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JAPUAULGYEU2S83T- 1JU6L-YA2U9G,U2S0T122, 2011 AUGUST 29 - SEPTEMBER P4A, G2E0186

USAPANG ADHD: Symptoms, My ths, and Parenting Solutions (Part 1 of 2)

The life of a person with ADHD is not easy. They tend to be more accident-prone, suffer from low self-esteem, unhappy with how they interact

By Mylene S. Santos with people thus more at risk of alcohol, drug abuse and other delinquent behaviours. It is unfortunate that there is still no cure for ADHD, but
O ur society readily as-
treatment and support groups are available to manage things much easier.

Myth #1: Only kids have overcome the challenges Myth #8: Too much TV

sociates ADHD with have ADHD of ADHD and have managed time can cause ADHD

adjectives such as ‘difficult’, One in ten kids under the to succeed. A classic example Habits are not to be

‘irritating’, and ‘irresponsible’. age of 17 has ADHD. Since it is Albert Einstein, who was considered causes of the dis-

Children with ADHD often have has no cure kids with ADHD car- widely believed to have ex- order. For kids and teens with

to struggle in their academic ry the disorder into adulthood. hibited symptoms of ADHD. ADHD however, excessive

performance and are often Myth #2: All kids Myth #5: It is not a amounts of time watching TV

being unfairly judged by their outgrow ADHD real disorder or playing video games could

peers and by other adults. Up to 80% of ADHD Doctors and mental health trigger the condition and may

If your child has difficulty kids show symptoms in their professionals all agree that make symptoms much worse.

getting organized or staying in adolescence, with 70% of ADHD is a real biological disor- Myth #9: If you can

focus, is fidgety, noisy and un- those have relationship diffi- der caused by the imbalance in focus on certain things,

able to adapt to changing situa- culties, money troubles, work brain chemicals. This imbalance you don’t have ADHD

tions, he or she may be suffering strife, and a rocky family life. affects certain brain areas that While the disorder charac-

from Attention-Deficit Hyperac- Myth #3: Medication regulate behaviour and emotion. terizes people having difficulty

tivity Disorder or ADHD. This can cure Myth #6: ADHD is focusing, some ADHD people

neurobehavioral developmental Prescription medicine caused by bad can actually get overly ab-

disorder usually shows its symp- can help manage ADHD symp- parenting sorbed in certain activities they

toms before the age of 7 and toms but not cure. There are The combination of ge- enjoy. This condition is called

occurs more often in males than treatments available that can netic and environmental factors ‘hyper-focus’. The downside,

in females. Though the causes improve symptoms such as causesADHD,notbadparenting. other activities and responsi-

are still unknown, it is believed lifestyle changes, counselling, Myth #7: All ADHD are bilities that appear less appeal-

that ADHD is highly heritable. and behaviour modification. hyperactive individuals ing to them are left ignored. parents. In most cases, even

The scientific community agrees Myth #4: ADHD persons ADHD has three cat- Myth#10: The disorder parents of kids with ADHD fail to

that this disorder is biological are lazy; lack egories – predominantly inat- is overdiagnosed seek treatments until such time

in nature, resulting from chemi- intelligence and tentive type, predominantly More and more cases are they recognize similar symp-

cal imbalance in the brain. willpower hyperactive-impulsive type, actually left undiagnosed, mak- toms they themselves exhibit

Real Age website shares The disorder has noth- and the combined type. ing life harder for those afflicted. Next issue: ADHD

common myths on ing to do with intelligence or Kids with inattentive ADHD As mentioned earlier, ADHD can Parenting Solutions

ADHD which include: determination. Many people are usually not hyperactive. be inherited from either or both & Support.