add/adhd concentration difficulties have always existed. dr gerald, psychiatrist, conducted a survey...
TRANSCRIPT
ADD/ADHD• Concentration difficulties have
always existed. • Dr Gerald, psychiatrist,
conducted a survey among Bushmen and discovered that the hyperactive hunter was regarded as a leader due to his acute senses. This enabled him to see or smell the prey before anyone else.
• Our current social setting and school system can be a disadvantage.
• ADD/ADHD can take 3 forms:– Predominant
hyperactivity and impulsivity
– Predominant attention deficient
– A combination of hyperactivity, impulsivity and attention deficit
PHILIP
Philip is a boisterous, noisy, over-active, impulsive, affectionate, quick tempered child, but never sulks and is usually cheerful. He is very forgetful and loses all his possessions. He is very distractible and easily bored, his handwriting is terrible, he under-achieves in class, but he loves and excels in sports. Although he often fights, he is well liked. He suffers from Eczema and ‘drinks the taps dry’. Philip has all 3 key symptoms.
JAMES
James on the other hand is quiet, withdrawn and dreamy. He is never in trouble in class but his lack of enthusiasm and participation is worrying. He is bored and uninterested in his schoolwork and never finishes an exercise. His handwriting is terrible and although he would love to do well at sports for some reason he cannot shape. He is chronically anxious with compulsive mannerisms and habits and is often unwell with sinus and ear infections. James is ADD but hypo- rather than hyperactive.
LINDA
Linda does well in school. Perhaps if she were to concentrate all the time she would excel. But she is not a happy child. She is loud, rough and very bossy. She is very argumentative, intolerant and quite aggressive. The other children do not like her and keep away. Deep down she is desperate to be liked and have a friend, but she covers this up with a thick ‘I don’t care’ shell. Linda has a touch of ADD but her main problem is hyperactivity and impulsivity.
PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS
• Genetic condition (bright, ambitious, interesting and often exciting individuals)
• Symptoms before the age of 7
• Over-activity – shake a foot etc. does not sit still
• Constant purposeless activity• Often underweight• Allergies• Always thirsty
• Run/walk on their toes – wear out socks under the balls of their feet
• Sensory defensive• Can be vocal• Speech difficulties are
common• Don’t all have sleeping
problems• Poor motor skills / low muscle
tone (confidence affected)• Accident prone
ACADEMIC SYMPTOMS• Over-activity – so much energy
into sitting still the child has no energy left to concentrate
• Concentrate if material interests them (low boredom threshold)
• Distractibility (noises outside as well as thoughts going around in his head)
• Good at Maths difficulty with Languages (or other way round)
• Impulsivity• Procrastination **
• Short term memory problems which lead to learning difficulties
• Auditory/visual discrimination and perceptual difficulties
• Poor organisational abilities
EMOTIONAL SYMPTOMS
• Low frustration threshold• Lack of persistence• Lack of motivation (do
minimal)• Immature for their age• Social difficulties
(impulsivity, impatience, intolerance, irritability, urge to control and unpredictable behaviour)
• Tantrums• Insecurity• LOW SELF ESTEEM
• These children are ‘different’. They perceive the world differently. Their thought processes run along different lines. They display a deep need to be ‘the same’ as everyone else, but their behaviour is often seen as somewhat weird.
It’s not YOUR child’s fault that he/she is ADD/ADDHD
CHILDREN AT CEDARWOOD
DIET• Avoid aspirin, artificial colourants,
flavourants, certain preservatives• Supplements are good if your child
suffers from dry skin, respiratory problems hay fever, asthma, bronchitis, frequent colds and ear infections.
• Cut down on refined carbohydrate i.e. white flour, white rice, sugar
• Feed frequently to keep blood sugar levels stable
• Must not feel deprived. It is better to make them feel special!
DietMedication
TherapyRelationships
Medication and Therapies
• Need medication for academic reasons
• Ritalin stimulates the production of dopamine
• Better marks• Reduces impulsivity• Improves handwriting• Improves short term memory• Improves sociability• Self confidence
• Antidepressants e.g. Tofranil• Eat nutritious meals before
having medication
• Speech Therapy• Occupational Therapy• Physiotherapy• Play Therapy• Extramural activities
BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION• Spanking works in the short term but often involves
embarrassment, isolation, rejection and fear and should be avoided at all costs!
• Behaviour modification focuses on rewarding the positive» We are motivated by praise» We are motivated to work for rewards (children 4-10 are
externally motivated)» 10-13 motivated to avoid disapproval and rules dictate
Example:
• Every morning brings the same battle – getting dressed. Your child fiddles and dawdles and makes the whole family late. What can you do?
• Nag• Scream• Threaten & punish• You ignore• You smack
BEHAVIOUR MODIFICATION
• Target the inappropriate behaviour i.e. brushing your teeth after breakfast
• Negotiate the rewards• Link praise to the reward – shift to higher level of moral
development• Reward the action
• 1st stage: instant rewards (first week)• 2nd stage: delayed gratification (save money for Friday)• 3rd stage: intermittent rewards –praise often (one day) – want to
please and follow rules• 4th stage: stopping one and starting another – a month to become a
habit, keep praising
STAR CHARTS
• Star charts are aimed at behaviours that cannot be timed. One behaviour at a time. E.g. putting clothes in the wash basket, hanging up towels
• Negotiate reward• Put star chart on the wall – small after 5, small after 10 and
their main reward of 20 stars• Only get a star if they complete the criteria completely – label
the feeling for them ‘you think you are cross with me for not getting the star but instead you are disappointed with yourself for not getting the star – it will just take one day longer that’s all
• Use for 3-4 weeks
STAR CHART
MAINTAINING THE STRUCTURE
• Do not shout at your child. Rather say, ‘Wow it looks like you have had fun today. Lets pack your toys away so you can have fun tomorrow.’
