“Children with Adhd Continue to Pose a Considerable Challenge to Their Families and the Society at Large.” Discuss This Statement Critically.

Assignment 03

Theme 02

“Children with ADHD continue to pose a considerable challenge to their families and the society at large.” Discuss this statement critically. (100 marks)

Table of Contents

1. Introduction Pg 3
2. Characteristics of a child suffering with ADHD Pg 3
3. How a child with ADHD affects the family Pg 4
3.1 The parents Pg 4
3.1.1 Father Pg 4
3.1.2 Mother Pg 5
3.2 Siblings Pg 6
4. The ADHD child and the school Pg 7
5. Conclusion Pg 8
6. List of references Pg 9

Theme 02
“Children with ADHD continue to pose a considerable challenge to their families and the society at large.” Discuss this statement critically. (100 marks)

1. Introduction
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that affects the individual in more than one setting; the impairment is clinically significant in social, academic or occupational functioning according to the DSM-IV_TR criteria for ADHD (Barlow, 2005).

2. Characteristics of a child suffering with ADHD
According to Popper, Gammon, West & Bailey 2003, people suffering from ADHD have a few primary characteristics namely displaying patterns of inattention, or hyperactivity as well as impulsivity. The DSM-IV-TR outlines symptoms that are present in a child suffering from ADHD. The child suffering from inattention is likely to display these characteristics. He/she often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in school work and other activities. They find it difficult to keep attention, even whilst some one is talking to them, giving the impression that they are not listening when directly spoken to. External stimuli may easily grab their attention from their task at hand. They find it difficult to follow through on instructions and often fail to complete the given task. Tasks that do include mental effort are often avoided. He/she may loose items needed for activities and are often forgetful while performing these daily activities. Children who are suffering from hyperactivity and impulsivity are likely to display the following characteristics. They can’t seem to sit still; always fidgeting and squirming. They will leave their seat, run around and climb excessively when it is inappropriate to do so. Leisure activities that are quiet are difficult to undertake because it seems like they are driven by a continuous motor. He/she often talks excessively, blurts out answers before the questions are completed and interrupts others because he/she can’t wait for his/her own turn.

3. How a child with ADHD affects the family 1. Parents
According to the article by Dr David Rabiner, parents feel exceedingly burdened by the daily struggles around behaviour, homework and his/her needs. He discovered that there could be various reasons why parents of children with ADHD felt greater dissatisfaction with how their family functioned. One namely being that the parents themselves could be ADHD sufferers, causing them frustrations with forms and their child’s difficulties. The main reason Dr David Rabiner discovered was actually due to the disagreement between the parents themselves over how to handle and deal with their child’s difficulties.

1. Fathers
Dr Patrick J. Kilcarr writes that living with ADHD “pushes the envelope of maintaining consistency and regularity in our lives. Just when we think we can have a handle on it, something in life shifts to keep us off balance.” He looks at how ADHD influences fathers. There is a definite plummet in the hopes and dreams the father did once have for his child. His expectations often have a huge discrepancy because he expects the child to be at a certain development level, from where he developmentally in reality is. He may experience enormous strain in his marital relationship due to different parenting styles with his wife. He may feel financial strain due to his daughter or sons special needs. A father of a son who has ADHD said that life is a definite adjustment. Whenever he wants to talk to his son, he has to get his full attention then speak of only one topic at a time. If the TV is on, he has to switch off the TV, then speak to him otherwise he does not hear him at all.

2. Mothers
During an interview with a mother of a son with ADHD, she said she found it very time consuming and tiring at times. Life had changed dramatically. Everything she says she has to repeat a few times. She has to keep her patience because it is not his fault. She says a lot of stress comes in where she tries to identify who her son really is. She has to give him 10mg Ritalin every morning and every evening. This does change his personality dramatically. Is her son that obedient child when on Ritalin or is he really that moody irritable can’t sit still child? There is a continuous debate on whether or not she should have him on the medication or not. In order to make life easier, she has set up a chore list. Everything he has to do is on the list and as he goes through the day they tick off one by one each item. Starting at brushing his teeth, getting dressed, eating his porridge to packing his school bags. He finds it impossible to clean his room, the task is just too enormous for him. She has to help him to start so that he can see where and how to do it. She uses rewards and punishments with him to help him accomplish tasks. Sweets are not something you can use as reward. So if he gets a certain amount of ticks of items correctly done on his chart, at the end of the week they get to go out for movies, a restaurant or a day in the park, a fun activity which he really wants to work towards.

