ADHD Affects Social Functioning
New research confirms that ADHD affects social functioning in kids and teens affected by the common condition.
When social functioning is impacted, this leads to difficulties with friends (and this study showed that 79% of children with ADD had no or few friends, 53% spend time alone, and 53% get picked on or bullied).
The consequences of this are that kids and teens with ADHD can have low self esteem, and then they are at higher risk for behaviors like: teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse and fail at school.
As quoted in the article:
Dr Anne McClure, consultant child and adolescent psychiatrist at South Tyneside District Hospital, said: “When it comes to managing children’s health, it is not enough to only treat the basic symptoms.
What’s the bottom line?
It’s not OK to just treat ADHD for the classroom. It affects a lot more than that.
You need to develop a comprehensive treatment plan, that recognizes the child or teen’s strengths.
Dr. Kenny
p.s. to find our comprehensive system for succeeding with ADHD, please visit: Secrets to ADHD Success.
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Written by Dr. Kenny Handelman - The ADHD Doctor
To find get a FREE special report on ADD/ADHD Medication, visit: Medication Mastery
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March 12th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Interesting findings. And while ADD manifests over school and with school work, pertinent esteem issues do have an impact on the social life of the patient. Thus, it becomes necessary to have a treatment plan for this condition. Not necessarily the use of stimulants or psychiatric drugs but alternative treatments from therapy to herbal remedies that would restore focus, concentration and memory naturally. It would really create a dent on one’s personality if ADD is not outgrown towards adulthood.
March 14th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
I agree with Steve’s comment. A course in using behavior management for both teachers and parents is a good alternative ADHD treatment. Unfortunately many ADHD sufferers are viewed as naughty children and the adverse reaction of others only further damages self-esteem.
March 20th, 2008 at 4:46 pm
Sorry, but the article quoted above is not a new revelation about the social impact of having ADHD. These issues have been identiied and researched for many decades. Carol Whalen and Barbara Henker at UCLA were among the first to systematically focus on these issues along with other researchers more than 28 years ago and there has many publications from them and other’s since,
Sincerely,
Dink
May 17th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
I think the author makes a good point but I also agree with Dink above that these connections have been known for years. What I find to be more interesting is whether more doctors are beginning to treat ADHD as a real disorder. For years in this country it has gone misunderstood and that has slowed progress in terms of treatment and possibly funding by the medical community.
June 16th, 2008 at 2:44 pm
ADHD Affects Social Functioning
The consequences of this are that kids and teens with ADHD can have low self esteem, and then they are at higher risk for behaviors like: teen pregnancy, drug and alcohol abuse and fail at school.
July 14th, 2008 at 1:18 am
i dont know if this is slightly off topic, sorry if it is but I have next to me a document from social services which it states that without their intervention my son would be at risk from harm and his home life would become unstable.
My son is 8yrs old and I have fought for nearly 7yrs to access help for him with non as yet apart from medication and a change of school.
My son has a diagnosis of combined ADHD, ODD, learning difficulties, dyslexic tendancies, severe behavioural problems and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. His medication is 50mg of Equasym XL and 40mg of Strattera each morning @ 7.30am. I had him on an e-free diet since the age of 3yrs until recently where I had to relax it due to my sons loss of appetite from the Equasym.
I have recently been diagnosed with bipolar, borderline personality disorder and the 1st time in my life off from work due to this and my sons father has not seen his son for the past 2yrs.
I know the child has a sense of low self esteem but so do the parents, and maybe lower. I have been starred at, pointed at, shouted at, sworn at and even hit because of my sons illness.
My son also has severe behavioural problems and I have had no end of trouble with them for my son straying off the path and getting lost as well as a phase where he would run off as he was getting bullied from neighbours, children and adults.
I have been on different parenting courses, have researched into available help, medications, the illness and its traites, education, as now he is in a special needs school, I have researched into social services, NCH, CAHMS and the way they work. I would go to hell and back for all my children and back again if need be.
So, the statement I received on Saturday has horrified me so much I am making a stand and I am going to sue.
Parents need the help too to enable them to help their child and to do that we need uinderstanding, reassurance and proper help, which in the UK is non exsistant.
Thank you for listening, it realy helps.
Cheekipixi
pixibellxxx@aol.com