Work on Behavior Modification: Is Child With ADHD Responsible for His Actions?

My son has recently been diagnosed with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. I have thought for some time that something was not right with him, but it didn't seem serious enough to take him to the doctor. He is now on medication. However, I'm not sure how to react to him any more. Should I punish him when he misbehaves, or is his behavior beyond his control? I don't want him to get away with things, but I don't want to be too hard on him if he's not responsible for his actions.

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a relatively new term for attention-deficit disorder (ADD), a condition that gained notoriety in the 1970s. The number of diagnosed cases of ADHD has increased dramatically, and there is some disagreement as to why. Some feel that our fast-paced society has contributed to the increase. Others feel that the condition has become popular, and more kids are being diagnosed because of the notoriety. Still others feel that our screening and diagnosis methods have improved, and we are detecting more cases. In reality, it may be a combination of these and other factors.

This condition is primarily a child and adolescent problem, but it can follow someone into adulthood. Most ADHD cases have symptoms that are noticeable in toddlers and small children, but most cases are diagnosed when the child is in elementary school. This is because the symptoms of being inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive most often cause problems for the child when he is in a structured environment such as being required to sit in class, pay attention to the teacher and not talk until permission is granted.

This condition can be very frustrating for parents since the behaviors associated with this disorder are often seen as willful and disrespectful. Parents often react to the behaviors without regard for any underlying reason for the behavior. Consequently, diagnosis of this condition can often be a blessing when a medical prescription to control some of the symptoms is given.

A medical prescription can also be quite scary for parents. The most popular prescription for this condition has been under scrutiny for many years, and the results are still being debated. Short-term side-effects and long-term reactions are of concern to some, while others believe the medication works wonders. The key to medicate your child successfully is to talk extensively with your doctor and observe your child closely when he is introduced to the medicine. You should plan to follow up with your doctor on a regular basis and report any behavioral changes that you notice, both positive and negative. Your doctor may need to adjust the amount of medication your child receives and feedback from you is extremely important in this process. Contact your doctor immediately if you notice any adverse reactions.

While medication is often prescribed for ADHD, medications do not cure this problem. Medications are helpful in reducing the symptoms of hyperactivity, inattentiveness and impulsivity, but when the medication is stopped, the symptoms usually return. Behavioral interventions or modifications are usually warranted and often work best in combination with medications. Working with your child to help him adjust to his condition can often be more effective while the medication is used to reduce the symptoms. Behavioral changes are often quite involved and time consuming, but it is usually the only alternative to long-term medication.

A behavioral intervention or modification program should be developed that targets the specific condition you are trying to alter. For example, a child who is hyperactive needs interesting and challenging tasks that require relatively short periods of calm focused attention. He also needs specific periods of time in which he can be very involved in an activity that requires a lot of physical exertion such as riding a bike, roller-blade, or playing ball. A regimen that alternates the two types of activity will help teach him that there is a time for being calm and a time for being active. Increasing the amount of time that he spends on the inactive task will help him to gain better control of the hyperactivity. The active tasks allow him to focus his hyperactivity on interesting or productive tasks. It may take a while to see positive results from this process, but a long-term commitment to helping your child will be worth the investment.

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