Treating Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Treating children with ADHD is known as behavior therapy or behavior management. Behavior therapy is based on several simple and sensible notions about what leads children to behave in socially appropriate ways. Children and teens with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do not misbehave to spite their parents or other adults. Problems develop because ADHD often causes them to react impulsively and makes it difficult for them to learn and to comply with rules. Many children with ADHD need behavior therapy to help them interact appropriately with others. Parent training in these techniques usually takes 8 to 10 counseling sessions of 1 to 2 hours per week.

Be aware of your child's need for routine and structure. Warn him or her beforehand if something out of the ordinary is expected, such as taking a different route home from the grocery store. Even small changes in a normal routine can upset your child.  Tell your child exactly what you expect from him or her before activities or events throughout the day. For example, when you plan to go grocery shopping, make sure your child knows that he or she is going to sit in the cart or hold your hand. Also, let your child know before you go in the store specifically what items, if any, he or she will be able to pick out. Use a system to reward your child for positive behavior, such as token jars or sticker charts. After accumulating a certain number of tokens or stickers, plan a special activity for your child, such as going to the park. Use a timer to help your child anticipate a change in activities and to keep him or her on task. Set a certain amount of time for activities, such as coloring. Tell your child that when the timer goes off, that activity will be over and specify what will happen next (for example, "When the timer goes off, we will be finished coloring and then take a bath"). In addition, you can use the timer for chores, such as picking up toys. If your child finishes the task in the allotted time, you can incorporate the token or sticker reward system. Participate with your child in activities that build attention skills, such as puzzles, reading, or coloring.

Give instructions clearly so that the child is more likely to follow through with the task. Break tasks into simple steps. This makes it easier for the child to maintain attention. Increase the amount of attention, praise, and privileges or rewards given to the child for obeying household rules. A token, sticker, or point system may be helpful for keeping a record of the child's good behavior. Explain what will happen if the child misbehaves. When misbehavior occurs, follow through with the consequences as soon as possible. Your child will usually respond better with consistent reactions while in different settings, so discuss your strategies with school personnel. Consider requesting daily report cards from your child's teacher to get a sense of how he or she behaves outside of the home. Model good behavior. Demonstrate patience, calmness, and understanding. Avoid angry outbursts and interrupting others; pay attention while someone else is talking.

Allow your child to participate in planning rules and consequences. Be willing to negotiate these rules periodically. Anticipate when major changes will occur, such as starting a new school. In addition, recognize other high-stress situations, such as a heavy class load or final exams. These are all times when symptoms may be more difficult to manage. Talk about what the child can expect and ways to meet the challenges successfully.

 

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Family Doctors: Finding the Right One For Your Family

Every family needs a good doctor, but it can also be difficult to find one. Most doctors have an established base of patients and it can be difficult to find one with space to take new patients. It's also a challenge to find a Canadian GP that you are comfortable with.



A family physician is able to treat the entire family, from parents to kids. However, not every doctor is suited to this. Some still have old fashioned ideals about women or aren't good with kids. Sometimes it can take a bit to search out the right person for your family.



How do you go about finding the best family GP? Word of mouth is a great way to get someone trustworthy. When someone else recommends a doctor, it is very probable that they are doing so because they are happy with the results and with the physician's bedside manner. Getting someone to recommend a doc to you doesn't guarantee that he or she is right for your family, but it is a very good start.



There are a few things to look for in a doctor. First of all, it's best to encounter someone who is equally good with adults and children, even if there aren't any in the family yet. This ensures that the family can grow and not have to change GPs. Not all GPs are good with kids, so take the time to do some research.



A great doctor will also have space in his or her schedule to admit new patients. This is becoming increasingly harder for practitioners as there are so many patients. Most people don't like to wait several weeks or months for an appointment, so it's best to look for someone who can set up appointments within two to three weeks. Emergencies should be accommodated, as well.



One thing that can help with the frequent unavailability of a physician is to look into a clinic setting where several practitioners work and patients are moved between them, according to who is available on any given day. While this offers less chance to get to know just one person, it does ensure that there will always be someone attending. It might be a good idea to meet everyone who works at the clinic first and check out their credentials to see if the clinic is a good fit for your family.



Some people prefer to see a younger doctor, knowing that it is less likely he or she will retire anytime soon. That's not a guarantee though and many people are quite the opposite, preferring an older, more experienced GP. The choice depends on personal preference in the end.



Finding great doctors isn't always easy. Once the perfect one is found, however, it's worth it. Having someone the entire family can see, who is personable and knowledgeable and who is able to see patients relatively quickly, is invaluable. It is worth the time it takes to find the best person to see, since hopefully it will be a very long term relationship.

About the Author

When an individual is ill and in need of a remedy they should go and consult a physician. There are many different types of doctors or specialists who each focus in a specific field of medical practice such as paediatrics, or family practice.