Myth vs Fact:
Knowing fact from fiction can better position you in dealing with others that have direct contact with your child. Lack of knowledge on your part lets others make fundemental decisions in treatment and even disipline.
My son was first put an Adderall and the school system thought he should magically tranform into the model student. My lack of knowledge made me beleive the same thing. Afterall,(I thought) they have experience in dealing with ADHD children so they should know what they are doing. WRONG! This is especially true if your child is newly diagnosed. One teacher informed me that she would NEVER medicate her kid! She made me feel horrible. Come to find out she NEVER had kids. Once I knew the facts about the disorder, I often challenged them on some of their discipline and teaching tactics. This lead to the school getting frustrated with me! I realized I was more informed on ADHD than they were (or maybe more open to recent info) and my son's only advocate. I backed up my statements/ questions with facts or data that I read in reputable magazines leaving them speechless and intolerable to not only my son but me. This is a list of three, but please feel free to add any that you have encountered.
Dispelling the Myths.
Myth: Parents just cannot control their kids.
Before I had a child with ADHD, I assumed that it was purely a displinary problem. As an ADHD parent you may already know that is far from the truth. The way you punished your other children simply doesnot work on your ADHD child. Despite having attention deficit, my son can hold out to prove a point. There were times I was so frustrated that I put him in time out until he apologized for yelling and agreed to pick up his mess. Much to my surprise he sat on his stool refusing to give in. I actually had to let him up so he could get ready for bed. Your child is not being unruly, it's just that that cannot comprehend requests that you may make especially if it involves any kind of organizational or concentration skills. Like cleaning their room, doing homework etc. The parent gets angry and will bark a series of commands to a child that you lost shortly after you opened your mouth. Some children may deliberately push your buttons because they like the noise and the attention.(my son has ODD as well, so it may contribute.) As parent we need to make some noise whengiving praise. I 've made up a song and dance routines for a passing grade on a spelling test or making a new friend. I've also started counting to ten during the chaotic moments and learned to lower my volume. Combined, these tactics work quite well. For further informaion on effective discipline, I would highly recommend "1-2-3 Magic" by Thomas Phelan Phd. (No, I am not paid for that but I should get a commision on all the copies I recommended to friends.) I have read many books and in my opinion this is the best on the subject even for children who are not ADHD (and it really seems like magic). You are not a bad parent who does not know how to discipline your child, you just need different stategy.
Myth: ADHD is related to a poor diet -high in sugar and carbs.
My friend is extremely health conscious and has given me much information on diet and ADHD. While she means well, ADHD is an actual disorder. If you were diagnosed with Type II diabetes and needed to take shots of insulin, would you try to control it with diet instead ? Or if your child had a heart condition that required medication would you treat it with herbal remedies? Personally, I feel refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup should be consumed in moderation (if at all )but, that is not an ADHD issue as it is related to general health. Brain scans of ADHD children show a significant increase in area of that brain that controls hyperactivity. There is also a decrease in impulse control. From experience we have all figured out that this is an unbearable combination. My son was 2 years old when he decided to plumment from the fifth step of our front porch to the the concrete below. He didn't even hesitate and was ready to do it again until I stopped him! He was not all hopped up on sugar, in fact I have always restricted the amount of his consumption. There is not significant evidence to indicate that increased sugar consumption equates to hyperactivity. When your kid asks for a snack, don't feel guilty about giving a sugary treat along with a well balanced diet.
Myth: ADHD children are stupid and lazy.
What a load of crap! The school principal actually told me this about my son in so many words. When family members believe that your kid isn't trying it can be most irritating. There is not any evidence showing that ADHD kids have lower IQs or that they are just lazy . Academically, they may be behind in some subjects, especially those that require studying and memorization. Doing home work can be a nightmare for these children. Reasearch shows that many of our special children show a higher IQ and above average creativity. My son, who is an average student, can construct the most amazing devices and contraptions with actual uses. Einstein, who exhibited signs of ADHD, did not speak intil he was four and did not read until he was seven but is viewed as one of the most intelligent persons of our time. Einstein took risks and tossed conventional thinking to the wind. Terry Bradshaw, Mariete Hartley, Woody Harrelson and Dexter Scott King have all been diagnosed with ADHD and have made memorable contributions to society. So where is the stupid or lazy? Their common thread is their willingnes to take risks in order to fulfil their individual ambitions.
