Adults with ADHD are less likely to graduate from college and even less likely to obtain advanced educational degrees. Like most adults with ADHD, these parents face uncertain career prospects. Although they may be intelligent and enthusiastic workers, they often have difficulties keeping a job. (Pary) Social skills deficits are common among this population. ADHD can interfere with the ability to establish and maintain close relationships and may contribute to an unstable home environment.

Parents of a child who has ADHD are three times as likely to separate or divorce as parents of non-ADHD children. (Barkley 1995) Simply place, the parent may not have the emotional tools needed to effectively support the special needs of the ADHD child. Parents who do not have ADHD report that these children are often far more challenging to parent than their non-ADHD siblings. The adult with ADHD faces the already formidable task of raising a hard child while at the same time trying to cope as best they can with their own ADHD. If the parents’ own ADHD issues are not addressed, these adults can have tremendous difficulties fulfilling their roles as parents.

Evaluating the Parent

Parents may be unaware that they exhibit behaviors that would indicate the presence of ADHD. Furthermore, ADHD has been long considered a childhood disorder. It was not until the mid-1980′s that researchers started to acknowledge that ADHD indeed lasted into adulthood. Parents may be under that mistaken belief that they outgrew their ADHD while in fact it continues to affect their life.

When treating a child who has ADHD, the physician should discuss with the parent the genetics of ADHD and inquire if a parent might be struggling with symptoms too. Physicians (i.e. pediatricians) who are uncomfortable or unable to evaluate the adult should then refer parents to another health care provider for an ADHD evaluation. Should the parent show resistance to the thought, the physician might discuss the difficulties of raising an ADHD child if ones own ADHD is not addressed and treated. One or both of the parents may indicate that they faced many of the same problems when they were a child. The parent may recall that school was hard, although he or she had the intellectual capabilities to do well. There may be family tales of hyperactivity or behavioral problems during the parent’s childhood.

Mothers or fathers may see in the opposite sex parent many of the same behaviors now being exhibited by their child. Often is the case when one parent will turn to the other and say, “I know where it comes from. You’re the exact same way!” Physicians may want to question about the behaviors of other family members as well, to better ascertain the possibility of undiagnosed ADHD in the family. These kinds of questions can bring up a plethora of information pointing to the possibility that the parent, too, might have the disorder.

Research on ADHD and behavioral disorders is honestly recent and may not have been attributed to ADHD when the parent was a child. The astute physician will take a patient history by posing questions in terms of behavior and not necessarily in terms of any specific diagnosis. How does this affect the physician’s role in evaluating and treating their young patients? Treating the parent is an vital part of improving the quality of life for the child. One can see that an impulsive, distracted parent might have problems remembering to give a youngster his/her medication. Adults with ADHD tend to be disorganized and often have difficulty maintaining a home. These adults have distress keeping appointments, getting the child ready and off to school in time, and performing other basic parenting duties.

How ADHD Symptoms Compare in Adults and Children

The same symptoms that apply to children with ADHD also apply to adults; but, the symptoms may be manifested in a number of ways. Diagnosis is further complicated by the overlap between the symptoms of adult ADHD and the symptoms of other common psychiatric conditions such as depression and substance abuse. (Searight)

The primary symptoms of ADHD are inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity. The adult versions of these symptoms often have severe consequences. Inattentive children are reprimanded for daydreaming in class. Inattentive adults neglect their spouses, forget directions, and crash their automobiles. Impulsive children often make terrible choices. Impulsive parents also make terrible decisions.

Consequently, they may face huge credit card bills, marital strain and other negative consequences. Hyperactive children are always moving. Hyperactive adults may feel restless and are drawn to high-risk behaviors. Other behaviors that are common to children who have ADHD are also seen in adults with the disorder. Children with ADHD will procrastinate, turning in homework late, if at all. Their work is often sloppy.

Procrastination in adults results in paperwork and work-related projects being completed late or not at all. Bills go unpaid not because there is no money, but because the adult simply never gets around to mailing in the payment.

Other common symptoms include not living up to one’s potential, hypersensitivity to stimuli, emotional reactivity, and poor small term memory. Any one of these behaviors presents a problem for an adult. Taken as a group, they represent a potentially disabling condition.

Consider the following challenges:

1. How can the parent who procrastinates, help his ADHD child learn strategies for getting homework and other school projects finished in a timely fashion?

2. How can the disorganized parent help his child learn organizing skills to keep materials and possessions tidy and at hand?

3. How can the hyperactive, restless parent find a way to emotionally connect with a child who may prefer silent activities?

4. How can the daydreaming parent listen and be attentive to her child’s needs?

5. How can the overly emotional, small-fused parent stay cool when his child needs a steady, cool parent to help her self-regulate her own volatile unpredictable moods?

6. How does the hypersensitive parent handle the onslaught of activity and noise of a busy household? Untreated, the parent facing such challenges could easily become depressed, nervous, mad, or an explosive combination of all three, setting up a vicious cycle wrought with guilt and poor self-esteem. These parents often question why they can’t do a better job raising their child. Invariably, the child loses out too, because his or her emotional and sometimes physical needs are not being met.

Treatment for Adults

Adults with ADHD respond well to treatment. Appropriate management of adult patients with ADHD is multimodal and should include psychoeducation, counseling, supportive problem-directed therapy, behavioral intervention, coaching, and cognitive remediation. Couples or family therapy may be indicated to help the parent learn better parenting strategies for raising the ADHD child.

