Evan, five years old, hardly stands, much less sits, still for more than a few moments. Jessie is eight -- she's adorable...she never finishes anything on time...she's a dreamer. Cal is fifteen -- he is so impulsive that his parents worry he'll try drugs on a whim. What do these kids have in common? Do they remind you of your own children? The most talked-about childhood syndrome of the eighties and nineties is ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). This developmental disorder disrupts a child's life and often results in low self-esteem, poor grades and even social and emotional problems. These problems usually are not outgrown -- without help. But does your child have ADHD? ADHD is characterized by the following groups of behaviors: Inattention -- making careless mistakes -- difficulty sustaining attention -- problems with listening -- failure to finish schoolwork or chores -- difficulties organizing -- trouble sustaining mental efforts -- losing things -- being easily distracted -- forgetfulness Hyperactivity/Impulsivity -- fidgeting/squirming -- trouble staying seated -- inappropriate running/climbing -- difficulty playing quietly -- being on the go/driven -- talking excessively -- blurting out answers -- difficulty awaiting turn -- often interrupting All children display many of these behaviors at some point. But-according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, Fourth Edition, for a child to be diagnosed with ADHD, six or more of these symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity must have persisted for at least six months. Is Your Child Hyperactive? Inattentive? Impulsive? Distractible? offers an invaluable step-by-step program already used by thousands of parents to help you change these behaviors at home. Don't just watch it happen; help your child help himself. Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity is the umbrella term for the leading childhood disorder of the 1990s. Now, three leading specialists help parents identify if their child has this disorder, and show how to work with ADD/hyperactive children to build self-control. |
List of Figures Preface 1 My Child Has What? 3 2 How to Tell If Your Child Really has ADHD 17 3 Motivating Your Child 35 4 How to Explain ADHD to Your Child 52 5 Gaining Acceptance and Support from Siblings, Other Relatives, Friends, Teachers and Others 64 6 If, When and How to Use Medication 72 7 Controlling Activity Level 89 8 Calmness Training 108 9 Impulse Control Training 117 10 Beating Distractions 127 11 Stretching Attention Span 140 12 Following Rules 152 13 Controlling Aggression 164 14 Building Self-Esteem 174 15 The ADHD Child at Play 184 16 The ADHD Child at School 198 17 The ADHD Child Grown Up 216 Appendix A 222 Appendix B 223 Suggested Readings 225 References 228 Index 231