By Allyson Milne
I have had some really interesting conversations with parents of children with ADD (attention deficit disorder) and noticed their obvious frustration at the lack of knowledge and understanding from those around them on the subject.
Not only that, I felt saddened, too, by the fact that ADD is portrayed in such a negative light and the children are labelled as misfits and idiots because of their condition. I felt compelled to do some research into it, but do not claim to be an authority on the topic.
It has been estimated that 3 to 5 percent of pre-school and school age children have ADD or ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). This means that in a class of 25 to 30, it is likely that at least one child will have this common condition. The exact cause has not yet been determined though it is thought to have a genetic and biological link.
ADD or ADHD is a biological brain-based condition, characterised by poor attention and distractibility and/or hyperactive and impulsive behaviours. It is one of the most common mental disorders that develop in children. It causes difficulties with concentration and mental focus and impairs an individual's daily functioning across many areas such as home, work, school, relationships etc.
There is to date no known cure for it, but there are drugs on the market that help to subdue the effects of ADD. Ritalin is one of the most well-known drugs on the market today.
Dr Ferdi Pohl, an East London-based paediatrician, says: "Ritalin doesn't help hyperactivity; it is a stimulant which aids ADD children by stimulating dormant areas of the brain."
Because ADD children cannot filter out background stimulus from the task at hand, Ritalin is prescribed to help the child focus. Increased awareness of ADD has resulted in more children being diagnosed and prescribed the drug.
Those are the hard facts and while it may leave you feeling like the future looks pretty grim if your child has ADD, I would like to flip the coin and show you the positive side.
Throughout history we have had ADD- and ADHD-type personalities, some of whom have made valuable contributions to our world, but because they could not define their behaviour, they have been considered incompetent, stupid and disruptive. Some of these these so called misfits are:
- Thomas Edison - an inventor (his teachers told him he was too stupid to learn anything!)
- Albert Einstein - a physicist (he was four before he could speak and seven before he could read).
- Walt Disney - a great dreamer (a newspaper editor fired him because he had no good ideas).
- Michael Phelps - an Olympic swimmer.
- Richard Branson - an entrepreneur and billionaire (did not graduate from school).
Isn't it enlightening to realise how each and every one of these incredible people found a way of making ADD work for them? They are highly intelligent, creative and inventive people who think outside of the box to be successful.
This is not to say that they did not have pitfalls along the way. I am sure they were rejected many times but because they showed determination and passion for what they truly believed in they made a huge success of their lives and influenced each and every one of us by turning their "negative condition" into a positive reality.
Some of the characteristics shared by these people include:
- They like thrill, excitement and risk.
- They are highly creative problem-solvers.
- They are impulsive by nature.
- They are ambitious and industrious.
- They have tons of energy for things that interest them.
- They love to be the hero in an emergency.
I urge you to tackle ADD with enthusiasm and renewed energy. Praise children's uniqueness and successes and use rewards before punishment to motivate your child and create a positive environment for them.
Should you be one of the lucky ones to be blessed with a child that has ADD, be open-minded to the fact that difficult behaviour may indicate special abilities. Encourage creativity in your children and provide ample opportunities to enhance creativity. Don't worry too much about early childhood stumblings, but instead focus on developing a rounded individual who is secure enough to let his/her imagination run wild. Who knows what phenomenal inventions await us?
- Allyson Milne is a parenting coach