Knowing fact from fiction can better position you in dealing with others that have direct contact with your child. Lack of knowledge on your part lets others make fundemental decisions in treatment and even disipline.My son was first put an Adderall and the school system thought he should magically tranform into the model student. My lack of knowledge made me beleive the same thing. Afterall,(I thought) they have experience in dealing with ADHD children so they should know what they are doing. WRONG! This is especially true if your child is newly diagnosed. One teacher informed me that she would NEVER medicate her kid! She made me feel horrible. Come to find out she NEVER had kids. Once I knew the facts about the disorder, I often challenged them on some of their discipline and teaching tactics. This lead to the school getting frustrated with me! I realized I was more informed on ADHD than they were (or maybe more open to recent info) and my son's only advocate. I backed up my statements/ questions with facts or data that I read in reputable magazines leaving them speechless and intolerable to not only my son but me. This is a list of three, but please feel free to add any that you have encountered.
Dispelling the Myths.
Myth: Parents just cannot control their kids.
Before I had a child with ADHD, I assumed that it was purely a displinary problem. As an ADHD parent you may already know that is far from the truth. The way you punished your other children simply doesnot work on your ADHD child. Despite having attention deficit, my son can hold out to prove a point. There were times I was so frustrated that I put him in time out until he apologized for yelling and agreed to pick up his mess. Much to my surprise he sat on his stool refusing to give in. I actually had to let him up so he could get ready for bed. Your child is not being unruly, it's just that that cannot comprehend requests that you may make especially if it involves any kind of organizational or concentration skills. Like cleaning their room, doing homework etc. The parent gets angry and will bark a series of commands to a child that you lost shortly after you opened your mouth. Some children may deliberately push your buttons because they like the noise and the attention.(my son has ODD as well, so it may contribute.) As parent we need to make some noise whengiving praise. I 've made up a song and dance routines for a passing grade on a spelling test or making a new friend. I've also started counting to ten during the chaotic moments and learned to lower my volume. Combined, these tactics work quite well. For further informaion on effective discipline, I would highly recommend "1-2-3 Magic" by Thomas Phelan Phd. (No, I am not paid for that but I should get a commision on all the copies I recommended to friends.) I have read many books and in my opinion this is the best on the subject even for children who are not ADHD (and it really seems like magic). You are not a bad parent who does not know how to discipline your child, you just need different stategy.
Myth: ADHD is related to a poor diet -high in sugar and carbs.
My friend is extremely health conscious and has given me much information on diet and ADHD. While she means well, ADHD is an actual disorder. If you were diagnosed with Type II diabetes and needed to take shots of insulin, would you try to control it with diet instead ? Or if your child had a heart condition that required medication would you treat it with herbal remedies? Personally, I feel refined sugar and high fructose corn syrup should be consumed in moderation (if at all )but, that is not an ADHD issue as it is related to general health. Brain scans of ADHD children show a significant increase in area of that brain that controls hyperactivity. There is also a decrease in impulse control. From experience we have all figured out that this is an unbearable combination. My son was 2 years old when he decided to plumment from the fifth step of our front porch to the the concrete below. He didn't even hesitate and was ready to do it again until I stopped him! He was not all hopped up on sugar, in fact I have always restricted the amount of his consumption. There is not significant evidence to indicate that increased sugar consumption equates to hyperactivity. When your kid asks for a snack, don't feel guilty about giving a sugary treat along with a well balanced diet.
Myth: ADHD children are stupid and lazy.
What a load of crap! The school principal actually told me this about my son in so many words. When family members believe that your kid isn't trying it can be most irritating. There is not any evidence showing that ADHD kids have lower IQs or that they are just lazy . Academically, they may be behind in some subjects, especially those that require studying and memorization. Doing home work can be a nightmare for these children. Reasearch shows that many of our special children show a higher IQ and above average creativity. My son, who is an average student, can construct the most amazing devices and contraptions with actual uses. Einstein, who exhibited signs of ADHD, did not speak intil he was four and did not read until he was seven but is viewed as one of the most intelligent persons of our time. Einstein took risks and tossed conventional thinking to the wind. Terry Bradshaw, Mariete Hartley, Woody Harrelson and Dexter Scott King have all been diagnosed with ADHD and have made memorable contributions to society. So where is the stupid or lazy? Their common thread is their willingnes to take risks in order to fulfil their individual ambitions.
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