May 23, 2011
I still remember what the doctor said 12 years ago — “It’s just a disorder, not a disease.” I did not believe it then, but now, when I see my son getting ready for his Class XI, I fully understand what he meant. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition where children act without thinking, are hyperactive and have trouble focusing. For parents, it means learning new lessons to help the child cope with the challenges of an indifferent society, be it behavioural, social or physical.
Our worries have reduced over the years. The initial shock of discovering the problem has given way to awareness.
Studies have been a problem for him right from the beginning. Children with ADHD cannot concentrate on anything for more than 10 to 20 minutes. Doctors and counsellors had made one thing clear — we should never force him to study when he is disturbed. So, I would always select some time in the morning when he was more fresh and relaxed to help him with his lessons.
I would sit with him, taking care not to teach him one subject at a great length because it would tire him out. I would teach him English for sometime, then go to Maths and when he became restless, I would stop and let him do something that he enjoyed, like reading a book or just arranging his music instruments and before getting back to studies. I would praise him regularly and that gave him confidence.
Since their attention span is short, children with ADHD are advised to study in a room that has no TV or radio. As early as in Class I, we provided a study room so that nothing would distract him. Initially, he would always ask for something, like water, a snack or a toilet break. The study room also helped him to sit still for some time at a stretch, which turned out for the best in his senior classes.
Things became difficult when he entered his teenage years. He would rebel against everything I said. It took some time for him to realise that we were doing it for his good. We also communicated regularly with his teachers to keep a tab on his performance in school.
My son has chosen Humanities for Class XI and is dreaming of a career in music. It’s been such a long journey for us since we first heard the words ADHD.
By Vineetha John
