ADHD-ondersteuning in die Paarl
2006-10-12
HELENA BESTER, skrywer van verskeie Afrikaanse boeke oor ADHD, besoek die ADHD-ondersteuningsgroep in die Paarl op Woensdag 18 Oktober vir die laaste vergadering van die jaar.
Dit begin om 19:00 by Cheveveld se klubhuis.
Toegang is R5 per persoon. Bespreek by Retha (872-5620) of Jeanne (872-6653).
ADHD: a unique challenge
CHILDREN who do not have to cope with attention deficiency (ADHD) can be challenging enough for parents.
When you have a child with ADHD who is caught up in the hyperactive and somewhat confusing world which ADHD brings with it, it can be very stressful for both children and parents.
ADHD is the most common and fastest-growing diagnosis among childhood disorders in the USA and is increasing at a rapid rate in all developing countries, including South Africa.
Many parents feel burnt out by the daily struggles around behaviour and homework, with these stressors being compounded by frustrations associated with trying to make certain that their child’s needs are being adequately addressed, both at school and at home.
The core symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Specific medical diagnostic criteria does not include defiant behaviour, problems making friends, poor self-esteem and so on.
While some children with ADHD do not develop these associated problems, those children who do develop additional problems are at an added disadvantage since these problems create more difficulty for themselves and parents, problems far more trying than the core ADHD symptoms themselves.
It is important to realise that ADHD is a disorder that is managed, not cured.
It is therefore vital that a child’s ADHD is identified and treated.
Combined interventions including medication, behavioural management and skills building can be very effective.
When parents have a child with any type of problem, it is not unusual for the parents to feel guilty or to blame themselves.
There is growing evidence that where ADHD is concerned, parents would have little control over the cause of the condition, as the most commonly accepted cause is that a chemical imbalance exists which inhibits the efficiency of neurotransmitters in certain portions of the brain.
Often, parents are not prepared or willing to accept a diagnosis of ADHD in their children, mainly because they do not understand the condition.
Some specialists have noted that parents of children diagnosed with a reading disability, for example, will invariably accept this diagnosis, whereas where ADHD is concerned, parents often do not understand the diagnosis, how the clinician arrived at this diagnosis and what the immediate and long term implications of such a diagnosis are.
Parents also have a responsibility to help build the confidence of their ADHD child.
For some children, being scolded is the only attention they might get.
Parents should always remember that their child has not chosen to have ADHD and thus should not be punished for this.
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