Staying focused is one of the most difficult challenges for a child coping with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).<\/p>\n
\u201cADHD used to be called \u2018minimal brain dysfunction.\u2019 A more accurate name would be \u2018attention shifting disorder,\u2019\u201d says Donald Haupt, M.D., a psychiatrist in private practice in Bryn Mawr, Penn., who has ADHD himself. \u201cAsking a child with ADHD to shift attention every 45 minutes [in school] is like asking kids with polio to run between classes.\u201d<\/p>\n
The problem begins in the brain\u2019s prefrontal cortex, home of the \u201cexecutive function,\u201d which helps you organize cognitive processes. It\u2019s the part that tells you, \u201cFirst I do this, then I do this, then I do that,\u201d Haupt says.<\/p>\n
A child with ADHD has a shortage of dopamine, the brain chemical that keeps the executive function running smoothly and enables people to put tasks in sequence, Haupt says. Without enough, distractions take hold and attention flounders.<\/p>\n
The good news: There are proven strategies to help your child with ADHD stay focused at home and school, and improve common \u2013 and frustrating \u2013 ADHD behaviors like fidgeting, impulsiveness and inattention.<\/p>\n
We asked top ADHD specialists what parents can do to improve their child’s attention and quiet symptoms of ADHD. Here are their top tips:<\/p>\n
1. Make sure your child gets enough sleep.
All kids need more sleep than adults \u2013 about 9-12 hours a night. But a child with ADHD often doesn\u2019t get enough.<\/p>\n
\u201cEighty percent of children with ADHD have sleep problems [such as trouble falling asleep, nightmares or restless leg syndrome],\u201d says Patrick Kelly, M.D., a pediatric psychiatrist at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, Md. \u201cThe kids we see with serious behavioral problems are only getting 5-6 hours a night.\u201d<\/p>\n
Several studies have shown that poor sleep can greatly increase symptoms and improved sleep calms them. One 2006 study, published in the Journal of Sleep Research, found that treating sleep problems can improve attention and hyperactivity issues in some children.<\/p>\n
Adjusting ADHD medications can sometimes help. Ask your pediatrician, or consult a sleep specialist. You can find one through the American Academy of Sleep Medicine.<\/p>\n
2. Create a daily routine.
Structure in family life is very important for helping your child stay focused, says Heidi Feldman, M.D., a professor in developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Stanford University.<\/p>\n
Because a child with ADHD has trouble following directions and putting tasks in order, you have to do it for him.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour child should know when he needs to wake up, eat breakfast and other meals, do homework and play,\u201d Feldman says.<\/p>\n
Try to follow the same schedule every day, so he learns to anticipate what\u2019s expected of him. Post the family\u2019s schedule on the refrigerator or bulletin board to keep everyone informed.<\/p>\n
3. Reward the effort, not the person.
Give praise or rewards when your child follows the rules. But only reward behavior he can actually control.<\/p>\n
\u201cDon\u2019t say, \u2018You\u2019re so smart,\u2019 because the child can\u2019t change that,\u201d Feldman says. \u201cInstead, say, \u2018That\u2019s great; you put in 20 full minutes reading that book.\u2019 A child can do that again \u2013 and may do 25 minutes the next time.\u201d<\/p>\n
4. Plan family time.
Children often can\u2019t differentiate between negative and positive attention. If throwing plates across the room gets your attention, they\u2019ll do that, says Kelly.<\/p>\n
Curb acting-out by getting your child addicted to positive attention, he says. If he gets enough, he\u2019ll be less likely to engage in destructive behaviors.<\/p>\n
Kelly encourages parents to schedule \u201cspecial time\u201d with their child every day.<\/p>\n
For at least 15 minutes, turn off the phone and don\u2019t allow any interruptions while you do a one-on-one activity together, whether it\u2019s tossing a ball or playing a game.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou\u2019d be astonished by the positive reports we get back from parents after trying this,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n
5. Teach healthy eating habits.
Recent news headlines have stirred up the old debate over whether sugary foods and food dyes might be responsible for kids\u2019 attention problems.<\/p>\n
Since sugar enters the bloodstream quickly, it produces a spike in blood glucose levels. And some suspect a child may become energized by the adrenaline rush from this rise.<\/p>\n
Some research has shown a correlation. In one study, published the February 2011 issue of the medical journal The Lancet, researchers put children between age 4 and 8 on a restrictive diet containing no processed foods for five weeks. Symptoms of ADHD diminished in 78% of them.<\/p>\n
But study results haven\u2019t been definitive. In March, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which regulates food colorings added to processed foods, announced an advisory committee will look at the science behind food additives and behavior problems in kids.<\/p>\n
Until answers are found, experts and parents are evaluating how diet affects behavior on a case-by-case basis.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a lot of anecdotal evidence that a diet of less-processed food can help symptoms of ADHD,\u201d Kelly says. \u201cMany parents tell us that lowering their child\u2019s sugar intake helps, so we have to be supportive of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Eating healthy foods like fresh fruits and vegetables will give children more vitamins than processed foods, Feldman adds. But, she says, gathering the family around the table could be just as important.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe combination of good, healthy foods and eating family meals together would probably reduce the incidence of ADHD by 1%-2%,\u201d Feldman says.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s because stable routines and situations that encourage family conversation benefit most children\u2019s behavior.<\/p>\n
6. Try therapy.
Behavioral therapists can help your child change behavior and learn social skills such as how to share and be patient.<\/p>\n
As a parent of a child with ADHD, you can also benefit from a monthly therapy session. During parent-training sessions, therapists can teach you effective ways to praise your child for appropriate behavior and suggest activities you can enjoy together.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn our parent-training sessions, we spend a lot of time on strategies that best address a child\u2019s behavior,\u201d Kelly says.<\/p>\n
7. Keep a clean, organized home.
Children\u2019s environments can affect their ability to focus and pay attention, says Feldman.<\/p>\n
A child with ADHD usually does better in an orderly space, so it\u2019s important to keep your home organized and clutter-free.<\/p>\n
The first step: Establish a place for everything. That includes common family areas as well as the child\u2019s bedroom. Show children where to put clothing, backpacks and toys \u2013 and let them know he\u2019s expected to help keep the home organized.<\/p>\n
8. Keep instructions simple.
A child with ADHD can\u2019t follow too much information at once, so break tasks down into smaller steps, Kelly says.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you say, \u2018Get dressed, brush your teeth, and then pack your bag,\u2019 you\u2019re lucky if he gets through the first task,\u201d Kelly says. \u201cFirst, tell him to get dressed. When you see that\u2019s done, give the next task.\u201d<\/p>\n
This same rule applies to general directions, says David Dunn, M.D., co-director of the Riley ADHD and Disruptive Behavior Disorders Clinic at Indiana University Health.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf your child has to read a book for school, don\u2019t say, \u2018Read your book,\u2019\u201d he says. Make the instruction more manageable by saying, \u201cRead the first chapter and tell me what it says.”<\/p>\n
9. Eliminate distractions.
When you want to keep your child focused and improve attention, such as during homework hours, reduce noise and other activity in the home. To do this, create a \u201cquiet corner\u201d where unnecessary noise and conversation are off limits until a task is complete.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/p>\n
View original post here: <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cStop fidgeting.\u201d \u201cListen to me when I\u2019m talking to you.\u201d \u201cThink before you act.\u201d As a parent of a child with ADHD, you\u2019ve probably said those words a million times \u2013 without much effect. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[13],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-420403","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-sports"},"yoast_head":"\n