This has enormous ramifications. Learning is very challenging for people with ADHD, especially in traditional classroom settings. For two decades, I was unaware that some of my children were not just experiencing dyslexia but also a crippling incapacity to concentrate, even in the face of their greatest desire to do so.My belief in numerous fallacies around ADHD caused me to miss something important, which has had a major impact on my children's lives. I hope that doesn't transpire for your family. I'll be sharing in this post the things I wish I had known when my older children were younger.
Myths Regarding ADHD
Similar to dyslexia, many misconceptions regarding ADHD are the result of ignorance of the underlying reasons of inattention. The most widespread misconceptions regarding ADHD are listed below.
Myth1: Children with ADHD are inherently hyperactive
Factual statement: While many children with attention issues are not hyperactive, some children with ADHD are. When a child with ADHD is inattentive but not hyperactive, they can come across as aloof and uninspired. It is simple to ignore attention problems of this nature. The further r detail on the various causes of ADHD is given below.
Myth 2: Children with ADHD are incapable of being focused
Factual statement: Children with ADHD can frequently focus on enjoyable activities. But when the work at hand is monotonous or repetitious, they find it difficult to stay focused, no matter how hard they try. When parents see their child concentrating for extended periods of time on activities such as playing video games, constructing with Legos, being read to, or engaging in creative play, they may mistakenly believe that their child is not having attention problems.
Myth 3: Children with ADHD could focus if they wanted to Fact:
Although they may try very hard to please their teachers and perhaps feel a great desire to do so, children with ADHD are still not able to focus, be silent, or sit still. Even if they seem disobedient, their actions are not deliberate. I will never forget listening to Jonathan Mooney discuss his harrowing experience with ADHD in the classroom during a conference held by the International Dyslexia Association. "When did being motionless become a moral failing?" Kids are harmed by myths about ADHD. It's hard to believe this misconception if you haven't dealt with ADHD yourself.
Myth 4: Children with ADHD will outgrow it
It's not a good idea to wait for your child to outgrow ADHD because the condition frequently persists into adulthood. Your child can learn to lessen and manage their symptoms with the help of treatment.
Myth 5: The most effective way to treat ADHD is with medication
Factual information: Although medication is frequently recommended for attention deficit disorder, it might not be the ideal choice for your child. Education, behavior therapy, parental and school support, physical activity, and a healthy diet are further components of an effective ADHD treatment plan.
Similar to the numerous misconceptions around dyslexia, the misconceptions regarding attention problems like ADHD can result in a great deal of confusion, worry, and lost time.
Three kinds of ADHD are recognized by the DSM-V:
The inattentive kind of ADHD is primarily characterized by distractibility and difficulties maintaining focus and mental exertion.
The hyperactive-impulsive kind of ADHD is typified by restlessness, wriggling in one's chair, fidgeting with hands and feet, behaving like a motor, and disturbing and interrupting other people.
The mixed kind of ADHD includes characteristics for both hyperactivity/impulsivity and inattention.
ADHD symptoms
Inattentiveness ignores details and commits thoughtless errors. problem focusing, quickly distracted, doesn't seem to listen, has trouble remembering things, and has trouble following instructions.difficulty planning ahead, maintaining organization, and completing tasks becomes disinterested in a task before finishing it regularly misplaces or loses toys, books, schoolwork, or other objectHyperactive: squirms and fidgets all the time; runs or climbs in an improper manner; talks too much difficultly Playing softly or unwinding while constantly moving, as though propelled by a machine, could become irascible Impulsive behavior blurts forth statements without fully understanding the question Trouble controlling strong emotions—such as anger or emotional outbursts—often gets in the way of taking the time to address a problem. This is known as trouble waiting for a turn.The Effects of ADHD and Dyslexia on Learning Parents should be aware of the effects of attention disorders like ADHD on learning, just as they should be aware of what it means to be dyslexic. It can be difficult to homeschool a child who has difficulty focusing on their work, following instructions, or acting impulsively, especially if you think that the child is misbehaving.
Recognizing and anticipating
The way parents and educators interact with children who have ADHD on a daily basis can be much improved when they recognize that a child may want to be still and obey instructions but be unable to do so.
Being aware of ADHD can help you avoid turning everyday situations into power struggles or battles of wills and instead focus on training and improving the classroom and instructional strategies.
