Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD):
ADHD is an interesting title, since “hyperactivity” is n the title, but not required to apply the diagnosis. Who writes this stuff? Well, some very bright people have, I’m sure, some very complicated answers to that. Let’s get to the facts.
There are three types of ADHD:
1) The Hyperactive Type: Often very intelligent, but there is no middle ground with this person. They are, by definition, extreme. They fidget, are constantly moving, get bored quickly and get in trouble if they are bored for too long. They need something to do all the time. Medications are usually indicated, but not always. Many of these young people do their school work very quickly and accurately, or they can’t sit still and pay attention long enough to get the work completed and their grades suffer. Behaviors can be a problem, as they may not respond to traditional methods of consequences and rewards. Arguments with siblings and potential defiance of authority can be outcomes of the Hyperactive Type without treatment.
Counseling usually includes group therapy and family sessions, and has proven over the past nearly 20 years to be very helpful. Many young people grow out of the condition, finding methods to compensate and translating their energy into a real asset. This transition is my goal. Without counsel, these young people can self-destruct. If you see a pattern of problems developing, then it’s time to seek help.
2) The Inattentive Type: the marked difference in this type is the lack of energy. You may catch young people frequently staring off into space and calling their names a few times before they awake back to the present. They may struggle to pay attention in class, affecting their academics. As a parent, you may find that you are repeating yourself a great deal, only to have household chores still incomplete. Parents may begin to feel like “nothing works with them” and begin to feel helpless to teach your child. The child, in response, seems to not care either way, in trouble or not.
If this is familiar to you, then you may need some help. Studies show the combination of counseling treatment combined with mediation management, when necessary, provides the most success.
3) The Combined Type: You can take the previous two descriptions of the Hyperactive Type and the Inattentive Type and, as you might expect, “combine” them and have the descriptors of this type. Many young people diagnosed with ADHD have this type. Typically, more boys are diagnosed than girls, but the characteristics, despite the gender, can upset families and impair the normal development for the young person. If you are a parent with this type, you know it. And I’d guess you can understand it, because there is a strong likelihood one of the parents had the same or similar childhood characteristics. If you were never treated, it’s still not too late to make things a little easier. You have probably already done most of the work yourself. Counseling still has something to offer!