If your child’s mental wellness is affected by Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, the first thing you need to know as a parent is that it is not your fault. You are not a “bad parent”; your child simply has a mental health issue that is as non-preventable as any other health problem. Once you understand this, you can move on to improve your child’s behavioural and mental wellbeing.
So what is ADHD? The condition is believed to be caused by low levels of the neurotransmitters dopamine and norepinephrine, which are responsible for carrying messages from one neuron to another, and particularly associated with attention, organisation and managing emotions. However, the causes of ADHD are still not fully known. The term ADHD describes three types of behavioural problem in children; overactive behaviour/hyperactivity, impulsive behaviour and difficulty in paying attention.
The difference between your child and other energetic, restless children is that your child also has a range of other problem behaviours that can make them very difficult to care for, manage and teach. However, an important thing to remember is that ADHD is in no way related to intelligence – children at all levels of ability can have ADHD. While some children may grow out of it, two out of five ADHD sufferers continue to have problems in adolescence and beyond. If your child does not receive help, they may still see their main symptoms of ADHD, such as attention difficulties, improve with age, but other behavioural problems like disobedience or aggression may get worse.
Therefore, it is important to get your child help as early as possible, to protect them from social and emotional problems later on in life. Fortunately, there are things you can do to help your child manage their behaviour. For example, you can attend a behaviour management programme. These are run by professionals to help parents learn ways of talking, playing and working with your child that can improve their attention and behaviour. You might want to bring other people along, such as other carers and friends, as these techniques are useful for everyone to know. You may also want to try stimulant medication for your child, as this can reduce your child’s difficulties.
