|
|
Post by Ann on May 14, 2003 19:16:42 GMT -5
I have been told that ADD can sometimes get better. My son who is 8 years old is very hyperactive and has ADD. Do all children with ADD get better or only those that have mild ADD? Also will using the medication effect this recovery process? Thank you for your answer.
BTW, we have just finished using the Reading Lesson and are very happy with the results. He is now reading at his grade level.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Levin MD on May 16, 2003 18:14:48 GMT -5
You are right.Attention deficit improves with age; most children with ADHD tend to be more immature than their peers. Brain does not grow evenly and various parts grow at different rates. A typical baby learns to walk at about twelve months of age. Some kids are early and learn to walk at nine months. Others don’t start walking until 14 or even 16 months and get their parents all worried. By two years, however, all these fears are forgotten. Every child, with rare exceptions, walks by then and you are not able to tell which toddler walked first.
ADHD is a developmental disorder; it changes as the child grows. The delay in maturity lies in the area of the brain called prefrontal cortex. These children will eventually get better, but not until their nervous system matures. Meanwhile, they are behind their peers, can not keep up with school program, and suffer in the process. This delay is evident in four areas
1. Regulation of attention (not just ability to concentrate)
2. Control of impulses
3. Control over emotions, frustration tolerance
4. Planning and organizational skills
Clearly, all these abilities improve steadily with age. A five year old who can focus only for five minutes is behind his peers who are able concentrate for quarter of an hour. It might take a couple of years for this kid to develop ability to focus for fifteen minutes but by that time his classmates can stay on task for half an hour or more. This catch-up process often lasts up to mid-twenties when maturity stops. After mid twenties there will be no more improvement in the ability to concentrate. Majority of children who started behind will become as good in focusing as their peers, some will always remain behind. By mid-twenties schooling is almost over, time is lost and attitude toward school is poisoned by multiple frustrations and failures. These facts are the main reasons for early intervention and treatment of ADHD. Medications have no effect on maturity, they neither improve nor hinder it but only serve as temporary “bandage or brace” until brain matures.
(by analogy prescriptions glasses only help with symptoms without affecting the eyes)
Mild forms of ADHD cause less dysfunction. Severity of the ADHD depends more on task with which it interferes (for example: poor concentration does much more harm to math than to playing soccer)
|
|
|
|
Post by Diep on Oct 11, 2005 4:30:44 GMT -5
My daughter is 5 with autism. Please help me teach her learning math and play with other children
|
|
|
|
Post by Jeanette on Oct 11, 2005 11:18:50 GMT -5
I have come across this and don't know if you are aware that an Omega 3 supplement can help children, I don't know weather it will help your child. www.bupa.co.uk/health_information/html/health_news/110505fishoilbrain.htmlI have started giving it to my 5 year old, hoping that it will help her. (she is not autistic, but has a terrible short term memory, and battles to focus on her work) When I did research I came across this. There are many articles on it around and about. I am sure that I read somewhere that it can help autistic children.(but don't quote me on it I might be wrong) Regards Jeanette Gordon |
|
|
|
Post by tai on Oct 14, 2005 2:06:32 GMT -5
Please help me to develop my autism daughter (5 years old) about speech (she talks unclear) and coordinate hand and leg (EX: she can not lift her leg and hand in the same time. She just does hand or leg). Thank you.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Levin MD on Oct 25, 2005 0:54:41 GMT -5
Unfortunately, I am not aware of any benefits of Omega-3 fatty acids on learning. There were reports on improvement of labile mood (helps with mood swings) for some patients at very large doses that can cause side effects such as bloating and nausea.
|
|
|
|
Post by Michael Levin MD on Oct 25, 2005 0:57:34 GMT -5
Autism is a complex disorder with many forms and various areas of impairment. Answering your question would require a professional evaluation which is not possible at present time over the INTERNET. I wish I could be more constructive, sorry.
|
|
|
|
Post by jbeale9594 on Feb 8, 2009 20:18:24 GMT -5
I have a 7 year old grandson. He is in First Grade. We asked the school to retain him in Kindergarten but they insisted on moving him to First Grade. He is not doing well in school. We had him tested by a private doctor yesterday and confirmed that he does have a LD. He is a good child but it seems that he DOES NOT have even the skills of a Kindergarten age child. His IQ his normal to high. He needs to learn the basics of Kindergarten all over again. I am going to try to teach him what I can while the school lets me know what they can do. The doctor told us yesterday that a repeat of First grade won't help. He has missed the Kindergarten skills. What can I do?
|
|
