ADD help

Attention Deficit Disorder: How to get ADD help

What is ADD?

Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is a common condition that can be found in both children and adults (but more likely in children). Children with ADD generally finds it more difficult to concentrate on a specific task and finish it. They get bored easily and they tend to be a bit more impulsive with decisions they make.

According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5), which is the standard of mental health diagnoses, symptoms of ADD/ADHD include the following:

Inattention

  • Often makes careless mistakes or has problems paying attention to detail
  • Poor concentration during tasks or leisure activities
  • Does not seem to be listening and appears to zone out when spoken to directly
  • Frequently fails to complete instructions or to complete work tasks or chores
  • Often has trouble organizing a task or activity
  • Short attention span
  • Frequently avoids, dislikes, or resists participating in activities that require sustained concentration/mental effort, due to difficulty focusing, a tendency to waste time
  • Repeatedly loses things needed to complete tasks or activities
  • Easily distracted by extraneous input or unrelated thoughts
  • Frequent forgetfulness/absentmindedness

Hyperactivity and impulsivity

  • Often engages in fidgeting, squirming, or tapping hands or feet
  • Frequently has trouble staying seated
  • Frequent restlessness or boredom
  • Has trouble engaging in leisure activities quietly
  • Engages in multiple activities at once
  • Often talks excessively
  • Repeatedly interrupts others talking
  • Trouble waiting his or her turn
  • Often intrudes on others

How to get ADD help

Medication can be a helpful tool for managing the symptoms of attention deficit disorder (ADD), but it is not the only option or treatment available. For a lot of children, more than one approach combined is the most effective. How do we get ADD help for our children?

Depending on a person’s needs, a number of psychological and behavioural therapies are available to help manage ADD, including psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioural therapy, social skills training, support groups, and parenting skills training.

Behavioural therapists, paediatricians and some other licenced mental health professionals can diagnose a child with ADD and offer some assistance and direction to get ADD help.

A child with ADD needs help to sustain attention for longer periods of time, they need help to use their energy in appropriate ways, help to improve their planning skills and help to channel their creative energies into something that interests them.

Professionals that can help your child with these skills could include behavioural therapists, child psychologists or after-school centres that can spend time with them on the skills that need improvement.

Catch Up Kids is a perfect example of such a centre. At Catch Up Kids they address issues such as attention, planning, inhibition, memory, self-monitoring, time management and more. They discuss with you as a parent about what you feel your child needs and then tailor a program that can help your child achieve as much as they can.

For children with ADD, help comes in many forms and can often include a variety of different sources together. Get in touch with Catch Up Kids to find out how a highly-trained professional can help bring all the necessary resources together for the benefit of your child.