T-i-double-guh-er and his Disruptive Behavior
What do some children and tigger have in common? Why, the fact that they can both be described as “boisterous and exuberant.” http://winniethepooh.disney.com/tigger
The problem is, tiggers world and our real world, view characteristics differently. While tigger is well known for being energetic and enthusiastic, those same traits are viewed as symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Have you ever noticed a kid in class who always got in trouble for squirming around in his seat? For bursting out the answer when everyone else’s hand was raised? For being too rough with others on the playground? Or even taking a game some might consider, too seriously? If you have noticed these repetitive behaviors before, the chances are that kid would most likely be diagnosed with ADHD today.
Society often stigmatizes these inattentive, hyperactive children as problem children. ADHD is even considered, “the most prevalent behavioral problem in the school age population.” http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/si.2005.28.1.25?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Because of this notion, ADHD is commonly suppressed with the use of medication, as a quick fix. In effect this medication has been noted to, alter the user’s personality. Today, educational teachers, administrators and doctors recommend medication to parents of children with even the slightest symptoms of ADHD, so a child may conform to normative undisruptive classroom behavior.
Sorry, to burst your bubble tigger, but you are not the only one. ADHD symptoms appear commonly in children between the ages of 3 to 6 years old and may persist into adulthood. 6.4 million Children have been diagnosed since 2011 with 6.1% being treated with medication. These rates of diagnoses have soared since the early 90's and with that, an increase of medical treatment has been given as the first option. http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1525/si.2005.28.1.25?seq=1#page_scan_tab_contents
Medication is only one form of the many options available and should be recommended according to the levels of impairment that exist. Cognitive behavioral therapy, exercise, natural supplements, meditation and psychotherapy have all been shown to offer longer, harmless, additive benefits for children with ADHD.
It is important to keep in mind when working or socializing with people who have ADHD that they are wonderful human beings too. Everyone’s mind works differently and some take more time than others to focus or grasp a situation. Whether you are an educator, family member, friend or trusted contact your opinion is influential to these families. Rather than promoting medicine as the first option to help these learning individuals, let’s start by understanding who they are.
By understanding who these individuals are can help lead to the best treatment for themselves. If they are disruptive try an attention grabber like a new object to set their focus; if they are hyperactive try sending them for a run or get them involved in sports, if they are impulsive give them a ball to toss around to keep their hands busy or a wiggly chair to keep them in their seat.
There are many ways to revert children’s attention. It’s all a matter of trial and error, plus knowing them best, to help the process. So, next time a child seems more active than usual or their behavior begins to be problematic, don’t advise medicine as the first treatment. Try new things to help the child because one day that child will become an adult and if their whole life is dictated by medicine, living in the real world will seem surreal.
