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Attention Deficit Disorder
My six-year-old has always been very hard to settle to anything. He’s physically very lively and we have managed so far by organising plenty of activities. However, I’m worried that he does not seem to be getting much better. Our GP said he would ‘grow out of it’ and I can’t see that he is. His difficulties with listening are now serious and he won’t settle to his work in school. I think he risks being labelled as a ‘problem’ child. His teacher did say that perhaps he has a real attention problem like ADD. Is this the one that gets children put on Ritalin? I’m not keen on drugs for children but I think he needs help.
Some children’s problems of concentration are so serious that they are said to have a condition called Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). From what you’ve said it is not possible to guess whether your son does or does not have ADD. But it certainly sounds as if he needs some structured help with managing his attention. Some children with ADHD are treated with Ritalin but it does not help everyone. Quite rightly, doctors are wary of putting children on medication unless there is a good reason.
Talk to your GP or health visitor to ask their advice. I think you also need to make an appointment for a meeting about your son with his teacher. Discuss how your son manages, when and how his attention is distracted. If your son’s difficulty is disrupting his education, then he may well have special educational needs. The school should then explore the process of assessment described in ‘SEN: a guide for parents’. You can download this booklet from the website www.parents.dfee.gov.uk Go through ‘in school’ and ‘learning support’. You might want also to read about ADD. Try Christopher Green and Kit Chee: Understanding ADHD (Vermilion).
Why not chat to other iVillagers about ADHD on the Parents Of Children With Special Needs message board. Take a look at some of the LIVE discussions happening now on the board:
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