2. Siblings
Dr David Rabiner located a study by J Kendall named “Sibling Accounts of ADHD”. During Kendal’s studies he reported that siblings of brothers/sisters suffering with ADHD found that their family life was disorganized, argumentative and draining. They were always ‘living in the dark’ not knowing what was going to happen next. Kendal found several types of disruptive behaviour could be identified during his studies. “Verbal aggression as well as physical aggression, out-of-control hyperactivity, emotional and social immaturity, academic underachievement and learning problems, family conflicts, poor peer relationships, and difficult relationships with extended family.”
Children experienced the disruptive effects of their ADHD siblings in three primary ways: Firstly victimization; where the siblings become victim to the ADHD child’s rough behaviour and outbursts. They are often easy targets because the parents are already exhausted from the child’s daily activities. The siblings may find they begin to resent the ADHD child because he/she worries how they will react and possibly ruin family fun events because there is no idea how he/she will behave. Secondly, the siblings are often relied on to be the ADHD child’s caretaker. They are expected to befriend and supervise their sisters’/brothers’ behaviour. Lastly feelings of sorrow and loss, they mourn not being able to have a ‘normal’ family life. They need to become more invisible and not needy because of the amount of attention his/her ADHD sibling needs.

4. The ADHD child and school
Children suffering from ADHD often have specific learning disorders. ADHD children are so often misunderstood and rejected. ADHD children usually have very poor organization skills which may affect them where it comes to bringing the correct equipment to school, some subjects (especially mathematics) and comprehension. So initially a teacher may have to help a child keep his desk tidy, choose the right books and write down his homework. His/ her seat in the class in important. He/she needs to be close to his/her teacher (but next to wall and not window), also not next to a too bright poster. Send him on errands to be able to get rid of excessive energy. He/she is hearing but is not able to follow a series of steps. The teacher needs to go step for step through instructions. They can develop a series of secret codes. The same mother that I interviewed about her son with ADHD had the following to say about school. When her son was in grade 2, the teacher called her in and spoke very openly about her son. She suggested that he go to a school that has very few children in each class. He needs individual attention. The teacher had moved his desk right up to hers already but he was easily distracted by all the children in the class. He is unable to plan, so she helps him with writing down his homework every day. He is unable to recall later that day what his homework is, until he goes to look in his homework diary.
You only notice that Paul* is ADHD when he is trying to interact with other children. When having one on one interaction with him it is easy to hold his attention.

5. Conclusion
Children with ADHD do pose a challenge for their families. Different ways of coping with this developmental disorder needs to be developed each suited to the child and family needs. Systems need to be put in place for optimal functioning of the child. Parents, siblings and ADHD children need to be informed of the difficulties and the best ways in which to deal with them. There are support groups, like ADHASA, for families with children suffering with ADHD, they can assist with all the necessary information and give the family support and counsel.

6. List of References
Barlow, D.H., & Durand, V.M. (2005). Abnormal Psychology: An integrated approach. (4th ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth / Thompson Learning.

Faigel, M.D. (1998). Learning disability or attention deficit disorder: Which is it? Learning Disabilities Journal, 8(2), 5-8.

Jarvis, J. (2003). Dealing with discipline. http://www.adhasa.co.za/disipline.htm

Picton, H. (1999). Coping and caring in the classroom. Independent Education of Schools Council.

Rabiner. D. (1999). Ezine for ADHD families. The impact having a child with ADHD has on a parents’ satisfaction with family life. Oct. ed.

Rabiner, D. (1999). Attention deficit disorder and ADHD: An overview.

Rabiner, D. (1999). The impact of ADHD on Siblings. http://www.helpforadd.com/add-impact-on-siblings/

Sue,D., Sue, D.,& Sue, S. (2003). Understanding abnormal behavior. (7th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin
http://www.helpforadd.com

References: Barlow, D.H., & Durand, V.M. (2005). Abnormal Psychology: An integrated approach. (4th ed.). Belmont: Wadsworth / Thompson Learning. Faigel, M.D. (1998). Learning disability or attention deficit disorder: Which is it? Learning Disabilities Journal, 8(2), 5-8. Jarvis, J. (2003). Dealing with discipline. http://www.adhasa.co.za/disipline.htm Picton, H. (1999). Coping and caring in the classroom. Independent Education of Schools Council. Rabiner. D. (1999). Ezine for ADHD families. The impact having a child with ADHD has on a parents’ satisfaction with family life. Oct. ed. Rabiner, D. (1999). Attention deficit disorder and ADHD: An overview. Rabiner, D. (1999). The impact of ADHD on Siblings. http://www.helpforadd.com/add-impact-on-siblings/ Sue,D., Sue, D.,& Sue, S. (2003). Understanding abnormal behavior. (7th ed.). Boston: Houghton Mifflin http://www.helpforadd.com