Evan, five years old, hardly stands, much less sits, still for more than a few moments. Jessie is eight she's adorable...she never finishes anything on time...she's a dreamer. Cal is fifteen he is so impulsive that his parents worry he'll try drugs on a whim.
What do these kids have in common? Do they remind you of your own children?
The most talked-about childhood syndrome of the eighties and nineties is ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). This developmental disorder disrupts a child's life and often results in low self-esteem, poor grades and even social and emotional problems. These problems usually are not outgrown without help. But does your child have ADHD?
ADHD is characterized by the following groups of behaviors:
Inattention
making careless mistakes
difficulty sustaining attention
problems with listening
failure to finish schoolwork or chores
difficulties organizing
trouble sustaining mental efforts
losing things
being easily distracted
forgetfulness
Hyperactivity/Impulsivity
fidgeting/squirming
trouble staying seated
inappropriate running/climbing
difficulty playing quietly
being on the go/driven
talking excessively
blurting out answers
difficulty awaiting turn
often interrupting
All children display many of these behaviors at some point. But-according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of the American Psychiatric Association, Fourth Edition, for a child to be diagnosed with ADHD, six or more of these symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity must have persisted for at least six months.
Is Your Child Hyperactive? Inattentive? Impulsive? Distractible? offers an invaluable step-by-step program already used by thousands of parents to help you change these behaviors at home. Don't just watch it happen; help your child help himself.