• Don’t pack everything away yourself
• Don’t stand and issue verbal instructions
• Every day for a week then ask questions such as what’s next?
• Then begin process off and come back and praise
• 3 -4 weeks to develop a habit
THE MORNING/EVENING ROUTINE
Mom, where are my
takkies?
Hurry up, you’ll be late for school!
For the twentieth time, go and brush your teeth!
Why must I nag you all the time?
If you don’t hurry up we are going to leave without you
AVOID POWER STRUGGLES
• Stay consistent and predictable• 5 minutes is 5 minutes• Use countdowns to prepare children for a change in activity• Use the either/or approach e.g.: either you bath now or you
won’t get tuck money tomorrow
MORNING ROUTINE• Do as much as possible the night before• A picture says a thousand words
MAINTAINING THE ROUTINES• You will have teething
problems, you will fight, you will forget. Whatever the reason the first 3 weeks can be terrifying! But the long term benefits are enormous.
• Week 1: Instant rewards• Week 2: Delayed
rewards• Week 3: Intermittent
Rewards
WEEKLY PLANNERS• Main reason is to schedule time
for homework each afternoon and to know what activities he/she is doing on a given day
• Make own planner– 1. Fill in the non-negotiables
(therapy sessions, homework)– Choose a colour for the different
activities– 2. rest, change and eat– 3. Homework (work before play
makes for a happy day)– 4. Free time
MONTHLY PLANNERS• Big picture of all family
members• A3 - Don’t laminate –
smudge• Birthday parties, school
holidays, haircuts, dentists• Have 3 months up at a
time• Learn a lot such as in 2
days time……
HOMEWORK DIARIES• Nothing written down• Too little written down• Written down under the
wrong day or month• Can’t read it
OR• Pen• Listen • Relevant worksheets/books
aren’t packed• Has to be done speedily
before moving onto next lesson
THE ULTIMATE HOMEWORK DIARY
THE FILE
• A large 3 ring binder file• Four A4 dividers in different colours• Coloured plastic A4 envelopes in 3 different
shades• Plastic filing pockets• A zip-fastened pencil bag• A bulldog clip• A notepad
THE PENCIL CASE
• By attaching one to the file, there is less chance that it will be left lying around
• Only absolute necessities are kept in the pencil case
» 2 blue pens» 2 pencils» 1 sharpener» 1 eraser» 1 small ruler» 2 coloured pencils» Tissues» A highlighter (older children)
THREE MAIN SECTIONS• Plastic envelopes are divided into:
• Work to be done (number of envelopes may vary)• Completed work (signed letters also go here)• Papers to save (project tasks, study guides etc.)
• In the plastic sleeves – have information that your child needs to help with his/her homework
MAKING HOMEWORK A HABIT• Schedule a daily homework
time• Setting
• Desk and chair• Lighting• Dustbin• Stationery
– 2 blue pens– 2 pencils– 30cm ruler– Sharpener– Eraser– 2 coloured pens– 12 coloured pencils– 1 glue– I pair of scissors
DOING THE HOMEWORK IS THE CHILD’S RESPONSIBILITY
Step 1 • Check together what is for homework• Categorise• Break down into small manageable bits
Step 2• Get out all the correct books
Step 3• Begin• Some may need a timer
Step 4• Tick off task completed
Step 5• Put completed work into ‘completed work’
section
Step 6• Bring homework diary for signing
TACKLING TESTS• Eating the elephant one bite at
a time!• Break the study material into
small bits– Get the big picture– Keywords, colour, symbols and
mnemonics– Use the keywords in a sentence– One summary page (mind maps,
tables, lists)– Revise the summaries– Set questions on the work– Link it to snakes and ladders– Confident
FUN WITH GAMES(Games are like onions, they have layers of benefits)
• Games teach social skills: following rules, taking turns, winning and losing gracefully.
• They have emotional benefits• They build bonds• They develop foundation skills
MAKE SPELLING SPECIAL
• Need: scrap paper, snakes and ladders, coloured pencils
• Make 2 packs of blank cards on 2 different coloured pieces of paper. Each pack must have all the spelling words.
• Check the spelling• Snap, Bingo, Matching game, Memory Game,
Snakes and Ladders • Add: Rhyming the words, plurals, opposites
BINGO
HANDLING TV• TV has become a family member - the entertainer and the
stress reliever. Intrudes into our lives.• 2-3 hours a day is excessive• It affects:
» Weight» Physical development» Sleep patterns» Eye movement» Listening skills» Language development
• Play games instead• No television in a child’s bedroom• Use television as a treat and choose the programmes with care
FEED YOUR CHILD’S BRAIN• Car = water, oil and petrol• Human= water, omega oils, low GI
carbohydrates and protein (Beetle or a BMW)• Water: 70% of body, delivers oxygen,
transports nutrients, removes waste products, regulates temperature. Drink 4 cups of water daily.
• Omega 3 and 6 Oils: essential for brain development. Omega 3 = salmon, herring, anchovies, eggs walnuts (x2 week)
FEED YOUR CHILD’S BRAIN• Protein: growth and maintenance of the body.
Children should have protein at every meal. Rather eat 4 or 5 small nutritious meals a day.
• Low GI Foods: balances blood glucose levels e.g.: oats, Provita, Pronutro, low fat yoghourt, baked beans, apples, pears, peaches, homemade popcorn
• BREAKFAST IS ESSENTIAL! Not sugar frosted cereal• Keep thinking: Water, Oil and Petrol and you won’t
go wrong
QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS