Children With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

by Mike Crusco, School Psychologist

David has been a difficult baby.  As his mother recalls, the difficulty began even before birth.  He was colicky and irritable, fussing, wouldn't sleep, active and did not want to be held or cuddled.   As he grew older, he continued to be constantly on the go, demanding and noncompliant.  Regular disciplinary consequences did not seem to change his behavior.   He was difficult to toilet train.  In fact, it was difficult to get him to do anything.  Everyday was a struggle.  The days were long and the nights too short for David's parents.  The strain of raising a hyperactive child was beginning to take its toll.  A day did not go by without a major tantrum of some sort.

Starting school began as whole new series of problems.  David would not listen to his teacher, didn't follow the rules and didn't seem to pick up information like the other children.  The other children shunned him because he didn't share, was aggressive and demanding.  His parents felt that they were being seen as the cause of David's problems.

If David sounds like your child he may be one of the estimated three to five percent of school age children with an Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).  This disorder is defined as a developmental disorder of age-appropriate attention span, impulse control, restlessness, and rule governed behavior that develops in late infancy or early childhood (before the age of 6).  It is not pervasive in nature and is not accounted for on the basis of neurologic, sensory or motor impairment or severe emotional disturbance.  It is approximately six times more common in boys than girls and persists throughout childhood.  About one third of children with ADHD will show signs of the disorder in adulthood.  It impairs success in school and social situations.  There is some evidence that ADHD is inherited.  

How can parents cope with an ADHD child?   How can they help their ADHD child cope?  What we have discovered in working with ADHD children at school can often be implemented at home.  Consistency, clear rules and firm discipline, positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior, acceptance of limitations and avoidance of fatigue and/or stressful situation will all help ease an ADHD child's day.

If you think your child has ADHD contact your school psychologist.  The school psychologist can assist in helping to identify if your child has ADHD and work with you and your child's teachers to better cope with this problem.  In addition the school psychologist can provide valuable information to your child's physician if medial intervention appears needed.  Finally there are support groups for parents with ADHD children.  Living with an ADHD child can be extremely stressful.  Participation in a support group gives parents a chance to talk and gain a greater understanding of their child's problem.

This article was adapted with permission from material supplied by the Communique, a publication of the National Association of School Psychologists.