ADHD: A Survival Guide for Parents and Teachers

will fill an important need expressed by parents and caretakers of ADHD children. Parents, teachers, and other caretakers have asked for clear, practical, and easily understood strategies to deal with ADHD children. The book's "survival guide" format meets this important need.

The book's format is designed so the reader can read either from cover to cover and/or read individual sections that are of special interest and deal with a particular need. A "Review and Tips" section is provided at the end of individual sections for a review of important suggestions and themes. The "Review and Tips" format provides the reader with two options: either to review highlighted material and tips immediately after reading a section, or to return to it at a later date.

The book not only covers ADHD problem behaviors in great depth, but it does so in a friendly and supportive style that is easy for readers to use and understand. Rather than a textbook, the book´s style serves as a resource readers can easily use and repeatedly refer to. Parents, teachers, and caretakers of ADHD children will appreciate the sympathetic approach and expert discussion by authors who have worked extensively with ADHD children and their families in a broad range of settings: medical, clinical, and educational. Because the book deals with a childhood disorder that is widely recognized by professionals and growing in recognition among lay people, its ideas and suggestions can be a resource for parents and teachers for years to come. The book includes a forward, introduction, table of contents, ten chapters, references, exhibits, and recommended readings for parents and children.

Chapter 1
I Am Confused-So What Is ADHD? According to the Experts, What Is ADHD? 9 Definition and Symptoms Are There Different Types of ADHD? Inattention Hyperactivity Impulsivity Other Behaviors Sometimes Associated with ADHD ADHD Predominantly Inattentive Type (ADHD-I) Developmental Stages of ADHD Infants and Toddlers School Age Adolescents Four Behaviors Worthy of Discussion Inhibiting Behavior	Rule-Governed Behavior Inconsistent Performance Motivation What Are the Roles of Biology and Environment? Myth or Fact Brain Injury Diet Sugar Lead Poisoning Medical Problems Genetics Neurotransmitters Family School Summary

Chapter 2
How Can I Know for Sure My Child Has ADHD? Who Can Make a Diagnosis of ADHD? Can Other Factors Cause My Child to Look Like He Has ADHD? Will My Child's ADHD Go Away As He Gets Older? Why Are My Two Children with ADHD So Different?	My Child Can Sit in Front of the TV for Hours and Never Move. Does That Mean He Doesn't Have ADHD? My Friend's Child Has Tourette Syndrome but Acts Like He Has ADHD My Doctor Now Says My Child May Have Bipolar Disorder, Not ADHD. What Is Bipolar Disorder? Summary

Chapter 3
Am I to Blame? Should I Blame Myself? I Feel Guilty Spending So Much Time with My Child My Doctor Doesn't Believe Me-He Says, Take a Parenting Class" My Parents Say We Are Terrible for Putting Their Grandchild on Medication	Sally-Next-Door Says I Am Not Strict Enough I Am Losing My Child The Hardest Time for Me Was When I Had to Place My Child in a Psychiatric Hospital I Feel Like Running Away Sometimes I Don't Like My Child Summary

Chapter 4
"Don't Blame Me-I Have ADHD!" I Didn't Take My Pill-Don't Blame Me! Counting to Five Silently Talk to Yourself Plan Ahead for Problem Areas Medication He Seldom Says He's Sorry Acknowledging Mistakes Making Amends Chart "I'm Sorry" Statements Time to Talk He Is So Emotional-Is This Normal? Counting to Five Silently Stop, Look, Think, and Do Prepare Your Child for Changes He Never Seems to Learn from His Mistakes Ideas to Help Your Child Learn Better from His Mistakes What Scares Me the Most Is When He Gets Violent	I C.A.R.E. Green, Yellow, Red Zip My Lip Know What Makes Your Child Angry Exercise Is My Child Noncompliant or Just Incompetent? Positive Directions Incompetence Reminder Sheets One Direction at a Time and Be Specific Keep a Stopwatch Handy Noncompliance Commonsense Rules Be Firm Time-Out Changing Habits Be Preventative, Not Reactionary Summary

