Understanding ADHD
Episode 33
Defining ADHD
- Developmental disorder
- Neurological
- Brain of person with ADHD is not developing as quickly as typical brain
- Symptoms
- Attention
- Not deficit of attention, more inability to regulate attention
- struggle to pay attention to what they need to pay attention to
- Can be inattentive rather than hyperactivity
- difficulty with planning
- can have trouble regulating emotions
- trouble recognizing time
- At preschool level it is the degree signs are showing ex. Preschool children have trouble sitting for longer period of time, if a child is having a much harder time for that age then could be an indicator
- Is child harming themselves or others at preschool?
- Other things could look like ADHD ex. child experienced trauma and is now acting out
- Not getting enough sleep could lead child to exhibit symptoms that look like ADHD
- Skill building
- Parental skills important during preschool years and teaching children how to manage their environments
- Understand the impact of your body language
- Often another diagnosis can accompany ADHD ex. anxiety and opposition defiance disorder
- Diagnosis can help school plan for student and address needs
- Can get IEP or 504 for elementary school to get support if needed for the child
- Start with pediatrician
- Pediatrician can either start process or refer you to someone who specializes in ADHD
- ADHD coaches can help children and parent with skill building
- Coaches can help explain reasons for behavior
- Parents then can better understand how they can support their child
- Set realistic and clear expectations for children
- Want to create positive rather than negative consequences
- Should be careful about medicating too young
- Medication could be appropriate if child could harm self or others without it
- When medication is used, should be part of larger plan with strategies
- Medication does not teach skills
- Clear expectations ex. On way to store tell child on the way there they should be 3 steps from cart at all times. Indicate what consequence will be if not followed. When you arrive at the store, go over expectations again
- Use counting ex. I need two boy to brush their teeth by the time I count to 6
- Break down tasks ex. Pick up everything that is blue
- Look for structured, loving and nurturing environment
- Structured important for children to know expectations and to know what success looks like
- Also want compassion towards them when they do make mistakes
- Can be very creative
- Can make connections other people don’t make
- Brains work very fast
- Are often charismatic
- Encourage parents to try new adventures and things
- Dopamine helps you be engaged and want to do stuff
- ADHD brain does not have enough
- Can make small tasks harder
- Encouraging words can help give that dopamine
- Arguments also provide dopamine
- ADHD Essentials Website and Podcast
