Supporting your Child with ADHD

Written By: Michelle Murphy, Clinical Trainee at ACS, On-Campus Counseling Program

AS A PARENT it’s not easy to understand how your child or teen is experiencing ADHD. What are the visual and auditory sensations accompanying the disorder? What is contributing to their lack motivation and focus to complete a task?  This 6 minute film, gives you a virtual window into your child’s experience.

I highly recommend that parents begin their psycho education regarding ADHD  with this short. Understanding the visceral and psychological experience of the disorder helps parents develop empathy and a desire to support their child/teen in overcoming the challenges presented to them.  I have played this short for several students in session, who strongly attest that this is indeed their felt experience.

Moving onward from here the next clip is a wonderful overview with supporting detail of how ADHD affects the brain and provides clear distinctions between the three different presentations of ADHD (inattentive vs hyperactive vs combined). It addresses the challenges around self-management, executive functioning and the difficulty with multi-step directions.

It is important for parents to note that the challenges presented by ADHD can take a huge toll on self-esteem and can lead to anxiety and depression. Students with ADHD can become anxious and overwhelmed, as difficulty paying attention in class can cause them to fall behind, and homework assignments can take much longer than expected. When a child is persistently scolded, or criticized for challenges related to this disorder, like persistent lateness, forgetfulness and inability to complete tasks in a timely manner, their anxiety increases. Unfortunately, anxiety further impedes focus. Reducing anxiety, normalizing their everyday experience and highlighting the superb focus they are capable of when interested in a subject, will result in better outcomes. Eating well, getting a good night’s sleep and exercise are important lifestyle choices to manage ADHD symptoms. Talk to your child’s pediatrician if you want an evaluation and diagnosis of ADHD. A pediatrician can also explain the pros and cons of different types of medication for ADHD.

This final video demonstrates why ADHD brains have difficulty with tasks that are lengthy, repetitive or boring (like homework!) and offers some helpful techniques for studying. Take a look, so you can support your child!