Child Behavior -Is ADHD Behavior Therapy The Answer ?

How on earth can you deal with defiant kids ? No pill exists for that ! It is now a well established fact in the medical profession that ADHD treatment should be a comprehensive one which will include a good dose of behavioral modification alongside with medication, diet, exercise and school support. In spite of taking medication, child behavior will not change at all in the long term. It may well get worse. There may be some improvements in symptoms such as restlessness, fidgeting and better focus and improved concentration but these are only skin deep. In the long term, the medication will not cure ADHD and if child behavior is left unchecked, it is unlikely that the child will outgrow ADHD and he will have a handicap for the rest of his life.

Going back to the defiant kids, there may also be other symptoms which could well be that of a co-morbid disorder like ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder). Symptoms will include an incredible amount of anger, outbursts and a generally aggressive attitude to both parents and siblings.

It is in cases like this that ADHD behaviour therapy comes to the rescue. If parents are prepared to make the required effort, it can well turn a disastrous situation around. Studies have shown that child behavior can be positively influenced by these methods. Similar success has been found with older citizens suffering from GAD (Generalized Anxiety Disorder). Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston got similar results when they tried cognitive behaviour therapy among the patients who had problems taking anxiety medication because of the side effects.

Talking of medication for ADHD it has been shown that about 20% of children have great difficulty in adjusting to these medicines because of the considerable side effects and grow less than normal kids. Stunted growth is not the only problem either as there are risks for heart health and psychotic episodes are linked to some of the other medications like Strattera. If parents choose an ADHD homeopathic remedy they can side step many of these problems and spend considerably less. They are just as effective in improving child behavior as pharmacological solutions .

There are now quite a few researchers advocating ADHD behavior therapy before medication and they are saying that this should be the first option rather than the last in trying to resolve problems with child behavior The drugs companies obviously do not agree and will try to discredit ADHD behavior therapy instead of spending money to research the long term effects of the psychostimulants they have poured down children’s throats while earning enormous amounts of money.

Military School – One Size Does Not Fit All

When you hear the words “military school”, many different images are conjured. 

Some see a campus fortified with beautiful stone buildings, manicured lawns, and cadets proudly marching with perfectly tailored uniforms gleaming from all the spit and polish.  Many of these young men and women are aspiring to future service in their country’s armed services.  Others see a compound, reminiscent of that seen on Hogan’s Heroes, where misbehaving inmates are sentenced to hard time for their past behavior, and angry drill instructors scream at a hopeless collection of trouble-makers.  The later is more reminiscent of what today has become known as teen boot camps, where an intense regime of shock therapy and even abuse over a short period of time is intended to turn troubled teens around. 

The truth is that both of these types of institutions exist, as does everything in between.  This is why one size does not fit all when looking for a military school or academy. 

In the United States, there are numerous military schools.  One doesn’t need to search for too long on the internet to find them.  But why are there so many and why are they so popular?  Many have a long proud history dating back to before the Civil War.  Students attend because of tradition; their father, and grand father, and great grand father attended.  Some attend because they see it as a stepping stone to one of the federal service academies like West Point, Annapolis, or the Air Force Academy.  Others see it as a structured environment within which their misbehaving youngster will learn discipline and be turned from a life of misfortune into a contributing member of society.  

However, when these students with differing goals end up in the same school the outcome is often chaotic.  Those who do not want to be there fight the system every step of the way.  The others end up suffering as a result of these negative influences.  In the end, neither group receives what they want, or what they need. 

It is for these reasons that it is important to know what you are looking for in a military school, and why.  Ask the right questions and tell your whole story to the admissions department before enrolling.  This will help determine whether a particular school is right for your son or daughter, and whether your son or daughter is right for the school.  In the United States, a good place to start your search is the Association of Military Colleges and Schools of the United States (AMCSUS).  This professional association includes nearly every military preparatory school, college and university in the United States in its membership.  It has even included a school from outside the United States, Robert Land Academy in Canada, as its only associate member military school.

