| Certainly less attention is paid to the topic of | | | | envelope as far a possible to get it. While our story |
| impatience and ADHD children in comparison to | | | | above focused on cartoon character cereal chances |
| hyperactivity or inattention but make no mistake this | | | | are the next isle over the story will repeat itself. |
| symptom can be every bit as frustrating for parents. | | | | Impatience is actually the difficulty in delaying |
| Let's look at little Johnny as he accompanies his | | | | gratification or a problem with self regulation which |
| mother on their weekly shopping trip and see if this | | | | from a biological point of view is likely an imbalance |
| reminds you of anyone you know. | | | | between two brain messenger chemicals; |
| Mother and son arrive at the grocery store with a list a | | | | norepinephrine and dopamine. The chemical imbalance |
| mile long. On isle number one Johnny spots a cereal | | | | creating impatience drives some ADHD children to be |
| box with a character from his favorite television show. | | | | exceeding impatient on a regular basis. The constant |
| He points and says something about give me cereal. | | | | tantrums will wear event the most loving and well |
| His mother has learned to somewhat tune him out so | | | | meaning parent down over time, causing many to be |
| they pass it by, at this point little Johnny starts | | | | numb to it leading them to simply throw in the towel |
| screaming at the top of his lungs for the cereal box. | | | | and accept it. They may even justify it by saying their |
| Discipline is suggested, treats are offered, his favorite | | | | son or daughter is more energetic, curious, or |
| toy this week is placed in plain sight, and nothing can | | | | passionate than most. |
| slow the temper tantrum. Finally, his mother relents, | | | | As these children grow to school age they face a |
| after all her next door neighbor is in the store, and the | | | | whole set of potentially troublesome challenges such |
| embarrassment is reaching a point that if giving him the | | | | as running down the hall to be first in line, messy school |
| box of cartoon character cereal is what it takes to | | | | work full of mistakes, arguments with classmates over |
| make him calm down then it is a small price to pay. | | | | seat choices, failure to fully read and understand |
| END | | | | directions, or sloppy unintelligible handwriting. All of the |
| The story above repeats itself thousands of times a | | | | above examples are potentially problematic in a school |
| day in grocery stores, restaurants, and malls all across | | | | setting and likely could play a major role in the 80% |
| the country. When an ADHD child gets an idea in his | | | | underachievement rate seen in ADHD school aged |
| head about something he wants, he will push the | | | | children. |