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When is the best time to resolve problems with attention?
by Ivan Poturica BA
Children with attention difficulties may be identified very early when hyperactivity is present. These children often go from crawling to running on their toes all day long! Their hyperkinetic behaviour disrupts home, daycare, kindergarten and beyond. A diagnosis requires the child to have difficulties in at least 2 situations including at home and generally happens upon school entry. Boys are 3 times more likely to be identified than girls. Girls with attention problems seem to go under the radar until later due to less behaviour and social skill issues. They are often identified due to academic difficulties.
The identification process can be prolonged and ambiguous. There is no medical diagnosis for ADD/ADHD because no cause has yet been identified. The early stages rely on people's perception of the child's behaviour and resulting academic under-performance. New approaches using computer testing can quickly measure attention and hyperactivity with about 70% certainty at age 5. Then at age 6 Electroencephalograph (EEG) testing is available with an accuracy of up to 98%. Both these tests measure attention performance and do not rely on opinion.
It is important to start intervention early. Behaviour modification strategies can be employed at home and school. Parents must decide if medications suggested are appropriate and beneficial, weigh this against the many possible side-effects, short-term action and lack of long-term benefits for the child.
A multimodal approach that includes techniques to teach the child coping strategies and resolve the attention problem without relying on medication can be started at age 5 or 6. Techniques like Neurofeedback are 91% effective in resolving attention difficulties in children. Research proven, neurofeedback provides a life-time benefit. Early intervention is important to avoid many of the negative outcomes of ADD/ADHD. The positive change in quality of life benefits the child, family, school and community.
Federal Government tax benefits are available for learning disabilities that often are part of ADD/ADHD.
For further information contact the ADD Centre at 204-897-4493. Visit our head office Web site* or our Winnipeg Web site*, or read The A.D.D. Book by Dr. William Sears and Dr. Lynda Thompson.
(*Will open in a new window.)
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