Chapter 5
Our Child Takes a Lot of Our Time Reminders, Reminders, All the Time Reminder Sheets Mnemonic Reminders Kitchen Timer Oral Directions Make Eye Contact Be Close to Him Family Outings Can Be Overwhelming Look Before You Leap Waiting Is No Fun Change Is Not Easy Getting Ready for School-It's Never Enough Time Sleep Time Bathroom Time Time-Keepers Medication Sitting Down for Breakfast Can Be World War III Table Rules Time-Keepers Catch Him Being Good Medication Getting Ready for Bed Can Be a Nightly Battle Pre-Bed Rituals Insomnia His Sister and Brother Want to Live Next Door Find Special Time No One Wants to Be Abused	Brothers and Sisters Need a Vacation, Too He Minds His Dad Better Than Me Homework Is a Family Mission Don't Jeopardize Your Relationship with Your Child You May Not Be Able to Be His Teacher Parental Responsibility The Homework May Be Too Hard or Long Let's Not Talk about Going to the Store! Have a Plan Rules on a Card Take a Photo of the "Time-Out" Chair 1-2-3 Magic Reward Him for Being Good Our Marriage Needs Some Attention Taking Care of You Is Important It's Okay to Say No Stop Trying to Control Things Don't Neglect Your Partner Try to Share Parenting I Am a Single Parent-Help! I Can't Find a Baby-sitter Dating? Say That Word Again! Where Do I Go When I Want to Explode? My Partner Isn't Patient or Understanding Try to Be Supportive, Not Enabling I Feel Alone and Nobody Cares 1 Summary

Chapter 6
My Child's in School-Can I Tell You Some Stories! Should I Tell His Teacher He Has ADHD? I Think I Should Get a Diploma, Too! I Feel Like Hiring a Tutor How Much Does the Teacher Know about ADHD? I Hate to Hear from My Child's School His School Says It's My Child's Responsibility to Remember to Take His Medication Homework Takes Forever Distractibility Disorganization Homework May Be Too Hard or Long He Does His Homework and Then Forgets to Turn It In! Monitor Your Child's Homework Communicate Regularly with the Teacher He Doesn't Seem Motivated to Get Good Grades My Neighbor Has a Child with ADHD, and He Is Doing Fine in School- Why's That? He Did So Much Better in the Third Grade Than He's Doing in the Seventh Grade	Behavioral Expectations Academic Expectations Writing Assignments Are Especially Difficult for My Child Could My Child Have a Learning Disability? My Neighbor Says Schools Have a Legal Obligation to Accommodate My Son's ADHD. Is This True? IDEA Section 504 My Child Has a Hard Time at Recess Impulsive Behavior Difficulty Modulating Emotions Noncompliant and Oppositional Behavior Impatience Ideas to Help at Recess Don't Leave the Classroom without a Plan Green Card Time-Out Areas My Child's School Asked for a Student Study Team-What's That? I Worry My Child Will Be a School Dropout Summary

Chapter 7
Even My Pharmacist's Wife Says She Wouldn't Put Her Child on Ritalin My child's teacher says that my child needs to be put on medication. What medications are most commonly used to treat ADHD? What changes can I expect to see in my child after giving Ritalin or Dexedrine? Do stimulants cure ADHD? How do these medications work? How long do I need to try stimulants to know if they work? How do I know when I am giving my child enough, versus too much, of a stimulant medication? If the medication works, does that confirm that the diagnosis is correct? What side effects might I expect my child to have from stimulants? Can stimulants cause problems with growth? I've heard that stimulants can cause twitches or Tourette syndrome. Are stimulants addictive? Can stimulants lead to problems with abuse of other drugs? Are there particular children who would be expected to do poorly on stimulants? My child's teacher says that my child should only be on Ritalin for school, and my doctor says he needs it daily. Whom should I believe?	Are there problems with adverse drug interactions if my child is on a stimulant? I've heard that kids can become psychotic on stimulants. Can stimulants be used in children under age five? My child seems to do better after drinking soda or a cup of coffee. Is there anything wrong with using caffeine instead of Ritalin? Can stimulants bring out bipolar disorder (manic depression)? My child used to do well on Ritalin but now it doesn't work. What is going on? Are there any good natural remedies available? Are there medications used to treat ADHD other than the stimulants? Clonidine (Catapres) and guanfacine (Tenex) Tricyclic antidepressants Wellbutrin (bupropion) Neuroleptics Mood stabilizers New ADHD drugs on the horizon When should drugs like Prozac be used? Do medications help learning disabilities? My child is defiant. Will medication help with this? My child with ADHD doesn't sleep well-what should I do about it? Are stimulants used to treat adults with ADHD? Summary

