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DISCOVERY CHILD DEVELOPMENT CENTER
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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

​

Serving Cary and Morrisville since 2010
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Programs
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Discovery Child Development Center
11000 Lake Grove Blvd.
Morrisville, NC 27560
919-234-0735
email: info@discoverychilddevelopmentcenter.com
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  • Home
  • About
    • At a Glance
    • Discovery Story
    • Meet Us
    • FAQs
    • Calendar
    • Our Philosophy
    • Contact Us
    • Photo Gallery
    • Parents
    • Testimonials
  • Programs
    • Young Preschool
    • Preschool
    • Pre-k
    • Kindergarten/TK
    • Remote Learning
    • Summer Camps
  • Admissions
    • Schedule a Tour
    • Tuition
  • Podcast
  • Blog