ADD & ADHD And Education
What is "ADD" and "ADHD"?
ADD and ADHD, which stands for Attention Deficit Disorder, and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, is a condition where which a person has difficulties with impulsivity, hyperactivity, a lack of attention. What it is, is really up to interpretation. Even the experts don't really know. There was a time where both ADD and ADHD were used interchangeably. There was a time where it was thought that it was caused by biological factors. Some researchers believe that it's psychological; some believe it's neurological. Even the experts can't agree on what it is, and what causes it. Tom Hartman was quoted as saying that ADDers, or people that suffer from ADD or ADHD, were hunters in a farmer's world. The definition of ADD and what it is, and how it impacts people, changes constantly.
What are the major symptoms of ADD and ADHD?
Symptoms of ADD, or attention deficit disorder, include - but aren't limited to - such behaviors as being forgetful, being easily distracted, losing focus, an inability to pay attention or complete tasks, and lack of interest. Things I see in students with ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactive disorder, include an inability to stay seated for any length of time, tapping or fidgeting on the desk, blurting out answers, interrupting others when they're speaking, and just an overall inability to stay seated.
How can ADD negatively impact my child's ability to learn?
ADD and/or ADHD can negatively impact your child's ability to learn perform in the classroon in many different ways. The ADD child will most likely not pay attention in class, or will start assignments and not finish them, and of course that means that the child is going to have a negative output in terms of work. The student with ADHD will have trouble in the classroom and their ability to learn will be lessened because they will be constantly up and about and engaging others in conversation when they shouldn't be. They will be walking around the room and blurting out answers. They are otherwise more disruptive than the ADD Child, which is why most students with ADHD are more easily identified than students with ADD, because the student with ADD just tends to quietly blend into the wallpaper.
How are ADD and ADHD symptoms addressed in the classroom?
The techniques that I use to address students with ADD and ADHD are both very similar in the classroom, and I believe parents could also use them as well. The key is to stay on top of your children, to frequently prompt them in the things that they need to do, and more importantly, to frequently check on their progress to make sure that they understand what they're doing and that they're performing the task correctly. It doesn't matter if the student is inattentive or if the student is hyperactive, as long as parents are involved and frequently checking on their progress and understanding of whatever it is that they're doing, that they're helping their students and helping their children to feel successful.
How can I emotionally support my ADD or ADHD child?
Parents can emotionally support their ADD or ADHD children at home by first and foremost understanding the nature and the symptoms of their disability. A parent that understands that their child has ADD, understands that their child has difficulty paying attention. To help that child, the parents should be supportive and understanding that if the child is forgetful, it is not necessarily his or her fault. It's a by product of their disability. Parents of children that have ADHD need to understand that their children are up and about all the time and once again they need to be sensitive to that, and not consequence them or punish them for being disruptive in the household or constantly moving about not being able to sit still.
When is it time to seek help for my ADD or ADHD child?
Parents of ADD and ADHD children should ask for help when they feel that their children's ADD or ADHD is negatively impacting their children's ability to access life at its most basic level. If it comes to that, parents of ADD and ADHD children should go to their children's school and ask for resources and support for children with ADD or ADHD, and enquire what type of support groups and support programs are available to help them in working with or dealing with their children with ADD or ADHD.
Are there different classes for children with emotional disorders?
There are many different types of emotional disorders. Most emotional disorders are characterized by a student displaying inappropriate feelings at appropriate times or under normal circumstances, or pervasive mood of unhappiness or depression, an inability to create or maintain relationships with peer or family members. The causes of emotional disorders and how they're diagnosed remain in question.
