ParentLine

Dear ParentLine, Our child, age 8, is very high-strung.  It’s very difficult for him to focus, listen for more than a few seconds at a time, and remember things he was told.  We’ve heard of ADHD and our friends talk about drugs like Ritalin being an option, but we don’t want to start medicating our son.  We think that too many kids these days are on prescription drugs they don’t need.  What are some options?  How can we tell if this is really something that requires a pill?  We need help sorting this out.  Signed Wired and Tired in NH

 

ParentLine wonders if children of modern societies aren’t like canaries in coal mines.  In both cases, the behaviors of birds and babies spell “Danger ahead” when certain conditions prevail.

To illustrate our point, consider the pace of everyday life, our mania for multi-tasking, and the myriad ways in which we’re bombarded—non-stop-- by demands on our attention: cell phones, email and instant messaging, computer and video games, TV (think about the last time you saw an advertisement free segment that lasted longer than three minutes).  On and on, the wild and crazy vortex of our lives whirls.  Even though you’re an adult, ParentLine bets that on some days, you find it difficult to focus your attention.  Given the fact that the environment shapes a child’s brain, why are we surprised that so many children have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?  We don’t give them much of a chance, do we?

In their discussion of ADHD, the folks at Wikipedia (www.wikipedia.org) suggest that many clinicians believe that attachments and relationships with caregivers and other features of a child’s environment have profound effects on attentional and self-regulatory capacities. An editorial in a special edition of Clinical Psychology in 2004 stated that, “Our impression from spending time with young people, their families and indeed, colleagues from other disciplines is that a medical diagnosis and medication is not enough.  In our clinical experience, without exception, we’re finding that the same conduct typically labeled ADHD is shown by children in context of violence and abuse, impaired parental attachments and other experiences of emotional trauma.”

For you to be an effective advocate for your child, you must get educated about this subject.  Go online, seek out professionals and/or find organizations dedicated to ADHD related topics and glean information that supports your gut feelings about what’s going on with your son and your opinions about treatment.  We also advise you to contact skilled professionals, such as your child’s doctor, teachers, and specially trained clinicians that deal with ADHD-like behaviors, who can help you help your son.  Please see the resources at the end of this article.

When ParentLine did some research to get information to help you “sort,” we found an overwhelming amount online (25,200,000 results for ADHD in a Google search!) of information on what might cause ADHD, and how it should be diagnosed and treated. There’s also a great deal of controversy about each one of these topics, pro and con. 

In any discussion of ADHD, no other single topic draws more controversy than the use of drugs as a method of treatment.

The most frequently prescribed cocaine-like stimulants used to treat ADHD are Methylphenidate (better known as Ritalin and Concerta), Amphetamines (Adderall) and dextroamphelamines (Dexedrine).  According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration Background Note (2004), “Methylphenidate is a Schedule II substance, has a high potential for abuse and produces the same effects as cocaine or the amphetamines.  Binge use, psychotic episodes, cardiovascular complications and severe psychological addiction have all been associated with methylphenidate.”

In his book, Ritalin Nation: Rapid-Fire Culture and the Transformation of Human Consciousness, psychologist Richard DeGrandpre sounds a warning that we may be failing our children by treating symptoms and not causes, with a quick-fix and ultimately unsatisfactory solution.  Drawing on psychobiological, developmental, and social scientific research, the author points to our culture’s “obsession with performance and quick satisfaction and the country’s reliance on Ritalin [as] a performance-enhancing drug (Natural Health).”  Further, he cautions that our society-wide rush to more and faster stimulation leaves children especially vulnerable to “sensory addictions.”

As you work to discover what’s going on with your son, you might also explore some non-drug therapies such as behavior modification, cognitive therapy, anger management, social training and family counseling. 

The American Academy of Pediatrics (www.aap.org) suggests that the child’s primary caregivers play a major role in behavior therapies to work with attention issues.  Parent training is available to help you learn more about specific, positive ways to respond to ADHD-type behaviors.  There are many steps you can take to help your child succeed in controlling his behavior.  These tips can make a big difference for your child and your family.

• Keep your child on a daily schedule.

• Cut down on distractions. Loud music, computer games and TV can be over-stimulating for a child. Keep TV or music off during meals and while your child is doing his homework.

• Organize your house. If your child has specific and logical places to keep his schoolwork, toys and clothes, he’s less likely to lose them. 

• Reward positive behavior. Offer kind words, hugs or small prizes for reaching goals. Praise and reward your child’s efforts to pay attention.

• Set small, reachable goals. Aim for slow progress rather than instant results. Be sure that he understands that he can take small steps toward learning to control himself.

• Help your child stay “on task.” Use charts and checklists to track progress with homework. Keep instructions brief.  Offer frequent, friendly reminders.

• Limit choices.  Help your child learn to make good decisions by giving him only two or three options at a time.

• Find activities at which your child can succeed.  All children need to experience success about themselves.

• Use calm discipline.  Use consequences such as time-out, removing the child from the situation or distraction.  Sometimes, it is best to simply ignore the behavior.  Physical punishment, such as spanking or slapping is not helpful.  Discuss your child’s behavior with him when both of you are calm.

 

Resources:

The Attention Deficit Information Network, Inc.: 781-455-9895 (www.addinformation.com)

National Institute of Mental Health: 301-443-4513 (www.nimh.nih.gov)

Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD) 1-800-233-4050 (www.chadd.org)

ParentLine is a free and confidential service of Child and Family Services, a statewide, independent, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing the well-being of children and families.  Call ParentLine, 1-800-640-6486;  write ParentLine, c/o Child and Family Services, P.O. Box 448, Manchester, NH; email parentline@cfsnh.org or visit our website at www.cfsnh.org.