Topics > Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Understanding

Are you a parent of a child with ADHD?  Does the thought of waiting in line at the grocery store or trying to get through a lengthy homework assignment make you wan to scream?  Are you a teacher who feels totally helpless as to how to handle the constant fidgeting and off task behavior of your student with attention issues?  You are not alone.

Unfortunately, these students are often labeled “problem children” when in fact they are "children with an actual problem."  Getting appropriate treatment for the behaviors associate with ADHD is critical. Serious consequences can follow for persons with ADHD who do not receive adequate treatment.  These include low self esteem, substance abuse, social isolation, and academic failure. 

The first step to understanding the behavioral concerns of a child diagnosed with ADHD is to conduct a behavioral assessment.  This will help you to specifically identify the behaviors of concern.  Describing a child as “lacking attention or impulsive” will do nothing to help a situation besides frustrate the child and caregiver.    For example, a proper behavioral definition would read: “When given an oral direction in the classroom (i.e. Turn to Page 5), Johnny will either not respond with 30 seconds of the first time asked by his teacher or incorrectly respond (i.e. turning to the wrong page).”  This presents a problem in which there is a solution as opposed to – “Johnny never pays attention." Understanding when, where, and why the behavior occurs is critical to developing an appropriate intervention plan.