| David was a hyperactive child and sometimes violent. | | | | it is not the only and exclusive solution. |
| Tantrums, screaming and kicking were regular features | | | | Very often though, even with psychostimulant |
| of his behaviour as well. Like millions of kids in the USA, | | | | medication, the symptoms persist and at the end of |
| he was put on Ritalin. But after just three months, his | | | | the day, the formerly hyperactive child often moves |
| parents found to their alarm that he had become | | | | into adulthood with the ADHD burden ever heavier on |
| depressed and so he was put on anti-depressants. As | | | | his back. |
| he moved into his teens, the former hyperactive child | | | | The intelligent parent will see straightaway that as |
| had become so violent and depressed that he had to | | | | ADHD is a mental disorder, the parents themselves |
| be institutionalized much to the distress of his parents. | | | | are the main protagonists in the ADHD drama as they |
| The story does have a happy ending in that David | | | | are the ones, and perhaps the teachers too, who will |
| wanted so much to end his medication that with the | | | | shape the behaviour of their own children. After all, |
| help of his parents, counselling and behaviour therapy, | | | | ADHD is not just a set of physical symptoms like the |
| he was able to grow into a normal fulfilled adult. He did | | | | \'flu, but a whole complex interaction of emotional, |
| have problems in his adult life too. He was discharged | | | | social and psychological development. The parents\' |
| from the military due to behavioural problems linked to | | | | influence on hyperactive children or ADD children is |
| his ADD condition and had problems in keeping a job. | | | | crucial. |
| But in the end, he won through simply because he was | | | | Hyperactive children need special attention at school, |
| able to get off the medication. Hyperactive children are | | | | parental support at home and above all should be |
| no monsters but ADHD medications and | | | | given coping skills in managing tasks. These are the |
| psychostimulants are not the answer, as the above | | | | things which will make the biggest difference in |
| story shows. | | | | increasing their attention span, in reducing |
| Boys have a tough time in a way. All the statistics | | | | impulsiveness, over-excitability and constant fidgeting. |
| seem to be ganged up against them. They get | | | | But they will also need an ADHD natural treatment |
| expelled from preschool four times as much as girls, | | | | which will calm them, soothe nerves and help them to |
| have a high drop out rate in high school and a relatively | | | | focus. These natural treatments are ideal in that there |
| low 43% of undergraduates are male. So, if a boy is a | | | | are no side effects and there is no risk of drug abuse |
| hyperactive child, or has ADD, the odds are certainly | | | | or indeed of any sort of addiction. Why not give your |
| stacked against him. | | | | hyperactive child a better chance in life? |
| While ADHD medications can help a hyperactive child, | | | | |