Sometimes children misbehave and underperform for reasons not related to ADHD. It helps to ask a few questions:
- Do the child’s shoes fit properly? Can he easily move his toes around inside the shoe? If he has blisters on the heel of his foot, or there are rub marks on the sides of his feet, the shoes do not fit properly. When you choose new shoes, make him walk around a little while in the shoe area of the store before you make the purchase.
- When the child drinks hot or cold beverages or eats sweets, does he complain that his teeth hurt? Take the child to the dentist for an annual checkup. Sore teeth or gums can cause restlessness.
- When reading a book, the book should be at least a half arm’s distance from the child’s eyes. If your child is holding the book right up in front of his face, or lying down on the table almost on top of the book, maybe his vision is impaired. If you are receiving calls regularly from the teacher about acting out in the classroom, ask where the child sits – a change in position could make a significant difference. Maybe an eye exam would benefit the child as vision problems could cause extreme disruption.
- If the child sleeps with his mouth open, this indicates there is nasal congestion or breathing problems. If the child breathes through his mouth, please take him to the doctor and explain your concerns. There may be an allergy or other problems that need to be addressed.
- Frequent urination or bowel elimination (should be at least once a day) could point to allergy, digestive problems or yeast overgrowth. Consult with your doctor if these problems are present and continue to occur.
From ADHASA Keeping up with ADD dated May/June 2010. www.adhasa.co.za
Adapted from HACSG Newsletter (UK) Spring 2010.
Website: www.adhasa.co.za |
