BOUNTIFUL -- The school years can be challenging for students and their families for a variety of reasons: large projects, school events that conflict with family events, struggles learning new concepts, an more.
Students with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and their families face additional "hurdles to jump" according to national expert Sandra Reif, M.A. who was in Utah last week to advise parents of these children.
"It's important to remember that these children have extra pressures and problems due to a physical disorder, not because they haven't learned proper behavior or their parents don't discipline them," said Reif. She says behavior modification is only one component necessary to help these kids, but it's not the only one.
"Often parents of these students have 'tried everything' to help their child; attended every workshop imaginable," she says. "It's not until other interventions are incorporated into the plan that these families start seeing some success."
Part of the "plan" can include medication, organization and time management strategies.
Reif knows of what she speaks. She was an educator for 23 years, specializing with children with learning disabilities. She is also the author of several nationally recognized and utilized books, "How to Reach and Teach ADD/ADHD Children," "The ADD/ADHD Checklist," and the "ADHD Book of Lists."
The event was sponsored by CHADD, Children and Adults with ADD/ADHD. Packets of information were provided free of charge to participants.
"About one-third to one-half of kids with ADD also have learning disabilities," said Reif. But she cautioned that ADD can exist without learning disabilities as well.
Strategies for success included reducing noise levels and confusion around the home.
"Turn off televisions and radios, even the phone if necessary," said Reif. "Record the child's favorite programs. Don't make them suffer, just make them focus."
Some kids need "white noise" to drown out other house noises. White noise could be quietly playing classical music, water scapes, a fan, anything that dulls the sharp sounds of doors, ringing phones, and family chatter.
Ways to quiet the chatter include cut tennis balls on the bottom of chair legs and earphones or headsets for child to wear over ears, unattached to anything else.
A second set of class texts at home is also helpful.
"These children have enough extra work without the physical work of dragging home heavy books" Rief adds.
Organization is key to success and what works for one child or family may not work for another. Another challenge these families face is that one or both parents most likely have the disorder and struggle with organization themselves.
Color coding notebooks, wrapping textbooks in matching colors and having supplied in a centrally located box, are just some of the organization tactics that have been successful for students.
Most kids with ADD/ADHD have trouble remembering to turn in homework even after they have completed it. Putting homework to be turned in inside a red folder for elementary age students seems to help. For secondary students, a pocket folder for each class can be labeled on the inside with "homework to do" on one side and "homework to turn in" on the other.
"It's also important to keep homework time as positive as possible," said Reif. "Parents should try to give three positive remarks for each negative one. Both child and parent should take a break after a half-hour of work with the child or an hour of work with a teen."
Reif also stresses the importance of not allowing child to become overly dependent on parent to sit down and do homework every night.
"Parents can be in the same room if it's a family-type room or within easy distance of the child calling," said Reif. "It's important they learn to develop confidence in their own ability to complete work, yet have the security of quick help when needed. Children with ADD/ADHD are easily distracted by other things if they must get up to get help."
For more information on upcoming workshops or other ADD/ADHD support systems call Kathy Romney at 295-5565.
For adult with ADD/ ADHD support group meeting the third Thursday each month, call Tom Foster at 328-8817.