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"To be a man, a boy must see a man."  (J.R. Moehringer)

"Parents aren't the cause of ADHD, but they are part of the solution." (Kenny Handleman, M.D.)

"Moody" and "unpredictable" are adjectives parents will often use when referring to their teenagers.

"Rules without relationship leads to rebellion" (Josh McDowell)

If you (parents) tend to overreact to your child's misbehaviour - your child learns that he can't trust you. Mom, Dad, stay regulated!

The more 2 parents differ in their approaches to discipline, the more likely it leads to trouble for the child.

If you are headed in the wrong direction as a parent - you are allowed to make a U-turn.

We should not medicate the boys so they fit the school; we should change the school to fit the boy. (Leonard Sax, M.D. Ph.D)

It's more effective to reward your child for being "good" (appropriate) than to punish him for being "bad" (inappropriate).

It is what we say and do when we're angry that creates the very model our children will follow when dealing with their own frustrations.

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More FAQ about ADD/ADHD

3. What are the theories about causes of ADD,ADHD?

There have been many theories about the cause of ADD/ADHD but there is no consensus among the experts.

a) brain injury – caused by trauma or disease – this was one of the first theories however current thinking suggests that this causes relatively few cases

b) delayed brain maturation – the brain is simply slow in developing some of its functions and it will eventually catch up – there is little direct neurological evidence supporting this theory

c) toxic poisoning – this theory says that the brain has been assaulted by a toxic substance that has disrupted development – examples: lead poisoning, prenatal use of drugs or alcohol

d) food additives – this was a major field of study in the 1970’s and 80’s led by Dr. Benjamin Feingold who believed hyperactivity was caused by artificial flavours and colouring. Rigorous scientific studies do not support this theory.

e) allergies – there is limited evidence to suggest a link between environmental influences and ADD/ADHD

f) medical illness – some medical conditions mimic ADD/ADHD symptoms ( see a previous posting re: differential diagnosis)

g) medications – some meds trigger ADD/ADHD symptoms (examples: Dilantin, Dimetapp, cold medicines)

h) heredity – an ADHD child is 4 times more likely to have a close relative with ADHD than a child without ADHD “chip off the old block”

i) family stressors – divorce, poor parenting, poverty, attachment disorder, etc.

j) brain chemistry – medical community by and large supports this theory. It appears that ADD/ADHD sufferers have unbalanced levels of the neurotransmitter dopamine.

The bottom line:

  • experts do not know what causes ADD/ADHD
  • there are probably a combination of factors leading to ADD/ADHD
  • research continues

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Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

This full day or 2 evening workshop will introduce you […]

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+ Lick Your Kids

  “Lick Your Kids” (figuratively not literally) (2 hours) First […]

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+ A Parent’s Guide to the Teenage Brain

  A teenager’s brain is not just an adult brain […]

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+ Reading Rescue

A program for children with reading problems

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+ Taming a Toddler

Many parents wonder what hit them when their sweet little baby turns into an unreasonable toddler – ideas for dealing with mealtime, bedtime, temper tanturms, toilet training, noncompliance, etc.

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See more of our workshops


Contact

2720 Rath Street, Putnam, Ontario
NOL 2BO

Phone: (519) 485-4678
Fax: (519) 485-0281

Email: info@rickharper.ca

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Parents' Comments

“Our daughter was the joy of our life until she turned 13, then all hell broke loose. Rick helped us understand what was happening to her and we made some adjustments that helped us get through it. She’s now in University and doing well.”

(D.A. – St. Thomas)