Stimulant medications are the first line of treatment for adults with ADHD. Stimulant use among patients with a history of substance abuse should be closely monitored to ensure that no abuse occurs. Approximately 70% of adults who have been treated with stimulant medication show a reduction of symptoms. The antidepressant medication Bupropion has also been shown to be effective in treating adults with ADHD. (Kuperman) Atomoxetine, a non-stimulant medication which is a highly selective inhibitor of the norepinephrine transporter, appears to be an efficacious treatment for adult ADHD. Its lack of abuse potential may be an advantage for many patients.

Once effective treatment is in place, adults with AHD usually do quite well. Paired with the other interventions, medication can provide the parent with the tools he or she needs to improve the quality of life for the family.

Conclusion

Because ADHD is a genetic disorder, screening the parent of the ADHD patient is imperative as part of the overall medical/psychological management of the child. Appropriate and effective treatments are available to both child and parent and should be considered for both in order for families to live successful, healthy lives.

Faced with a tremendous diversity of choices in the governmental and private sectors, locating the closest school near their new homestead may not always be the best solution to the problem. There is an entire array of other issues parents should consider when it comes to their child’s education, other than the convenience of a nearby location.

First, parents should evaluate their child’s weaknesses, strengths, abilities and interests. For example, if the child is very active and likes sports, your primary school of choice should have an extensive sports program with the broadest possible range of sporting activities. Additionally, parents of young children usually know if their child enjoys the company of many classmates or prefers smaller group settings.

Second, find as much information as possible about potential surrounding school districts and the activities in those neighborhoods. If there is too much crime and violence reported, it may be best to pick a primary school in a different location, even if it means getting up fifteen minutes earlier because the commute takes longer.

Third, parents should find out as much as they can about the school’s reputation and academic ranking. Not every educational institute delivers what they preach and, on top of that, may represent values, cultural associations or religious beliefs some parents simply cannot accept. Equally vital is the amount of discipline, as well as the security measures enforced for the child’s safety, when it is in the school’s care.

Fourth, those parents who want to be involved in the day-to-day activities of their child, who like to volunteer in the classroom or during fieldtrips, and prefer to be frequently informed about their youngster’s educational progress, should verify with potential schools if that possibility exists. Not all schools are open to parental involvement when classes are in session.

Fifth, how much will it cost to be enrolled in a specific primary school? Taking into account uniforms or other dress codes, extracurricular activities, transportation, school and art supplies, meals and drinks, and whatever else may be required throughout the entire school year may add up. Some primary schools will provide the goods for a fee, while others will question the parents to buy the supplies themselves, giving them a chance to shop around for the best deals.

Sixth, most schools have a website, which parents should study in fantastic detail. Take virtual tours, read about the teachers and how accredited they are. Is there a guidance counselor, is the school equipped for special-needs children and how diverse are the students? Visiting the school’s Open House Days, talking to neighbors and friends, and getting as many referrals as possible are all actions that can prevent a lot of heartache, because every child pulled out of a school in the middle of a year suffers a tremendous set-back adjusting to new classmates and a weird school environment.

The process of finding the perfect primary school for a beloved son or daughter can be exhausting, but certainly worth it in the end. Seeing a child flourishing and growing into a pleased teenager is absolutely rewarding and will make both the child and the parents extremely proud.

By School Select

Despite what some educators reckon, finding an brilliant educational facility involves more than driving down the road and signing up at the first school that comes along. Parents and caregivers know that choosing the perfect school takes time and reflection. Many imperative questions need to be answered before a final choice can be made and the child can finally be enrolled.

During your query you may wonder: “What do Catholic Schools have to offer that other schools don’t?” It is a legitimate question and, hopefully, the following summary will shed some light on the many characteristics that make the Catholic educational school system stand out from the crowd.

Top Quality Education

The strong and determined leaders of catholic school are committed to bring the highest quality of educational values to their students. Their high expectations foster a positive, supportive environment which will help each student to attain their full potential on all levels. Therefore, high achievement rates and success are within every student’s reach.

Religious Surroundings

Catholic schools offer families the opportunity to educate their children in a nurturing and faith filled environment. Every student is invited to find value and spiritual meaning in life through prayer, liturgy and sacramental celebration. To extend religious teachings, many religious schools will also partner with parishes to be the first educators in faith.

Teachers and Support Staff

As part of the Catholic school community, teachers and support staff are committed and dedicated to the vocation of their employer. Teachers have a thorough and advanced knowledge of child psychology and are masters in their individual fields. They pay attention to detail and to the background, interests and motivation that drives their students. Through a comprehensive understanding of their students, and state-of the art facilities which include data technology as well as sporting amenities, the staff is able to guide their scholars towards a successful future.

Safe Environment

No child should dread mental or physical abuse. This includes neglect, bullying and harassment. At Catholic schools all children feel they belong. They can study in a child-safe environment, where a protective code of conduct is valued above all. No Catholic school employee or volunteer will enter the school system before being screened thoroughly and will be monitored throughout their entire school career. Nurturing young minds and their safety are matters the Catholic schools take deeply to heart.

Continuity

Changing schools is a disruption most children, their parents, caregivers or advocates can live without. An miserable child equals a family in distress. To avoid such an unpleasant situation, parents can opt to enroll their offspring in a Catholic school where they can start at an early age and remain until the senior years of secondary schooling.

Diversity

Based on Christian principle, Catholic schools will welcome students of all cultures. They truly believe that celebrating the diversity of God’s gifts will help shape and open up the mind of many young boys and girls.

Parental Involvement

Catholic schools encourage parental involvement. They will offer many opportunities, which may vary from assisting in the day-to-day activities, to representing the school on community committees. The more staff and parents work together, the higher the academic grade of the students will be.

Fortified with all this valuable information, it should be an simple choice to find your child’s next school. If still in doubt, check out the many fantastic and detailed websites that Catholic schools have to offer. You are bound to find at least one or two in your own neighbourhood.

By School Select Australia