How to tame the misbehaviour of a child with ADHD? Is ADHD an inherited disorder? How long is ADHD treated?
Here is a list of the most frequently asked questions by parents of children with ADHD.
What is the likelihood that a sibling of a child with ADHD will also have these symptoms?
It is difficult to answer this question. It is certainly not possible to say with certainty that a sibling of a child with ADHD will also be affected by the disorder. However, as is well known, ADHD is one of the diseases with a genetic basis. This means that it is passed on from generation to generation. It is therefore likely that if parents have passed on to one of their children the genes responsible for the development of ADHD, that they will also pass them on to others. However, this does not mean that this will definitely be the case. Statistics indicate that in about 35% of cases ADHD will also occur in the siblings of a child with the disorder. This means that, despite everything, in most cases this will not be the case.
What should you do if your child misbehaves in public?
First of all, it is important to realise what is really worrying you in such a situation. Is it really about the child’s behaviour or the reaction of those around him or her? In most cases, it is likely that the problem for us will be the unpleasant attitude of outsiders. In that case, the first step would be to develop the skill of not paying attention to the reaction of those around you. It is very important to remain calm. Above all, so as not to exacerbate the child’s abnormal behaviour in a given situation.
The next step would be to talk to the child and discuss with him/her the rules of behaviour in a particular situation. It is also necessary to develop a system of consequences for cases in which the child, when repeatedly instructed, will not react. Of course, you can simply move away from the place where the unpleasant situation occurred, but this is a last resort. Running away from the problem will not solve it.
What do I tell my family and relatives? How do you explain your child’s inappropriate behaviour to them?
There is no reason why we should be obliged to explain anything to anyone. This is especially important to remember in situations where strangers are reacting to a child’s behaviour. Explaining why our child is behaving in such a way is too lengthy and would not have much effect anyway. No one can fully understand the problem that is ADHD without having it at home. On a daily basis we are judged by those who come into contact with us. Often these are unfair judgements, and even more often we don’t even realise it. So there is no reason to be concerned about what strangers think about our child and also us in a situation where their behaviour is due to unrelated reasons. The situation is a little different for close family members, especially if they spend a lot of time with the child. It is a good idea to explain to them what ADHD is, what it results from and teach them how they should deal with their child. This will certainly help to avoid misunderstandings and make it easier for the child to interact with other family members.
Will the child ever grow out of it?
This is an extremely difficult and frequently asked question. Unfortunately, there is no answer to it. It is difficult to predict the extent to which the symptoms associated with ADHD will withdraw with age. What is known is that, generally, in adolescence, the disorders associated with hyperactivity disappear, while attention deficit disorder begins to predominate. Long-term observations suggest that symptoms are still present in about 70% of cases during adolescence. In adulthood, about 30-50% of people with previously diagnosed ADHD observe some symptoms in themselves. As a rule, however, these symptoms are not in the field of hyperactivity, but in the attention deficit disorder group.
How long does it take to treat ADHD?
Treatment of ADHD, as in other illnesses, takes as long as it is needed. The most intensive period of treatment is at the very beginning, when both the child and his parents are learning what ADHD is, which behaviours belong to the symptom spectrum and how to deal with them. It is also the most difficult period because it consumes the most time and effort. It requires a lot of willpower, but later on, the methods learned at the beginning become habitual and reflexive. If drug treatment is used, withdrawal attempts are made from time to time. Holidays, for example, are a good time to try this.
Does the use of medication not cause addiction or side effects?
It is important to realise that any medication can cause side effects. However, it should be borne in mind that pharmacotherapy is carried out very carefully under medical supervision, so that possible side effects can be picked up quickly. In addition, the drugs used today have fewer and fewer of these. The selection of suitable drugs sometimes takes a long time, as not every drug is suitable for a particular case. The doctor’s aim is to tailor the therapy to the patient individually so that he/she feels the benefits of the treatment. You should certainly not be afraid of medication. It is very important to remember that they do not cause addiction and are only used for as long as is necessary.
What can be done to ensure that the child finishes the task he or she has started?
First of all, it is important to develop the right attitude. For example, you should not expect a child to calmly do all the homework at school without interrupting. When asking your child to complete a task, first of all realise how long it will take.
If you find that an activity takes too long, it is better to divide it into parts with breaks in between. It is important that during such a break, the child does not start an activity that he or she does not want to finish when the rest time is over.
It would also be good to limit factors that could distract the child (for example, noise, a pet). If the child has to do homework, accompany him/her in this and be patient from the beginning. It is also a good idea to set a specific time for these activities.
Is there a special diet that the child should follow?
There is sometimes a view that parents should avoid giving certain foods to children with ADHD. Foods considered as theoretically causing an increase in symptoms include: cocoa, sugar, preservatives, artificial colours, fast-food. Such theories are not yet supported by research. The child’s diet should, of course, be based on healthy eating principles, but should not differ from the diet of children not affected by ADHD.
Should a child with ADHD be in a special school?
There is no need for a child with ADHD to attend a special school. Special education programmes have been created for teachers to train them how to work with a child affected by this problem. Of course, this requires good will on the part of the teachers, but as long as they are willing to cooperate, an environment can be created for the child to achieve academically and maintain good relationships with peers. Systems set up for schools involve everyone who comes into contact with the child, from the janitor to the teachers to the school psychologist.
How can you help a child relieve excessive energy?
A good way to relieve excess energy is through sport. There are no particularly recommended or contraindicated sports activities for children with ADHD. When making a choice, the answer to the question “To what extent will the child be able to follow the rules for a particular sport?” should be taken into account. Above all, however, safety should be kept in mind. It is important to watch out whether the child is playing the sport too intensively. Physical exertion is intended to help calm the child, not to lead to exhaustion.
How to deal with tantrums and aggression?
Tantrums and aggression in a child with ADHD can have a variety of origins and, depending on the cause, parents should adapt their response. Often this type of behaviour can be an expression of a desire for attention. If the child succeeds in getting the parents’ attention through anger or aggression, he or she will certainly not stop behaving in this way. The parents’ reaction in such situations, whatever it may be, will only reinforce the child’s feeling that he or she is achieving his or her goal in this way, and thus aggression and outbursts of anger will become more frequent and more intense.
There are various behavioural methods categorised as ADHD therapy to help deal with such situations. These include art therapy (Agression Replacement Training). In a nutshell, this is a programme designed to replace aggressive behaviour with desirable behaviour. It teaches, among other things, self-control, how to make the right decisions, how to respond to provocation. However, it is important to remember that anger and aggression can also be triggered by frustration. If such tantrums do not cause harm to those around you and do not happen too often, you can simply try to accept them.
Source
- https://portal.abczdrowie.pl/rodzice-dzieci-z-adhd-pytania
