorder.

Attention Deficit Disorder (With or without hyperactivity) shouldn't be treated as a learning disability.

Anyone who has ADD is perfectly capable of understanding and using the information presented to them.

ADD doesn't really obstruct the learning process although it can sure feel like it at times.

It is often mistakenly lumped together with other learning disabilities into 1 category. A person who is suffering from ADD can take in the information he sees and then he can process it and even store it in his memory just like any other person.

Then what's the problem, you may ask. The problem with a person with ADD is attracting and holding his attention for long enough so that he can absorb the information to begin with.This leads to all kinds of problems, at school, at home and for adult ADD sufferers, in the workplace as well.

Once he is able to focus and concentrate, his performance in school, at home and in the workplaically improve.

But sometimes ADD or ADHD can co-exist or be mistaken for a learning disability or some other processing disorder. Dyslexia, auditory, vision and speech problems could all be mistaken for ADD, or a child might have ADD and one of these problems as well. A thorough check-up by a pediatrician will help immensely.These problems must first be rules out before treatment for ADD is sought.

Once you are sure that your child is indeed suffering from ADD, then you need to consider all the various treatment options, such as medication, supplementation, brainwave entrainment, behavior modification or a complete holistic treatment option that combines many of the methods above.

But no matter what treatment option you choose, here are some tips that will benefit ALL kids with ADD:

1. A regular daily routine- bath time, mealtimes, bedtimes, homework time and so on happening at the same time each day. This repetition and familiarity helps a child remember what needs to be done when.

2."A Place for everything and everything in it's place" is a good motto for someone with ADD. Help your child get organized and stay organized.

3. Having a homework diary helps the child with ADD to remember what homework needs to be done as well as what assignments and other school events he may need to prepare for.

4. In the classroom, a teacher who invites interaction with the ADD pupil will find that he understands and retains the material far better than if she had just delivered a lecture.

And most of all, don't loose hope. Educate yourself about ADD and learn all you can about managing it as well as possible, then teach these coping skills to your child, and he is sure to thrive.

Is Attention Deficit Disorder A Learning Disability?

If your child has been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD you may be wondering if that means that he is learning disabled as well?

Well, not exactly. When we talk of the term 'learning disability' then what we generally mean is that it is a perceptual disability -like autism or visual processing disorder.

Attention Deficit Disorder (With or without hyperactivity) shouldn't be treated as a learning disability, because it isn't.

A child with Attention Deficit Disorder is perfectly capable of understanding and using the information presented to him.

Attention Deficit Disorder doesn't really obstruct the learning process although it can sure feel like it at times, both for you and your child.

Attention Deficit Disorder is often mistakenly lumped together with other learning disabilities into one category. A person who is suffering from ADD can absorb the information he sees, process it and even store it in his memory - just like any other person.

"Then what's the problem"?, you may ask.

The problem with a person with ADD is attracting and holding his attention for long enough so that he can absorb the information to begin with.

This leads to all kinds of problems, at school, at home and for adult ADD sufferers, in the workplace as well.

Once he is able to focus and concentrate, his performance in school, at home and in the workplace dramatically improve.

But sometimes ADD or ADHD can co-exist or be mistaken for a learning disability or some other processing disorder. Dyslexia, auditory, vision and speech problems could all be mistaken for ADD, or a child might have ADD might co-exist with one of these problems.

A thorough check-up by a pediatrician will help immensely.These problems must first be rules out before treatment for ADD is sought.

Once you are sure that your child is indeed suffering from ADD, then you need to consider all the various treatment options, such as medication, supplementation, brainwave entrainment, behavior modification or a complete holistic treatment option that combines many of the methods above.