Robert Land Academy, located in Wellandport, Ontario, is Canada’s only private military school.  It accepts boys in grades 5 through 12, and draws students from all over the world.  Robert Land Academy caters specifically to boys who have experienced difficulties related to attitude, behavior, concentration, focus, respect, or have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD), or other Learning Disabilities.  It typically sees boys who are performing at least two to three grade levels below their current grade level prior to enrolment.  It is not the purpose of the Academy to prepare boys for future service in the military, nor is it to punish them for previous behavior; rather it utilizes the military model to reinforce the importance of accepting personal responsibility, organization, teamwork, and self-discipline.  The Academy follows the educational curriculum established by the government and is inspected and accredited by the Ministry of Education (Ontario), allowing students to advance to college or university level courses world-wide.  Robert Land Academy reports that 95% of its students experience a dramatic improvement in their academic performance and success within the first semester of enrolment and that 100% of its grade 12 graduates who apply are accepted to a college or university program of choice. 

The moral of this story:  Not all military schools and academies are alike.  Be sure you understand the difference between what you want and what you (or your son or daughter) need, because these are not necessarily the same thing.

For further information about military schools visit http://www.amcsus.org or http://www.robertlandacademy.com 

Effective Parenting ? a List of Do’s and Don’ts

Effective parenting is anything but an exact science – but what is it and how do we measure it?  Firstly, one must consider the values they want to pass on to the next generation.

Most parents want their children to grow to become independently successful and develop into productive members of society.  In order to assist children in achieving these goals it would only make sense for parents to follow a consistent parenting philosophy which teaches children the necessary life skills to accomplish this.  Over the years Robert Land Academy, a private military school for boys located in Canada, has developed a list of effective parenting DO’s and DON’Ts that assists parents in teaching essential life skills to their children.

Among the DO’s are:

Communicate Regularly – Show as much genuine interest in your child’s activities, ambitions, and accomplishments as possible.

Set Realistic Expectations – Having realistic expectations is critical.  Ask your child what life is going to require from them and expect qualitative results – as life does.

Lead by Example – Through your own behavior and actions, demonstrate how your child should behave and treat others.

Be Encouraging – Allow your children the opportunity to fail when they hit one of life’s brick walls – then encourage them to get back up and continue on. 

Be Consistent – Treat your children within the guidelines which have been established and with which they are familiar. 

Several DON’Ts can be inferred from the list above.  One other DON’T is:

Don’t Negotiate – Making deals is always discouraged, especially if you are not comfortable with one of the potential outcomes.  Parents often set their children up for failure or disappointment by negotiating “payoffs” for performance of certain jobs.  Never promise material rewards for something that your child should be doing as a responsible individual of society.

This is not a comprehensive list to effective parenting, but rather are helpful suggestions that support a positive parenting philosophy.  If your child internalizes the values you have shown through your positive examples and encouragement, they should be well on their way to independence and to becoming a positive and productive citizen.  Ultimately however, you must accept the fact that your child is responsible for their own success or failure.

Robert Land Academy is Canada’s only independent military school. The Academy accepts boys in grades 5 through 12, and draws students from all over the world. Robert Land Academy caters specifically to boys who have experienced difficulties related to attitude, behavior, concentration, focus, respect, or have been diagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Oppositional Defiance Disorder (ODD), or other Learning Disabilities.

For further information about Robert Land Academy visit http://www.robertlandacademy.com

Why Is ADHD Overdiagnosis So Common? – Pitfalls To Avoid So That You Get An Accurate Diagnosis

The reasons why ADHD overdiagnosis is rife in America to-day are many and varied. First we have the problem that there is no clinical test which will give us a black and white answer. The second reason is that there is too much reliance, understandably, on questionnaires and also on subjective judgments. But multiple assessments are all part of the diagnostic process which does not make it any tighter, rather the opposite.