Chapter 8
If It Works, Try Again, but It Won't Work for Long What Works for His Younger Brother Doesn't Work for My Child with ADHD Medication Helps, but I Need More	There Will Be Good Moments and There Will Be Bad Moments I Am Tired of Yelling I Am Uncomfortable Bribing My Child to Be Good My Adolescent Is Too Old to Place in Time-Out Summary

Chapter 9
I Would Love to Help as a Teacher, but I have Children in My Classroom I Have Too Many Other Responsibilities The Challenge Presented Teachers Blame Doesn't Help Teachers Need Not Feel Guilty My Students Find Some Curriculum Especially Difficult Written Work Arithmetic Reading Comprehension I'm Angry That I'm Responsible for His Medication He Is on Medication, So Why Isn't He Doing Better Academically? Stimulants Short-Term Effects of Stimulants on Academic Performance Long-Term Effects of Stimulants on Academic Performance What Stimulants Cannot Do to Improve Academic Performance Other Reasons Why He Is Not Doing Better He Is Disrupting the Education of the Other Children-I Can't Allow That Have a Plan Set Firm Limits and Follow Them Pick Your Battles Catch Him Being Good What Interventions Seem to Work Best in the Classroom?	What Activities Give Students with ADHD Difficulty? He Always Needs to Be Reminded Primary Grades (Kindergarten through Sixth Grades) Secondary Grades (Seventh through Twelfth Grades) He Wastes Time During Class Primary Grades Secondary Grades He Fails to Remember to Turn in His Schoolwork Primary Grades Secondary Grades Written Work Seems Especially Difficult Primary Grades Secondary Grades He Gets Out of His Seat Without Asking Primary Grades Secondary Grades He Gets Angry and Upset Too Quickly Primary Grades Secondary Grades He Turns in His Schoolwork, but It Is Sloppy Primary Grades Secondary Grades Section 504 Worries Me How Should I Tell Parents I Think Their Child Has ADHD? How Can I Help the Doctor? Summary

Chapter 10
From Frustration to Hope-a Summary

Appendices
DSM-IV-TR Criteria for Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Developmental Stages of ADHD Nerve Cell Disorders That Can Mimic ADHD Stimulant Medications Used in Treatment for ADHD	The Weekly Report Daily Student Rating Card Web sites offering information about ADHD Recommended Reading For Parents and Teachers For Children Reference List Index

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What Reviewers Have Said

" This book covers all the bases with wisdom and clarity."

"A must for any parent who wants a road map to success in raising a
child with ADHD"

"Panoramic in its scope, uplifting in its vision, caring in its
practicality."

"A useful, credible guide for any parent or teacher concerned about
these special children"
John Taylor, Ph.D., Author, Helping Your A.D.D. Child

"Easy to read, parent friendly; avoids jargon; personalizes
experiences that will help parents, teachers and school administrators;
helpful to teachers, recreation leaders, school administrators as
well as parents."
Janice V. Boyer, Assistant Superintendent of Student Special Services,
Juan Unified School District, Sacramento, California

"It is the best book I have read on ADHD in years."
David E. Comings, MD, Author, Tourette Syndrome and Human Behavior

ADHD:

A Survival Guide for Parents and Teachers
By: Richard A. Lougy, MFT and David K Rosenthal, M.D.