I found this informative article about ADHD in a child as they get older. This also explains some of the effects on the family and community.
http://adc.bmj.com/content/90/suppl_1/i2.full
I tend to keep thinking of the child I had in my classroom all year when I read these articles. I can see a lot of these tendencies that are explained in the classroom as well. In the beginning of the article it explained ADHD in a child who is in preschool, I have never had much experience with ADHD in young children and I think back of working at a preschool for almost two years, remembering some of the children and wonder if they have now been diagnosed with ADHD based on some of the behaviors they showed at school.
As I was reading to the school age child it talks about how mother's with a child with ADHD can become depressed. With all of the conferences and back and forth I have experienced with a particular family this year, I can see how that could happen. The family that I was able to have an experience with this year has stayed VERY positive. I feel they have gone above and beyond for their child and I hope that at home some of these behaviors I have read about don't get them down as a family.
In the classroom if I have a child that is diagnosed with ADHD or if I begin seeming some of the signs that could potentially lead to that, I would be sure to include this child as much as I could and help make them feel comfortable in the classroom setting. I know how it feels to not feel included or uncomfortable and in my classroom, I would make it a point for none of my students to feel that way.
In the conclusion of this article, it states "ADHD is a disorder that may affect all aspects of a child's life." From all of the different information I had researched and from my experience of having a child with ADHD in my classroom, I have seen first hand many different aspects of the child's day that may not be the same as a typically developing child.
Hi Katie,
ReplyDeleteWow! That was so informational for me to read, especially about the tendency of some of the expected behaviors for teens and adults with ADHD. As I've mentioned, my husband had ADHD as a child, and then when he got older, of course no longer taking medicine....some of these thing mentioned in the article, like the fast driving, are things that happen here at home. We went to the dr a few years ago because of his crazy mean episodes but the doctor actually said he wanted him to take a medicine that would help stabilize he ADHD while helping with depression too. For adults, they measure people to see if they show signs of ADHD by giving them a questionnaire. I think people can figure out these tests to make it to where they can "pass the test" and still have ADHD. My husband is extremely impulsive as well and the doctor said that too is a sign of the ADHD still eing present. Now, if my husband can come to terms with it and actually take the medicine, it would be great. He doesn't like medicine because "he feels fine"...right. It's a control thing and e doesnt want to feel like he's controlled. I thought I would just add this. Luckily, my husband has a good job now but the job thing was an issue for a while. These are real problems and we have to work harder at promoting the things adults need to continue taking. The issue needs to be taken care of ASAP and treatment should persist; my husband is a great example as to why.