Episode 33 - Understanding adhd

Brendan Mahan joins us to discuss ADHD during the preschool years

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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

Warning Signs of ADHD

• 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

Benefits of Early Intervention

• 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

Evaluating for ADHD

• Start with pediatrician
• Pediatrician can either start process or refer you to someone who specializes in ADHD

Treatment for 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

Making Environment ADHD Friendly

• 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 

Starting Preschool

• 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

Strengths of ADHD

• 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

Show and Tell

• 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

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