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Many clinicians find it easier to tell parents their child has a brain-based disorder than suggest parenting changes. Jennifer Harris (psychiatrist)

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

Parents are the external regulator for kids who cannot regulate themselves.

The best inheritance  parents can give their children is a few minutes of their time each day.

Children do not develop on their own - they only develop within relationships.

Don't wait for him to turn 10 before you reveal that you are not in fact the hired help whose job it is to clean up after him.

There has been an explosion in the prescribing of medication for very young children, particularly preschool and kindergarten boys (Juli Zito , Univ. of Maryland)

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

Relationships matter:  change comes through forming trusting relationships. People, not programs change people.

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

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Stimulant Meds for ADHD

Stimulant medications (eg. Ritalin, Adderall, Concerta, Focalin, Dexedrine, Metadate, Methylin, Vyvanse) are the mainstay of medical treatment for ADHD. They have proven quite effective in controlling the symptoms of ADHD with relatively minor and manageable side effects.

There is however some disturbing findings coming from research initiated at Harvard Medical School by Dr. William Carlezon. Investigators have discovered that juvenile laboratory animals given stimulant medications display a loss of motivation when they grow up. These animals look normal, but they are lazy. Further investigations at the Univ. of Michigan, Medical School of South Carolina, Univ. of Pittsburgh, Brown Univ., Tufts Univ. and UCLA as well as schools in Sweden, Italy and the Netherlands have concluded that exposing young animals to these medications – even at low doses for short periods of time – can cause permanent damage to the nucleus accumbens, the part of the brain that is responsible for translating motivation into actions. (Dr. Leonard Sax – Boys Adrift – Basic Books 2007)

These studies are still in the early stages. The risks are not proven. Researchers do not know for sure whether the damage caused in the brains of animal also occur in children who take the same meds.

Stay tuned.

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Workshops

+ Behaviour Management (now available online)

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

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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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+ A Guided Tour of ADHD (now available online)

This workshop will present the facts, myths, misconceptions, controversy and […]

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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

“Rick’s approach is so logical. He helped us clearly define the problem, analyze what has happened and select the best strategy. We now feel empowered to do something positive for our kid”

(A.N. – Tillsonburg)