Attention deficit disorder (also known as ADD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are terms used to describe patterns of behaviour that appear most often in school-aged children. Children with these disorders are inattentive, overly impulsive and, in the case of ADHD, hyperactive. They have difficulty sitting still, attending to one thing for a long period of time, and may seem overactive.

Attention deficit disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are disorders that interfere with the learning process because they reduce the child’s ability to pay attention. It is important to understand that ADD and ADHD are not disabilities in the learning process, although they may be present in addition to a learning disability. A learning disability is a neurological condition that affects the child’s ability to learn.

ADD and ADHD are difficult to diagnose because they affect all areas of a child’s life: family, school, friendships, team sports and work.

Your child can have a wide range of emotional responses to ADD and ADHD, which can be confusing to both him/her and to you. He/she may have already experienced years of frustration and failure which can lead to emotional stresses and further problems.

Because ADD and ADHD are so hard to diagnose, you may be confused by your child’s social behaviour. A teacher may not investigate difficult or disruptive behaviour because he/she cannot see the underlying attention problems. Two ways your child may try to mask his/her difficulty in the classroom or in a peer group are by becoming the “class clown” or the “class bully,” or avoiding or refusing to become involved in activities where he/she is unsure of success.

All members of your family will be affected by these disorders. As a parent, you may feel anger and guilt, and wonder if you could have prevented the problem or if you should have noticed it earlier. Your child’s brothers and sisters may be confused about what exactly ADD and ADHD are. They may experience anger and anxiety about the situation because of their lack of understanding.

If you think your child may have ADD or ADHD, your first goal should be to reduce the stress caused by the confusion and frustration your child is experiencing. It will be best if you work together with a team of professionals to find out what is wrong.

With the right kind of help, most children with ADD or ADHD overcome their disabilities, and their emotional problems usually disappear. They do better at school, improve their relationships with family and friends, and will be more likely to achieve their full potential. With help from family, school and other professional people, children with ADD or ADHD have more than a good chance to grow up to be healthy, happy and productive adults.

This article provides general information only. The information provided is not a substitute for professional advice. If you feel that you may need advice, please consult a qualified health care professional. For further information, please visit our website at www.cmha-east.on.ca.