Dealing with the Hyper in ADD/ADHD

Having a child or other family member with ADD or ADHD can mean living with someone who may literally climb the walls. It can drive the rest of the family right to the ceiling, too. And let’s not forget how disruptive this behavior can be in school or any other public environment. How can you deal with someone who seems to have the energy of a hummingbird?

Despite medical advances, medication is not the only solution. In some cases, it is no solution at all. And even in those cases where medication is helpful, it should only be one part of a larger approach. Children and adults who have ADD/ADHD still have personalities. They have talents. They have love to give and plenty of ways to share themselves with their families and the rest of the world that should be explored, nurtured and enjoyed. They often simply have more energy, ideas or interests than most of their peers. Their brains are forging ahead at what can seem like light speed or are just scattered in several directions at once. The activity of their bodies often reflects this internal pandemonium.

Learning how to channel the chaos that can be the ADD/ADHD brain and body is the real challenge. A child who has difficulty sitting still in class may do very well in sports or a particular sport or have a hobby at which they excel. These talents should be encouraged. A busy body needs an outlet for all that energy. Even ordinary people benefit from regular exercise.

ADHD in particular tend to thrive on it. It is not unusual for the ADD/ADHD child to pursue, or need to pursue, several extracurricular activities at once. If your child shows an interest in both ballet and soccer, for example, sign them up for both. Odds are they can handle the physical rigors just fine. In fact, they may need an excess of physical outlet in order to correct their turbulent biochemistry. Just like a jogger may feel tired yet refreshed after a few laps, so too might an ADHD person find a mental calm after going through a physical “storm”.

The trick is to not only allow them to pursuer their interests, but to try and steer them towards making their abilities and energy work for them instead of against them. Even the video gamer who spends hours on the couch hyper-focused may have a future in game testing, gamer reporting or other related field( Yes, this is a pipe dream for most, but there are those who have true talent in this area and are making lucrative salaries).

Some ADD brains may have trouble keeping up with regular homework but excel at certain extra credit work or perhaps do really well at lab work or other in-class activities. Find what they can do and help them to develop those talents strengths.

If possible, try to work with the child’s teachers to modify a curriculum that helps them accent their abilities. If a child does better giving oral reports than filling out paperwork, see what can be done to have them graded on this style of presentation instead. Same with oral testing, especially if staying in one place for a half hour or more while they try to fill out pages is not only difficult but downright torturous or even impossible for them.

Breaking up study times at home may help, too. Try fifteen to thirty minute intervals with breaks for physical activity in between. Also, many school special education departments, like in the Beaverton and Vernonia districts in Oregon, are making just such allowances in the classroom. If a child needs a quieter environment for study time during class hours, they may simply ask permission to leave the room and walk to the library or other designated area. A special time each day during the school day may be set aside instead of or in addition to these time outs as special study time. Often a teacher, tutor or other aide should be available to help sort out assignments and other paperwork.

There are going to be plenty of occasions where the ADD/ADHD inability to sit still or to focus on certain tasks or to stay organized is going to cause problems, no matter how many outlets are provided. One of the most difficult aspects of the condition is getting others around them to be patient and understanding. Usually, the ADD/ADHD child truly wants to behave and get along. Their minds and bodies are simply too full of “go” to allow them to stay put.

This is where advocating and educating by the parents is essential. Odds are pretty good that your child is not the only one in class with this or a similar condition. Some respond to medications better than others, but even with medical help certain flare-ups and misunderstandings can still occur. Helping classmates understand the condition, how it works and what it does may help smooth social upsets.

In the end there is going to be a lot of trial and error. Maintain a dialog with teachers and with your child. If your youngster loses interest in a particular sport or hobby, do what you can to encourage them to continue, but if they become miserable in the trying or show stronger interest in something else, allow them to pursue their new passion. Some ADD/ADHD respond well to strict routines. Others may need to have changes made from time to time to keep up with their sporadic thought processes or otherwise hold their interest.

Do whatever it takes to help them find their strengths and develop their talents. Seek professional counseling if life gets overwhelming. CHADD and other such support groups are wonderful resources. Living with a person with ADD/ADHD can feel like you’re living with a dozen normal people. Use any techniques or assistance you can find.