Young Boy with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Is Focused on Success
Tips For Parents
- Be positive
- Set a daily schedule
- Set up house rules
- Make sure your directions are understood
- Be consistent
- Help with school activities
- Set up a homework routine
- Focus on effort, not grades
August 2004 — “It was kind of humiliating, knowing that I’d forget what I was supposed to be doing. My mom would give me a list of chores and I might do one of them, and then go play with my friends — which would get me in trouble,” says Mark (not his real name). “But now it’s, ‘Get the job done before I play with my friends’ — that’s my routine.”
A Mother’s Frustration Leads to Diagnosis
During his first three years of school, Mark had trouble staying on task. In addition, his impulsive behavior frequently got him into trouble. But it wasn’t until second grade, when a particularly intolerant teacher spoke up, that everything came to a head. Mark’s mother received notes, almost daily, in which his teacher complained of poor behavior, lack of focus or the need to remove him from the classroom. His parents had, at first, tried to support the teacher by taking away his privileges and toys in the hope that he would fall in line. Instead, things reached such a difficult state that Mark’s mother took him to Memorial Hospital Pembroke’s Outpatient Department, pleading for help.
“The nurse suggested that I speak with Mark’s pediatrician immediately,” says Mark’s mother. Ivar Fandel, MD, pediatrician on the medical staff at Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital and Memorial Hospital West, did some of the initial testing, but referred them for further testing to Arnold Feiner, PhD, psychologist on the staff at Memorial Regional Hospital, Memorial Hospital West and Memorial Hospital Pembroke.
Dr. Feiner works with children and their parents and teachers to treat Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD), and while he does not prescribe medication, he is well-versed in the choices and makes recommendations to the pediatrician. After a day-long battery of tests, Mark’s parents finally had an answer – AD/HD – although they chose not to refer to Mark’s condition by this label.
The Turning Point
“Up until now, I didn’t know this had a name,” says Mark. “My parents just explained that I was taking the tests because of my trouble in school and told me that I was going to have to take a pill to help me concentrate. I said, ‘If that’s the case, then everyone should take it.’” This is when things started to improve. Mark began bringing home notes that read, “Good job” and “He did great today.”
Mark was prescribed Concerta, an extended-release version of Ritalin, when he was in third grade. Although they had worked closely with Dr. Feiner to improve Mark’s concentration and curb his impulsivity with other techniques, Dr. Feiner and Dr. Fandel also recommended medication, and the final piece of the puzzle fell into place. Aside from experiencing some initial side effects, including headaches, stomach aches and constipation, his body regulated itself and he felt fine. And while growth issues can be a concern with AD/HD medications, Mark, now 12, is above average in height and weight.
“There were major changes in my life when I started taking medication,” says Mark, who was recently inducted into the National Junior Honor Society, an organization whose membership is based on a student’s outstanding performance in the areas of scholarship, service, leadership and character. In addition, he plays baseball, takes guitar lessons and even has his own business. “I cut lawns,” Mark says. “I do it all — I mow, I trim weeds and I edge. I’m earning trust by the minute, from my customers and from my dad.”
From Presidents to Rock Stars |
|
|
The following folks didn’t let AD/HD stand in the way of their success:
|
 |
Smooth Roads Ahead
Mark says he will take medication for as long as he needs it. “I’d rather take the smooth road than the bumpy road,” he adds. A few months ago, he went two weeks without medication and was very aware of the difference in his behavior. “I was getting hyper and talking a lot more in class — and I also got in trouble. It was tough,” he says. He’ll continue to see Dr. Feiner when he needs to. Most importantly, he has the support of his parents.
When asked if he had any advice for parents of kids with AD/HD, he said, “Stand up for your kids because they can’t always do it for themselves. And if they need medicine or therapy, help them understand why they should get it. You may not have another chance. My parents saved me from a lot of problems.”
If you think your child might have AD/HD, contact your physician. For referral to a physician, call the Memorial Physician Referral Service at (800) 944-DOCS.