Another problem is that ADHD is often confused with other childhood conditions and these are not eliminated first, before going on to diagnose a possible case of ADHD. Doctors often forget that there could be an auditory processing disorder, dyslexia and autism. These often are manifested by symptoms such as inattention, distraction and daydreaming. These mimic ADHD in many ways.

In a recent poll in a parenting forum on The Internet, over 86% of the participants believed that ADHD overdiagnosis was a problem. There is also the collusion of many doctors who are working closely with pharmaceutical companies and stand to gain by prescribing the powerful amphetamine drugs such as Ritalin and Adderall which have ruined many a childhood.

I know one child who was seven years of age when he was diagnosed with ADHD and a co morbid disorder known as ODD which stands for oppositional defiance disorder. The first drug prescribed was Clonidine which gave him terrible nightmares. The doctor the put him on Trazadone to help him sleep but it became impossible to wake him up every morning.

The next prescription for Adderall made him even worse in that the poor child started having psychotic episodes like trying to hang himself! After that, he was put on Vyvanse and the child seems addicted to having some sort of medication, otherwise he cannot function.

So, as well as the dangers of ADHD overdiagnosis, we also have cases like the above one, where medication with strong mind altering drugs is the very first option. Unfortunately, no attention at all is given to a more comprehensive type of treatment which can include a balanced diet, more green time, an ADHD friendly home and above all behavior modification which will really help the child to learn social and life skills.

The best way to avoid ADHD overdiagnosis is to ensure that the test is properly done and within the set timescale which is not a ten minute cursory visit to the doctor’s office. That will help you to get a correct diagnosis. The second thing to avoid is medication with some of the above drugs until you have investigated all the other options.

In order to help you do just that, I have built a website about ADHD homeopathic remedies. There you will see that there are no nightmares, appetite problems or anything else to ruin your child’s happiness. The fact is that there are no side effects at all and no health risks either!

A Must Know Guide To Behavior Therapy For ADHD

Why bother with behaviour therapy for ADHD? More and more parents and doctors and pediatricians too, are realizing that ADHD medication with psychostimulants is just not enough.

Lots of research now shows that behavioural therapy will have a much more profound effect on the child’s development. Don’t just take pills, teach skills! That could be the motto for all the stakeholders involved, except the drug companies who are pursuing a rather different agenda. Even if it is reduced to tips for parents, behaviour therapy for ADHD is a much better investment all round.

Medication has come first, up to now. In an interesting book called ‘The Diseasing of America’s Children’the well known paediatrician Dr. Ravenel has called for a halt to the over medication of our children and advocates a much broader more intelligent approach which makes use of behavioural therapy for ADHD. He says that medication should be the last option.

What sort of tips for parents and strategies can be learnt from this behaviour therapy for ADHD? Parents who are being attacked by their children will know how to handle them and regain control of the family. Sometimes children are so badly behaved at school that they are sent home where the problems seem to multiply. If there is an element of ODD (Oppositional Defiance Disorder) and mood swings, the doctor may prescribe yet another pill. The problem is that to cope with the constant defiance, arguments and bickering, the parents need to learn some coping strategies. That is exactly what behaviour therapy for ADHD sets out to do. Otherwise they will end up with a child who may commit an offence or worse.

One of the other tips for parents is how to control how much media time kids are allowed. Experts believe that just by clicking a mouse will not train them very well in concentrating which is often a problem when they do homework. It is thought that kids love computers because they are in complete control and it seems to make up for the fact that 5-10 year olds have problems with establishing eye contact with adults. With a computer in the bedroom, the computer gives them its full attention. It could in a way be a substitute for absent parents or a host of other problems. By applying behaviour therapy, you will learn how much media time is best and also how to get them weaned off it.

Sometimes, behaviour therapy for ADHD is sufficient to help children with ADHD. But not always, as some sort of medication is needed to calm the child and help him to focus his attention better. This is where a homeopathic remedy for ADHD beats the psychostimulants hands down.