ADHD CHILDREN

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Roger Moore on June 4, 2009 at 11:14am

Depending upon the age of the child there are a couple of tools that I often use. One is the Journey to the Wild Divine and the other is the ChiQ.

What I love about Journey to the Wild Divine is they get into the natural trance of a video game and while they are learning a skill such as how to focus concentration, I sit next to them or stand behind them using conversational hypnosis and give them suggestions. Often the entire session is playing a game. They love it, parents like the results!

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Thal on June 4, 2009 at 5:37pm

Hello... I am an adult ADD.

Recently I got a book called Driven to Distraction: Recognizing and Coping with Attention Deficit Disorder from Childhood through Adulthood. Authors Edward M. Hallowell, M.D. and John J Ratey, M.D. Touchstone Book, New York NY 1994. (Simon & Schuster).

I highly recommend it to any layman or professional seeking a better understanding of ADD and ADHD.

This book lays out the issues related to the diagnosis and treatment of ADD, HD, and ADHD for the layman. When you read this book you will get a better grasp of just what is going on in the mind of an ADD. This should provide you with a wealth ideas that would assist you in designing your own approach to an ADHD client.

In severe AD and HD cases, drug therapy is necessary to achieve good results. It often takes some experimentation to find the right combination of drug therapy that will allow behavioral and other methods of therapy to work. Therefore it is advisable to work as a part of team, which includes an MD that specializes it AD and HD patients, rather than attempt to work independently of other practitioners. This takes the cooperation of the parent or guardian as well at the child.

AD and HD is a manageable issue and the Certified Hypnotherapist should be able to make a valuable contribution to the patient's therapy.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Donna Carter on June 5, 2009 at 5:43am

Check their diet.

Things that should NOT be in a child's diet (but most especially a child who has been diagnosed):
Artificial Color
Artificial Flavors
Processed Sugar/High fructose Corn Syrup.
just to name a few...

What I find interesting is that many people are willing to dole out the poison drugs BEFORE they make any changes to help the root of the problem. Worse yet, diagnose a problem and never checking for cause.
Sometimes a change in diet alters behavior so drastically...it can reduce or eliminate the need for medication in ADHD cases.

Diet is so important.

~D.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Roger Moore on June 5, 2009 at 5:53am

Also - diet sodas, dairy, processed foods in general and often gluten.

Donna Rodolph said:

Check their diet.

Things that should NOT be in a child's diet (but most especially a child who has been diagnosed):
Artificial Color
Artificial Flavors
Processed Sugar/High fructose Corn Syrup.
just to name a few...

What I find interesting is that many people are willing to dole out the poison drugs BEFORE they make any changes to help the root of the problem. Worse yet, diagnose a problem without checking for cause.

Diet is so important.

~D.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kathleen Hanover on June 5, 2009 at 6:56am

There is a lot of anecdotal and increasing scientific evidence that neurofeedback can be helpful for ADHD. Here's one article: http://www.sharpbrains.com/blog/2009/03/11/new-study-supports-neuro...

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Mark Tyrrell on June 10, 2009 at 12:49am

There a lot of great comments here and helpful advice. I've found that ADHD kids don't just suffer distractibility or 'novelty addiction'. A feature of ADHD seems to be an amazing ability to focus of attention when something is found to absorb their interest.

I liken this to being a hunter in the wild. A hunter needs speed, to be able to respond to unexpected new stimuli but they also need to sustain focus for long periods and be able to narrow down their sights when the prey comes into view-whether this 'prey' is a soccer goal or tiger.

I will often start off a discussion by describing a prehistoric hunt then ask them to close their eyes and picture seeing hunters moving swiftly then, bit by bit, as they get closer narrowing down their focus-but I'll blend it with references to their school day or sporting challenges. This also reframes ADHD from a purely pathological, dysfunctional deficit into an attribute that can be harnessed. (NB I won't go into great detail describing a grizzly hunt (I love animals too :) ) but will describe the pattern of what a good hunter needs and then maybe link it to car racing or another such arena in which ADHD traits may work productively.)

Another induction I've found useful is the Old Betty Erickson '3 things induction' by getting them to focus outward for a few seconds then focus on sounds then sensations and then switching again the induction nicely mirrors typical ADHD consciousness and, gradually, as you slow it down they can start to slow down a bit too.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Susan French on March 26, 2010 at 5:08am

Thanks Mark,

Your information always brings that extra little bit of understanding that locks the concepts in (if that made any sense).

An admirer,

Susan
http://www.hypno4success.com

Mark Tyrrell said:

There a lot of great comments here and helpful advice. I've found that ADHD kids don't just suffer distractibility or 'novelty addiction'. A feature of ADHD seems to be an amazing ability to focus of attention when something is found to absorb their interest.

I liken this to being a hunter in the wild. A hunter needs speed, to be able to respond to unexpected new stimuli but they also need to sustain focus for long periods and be able to narrow down their sights when the prey comes into view-whether this 'prey' is a soccer goal or tiger.

I will often start off a discussion by describing a prehistoric hunt then ask them to close their eyes and picture seeing hunters moving swiftly then, bit by bit, as they get closer narrowing down their focus-but I'll blend it with references to their school day or sporting challenges. This also reframes ADHD from a purely pathological, dysfunctional deficit into an attribute that can be harnessed. (NB I won't go into great detail describing a grizzly hunt (I love animals too :) ) but will describe the pattern of what a good hunter needs and then maybe link it to car racing or another such arena in which ADHD traits may work productively.)

Another induction I've found useful is the Old Betty Erickson '3 things induction' by getting them to focus outward for a few seconds then focus on sounds then sensations and then switching again the induction nicely mirrors typical ADHD consciousness and, gradually, as you slow it down they can start to slow down a bit too.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Graham Old on March 26, 2010 at 10:22am

I'd agree with LM. I find it far more helpful to view ADHD as simply a description of phenomena, not a disorder.

In that case, the first thing I would say when it comes to treating kids with ADHD is to treat them as human beings. Aside from that, I completely agree with Mark's comment. An overload induction of some kind might be useful.



Graham Old
Solution-focused Hypnotherapy in Northampton and throughout Northants
www.forwardtherapy.co.uk

www.howtodoinductions.com
www.thinkhappy.org

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on March 26, 2010 at 3:53pm

Make sure that your office does not have flourescent lighting. Albeit controversial, there are theories that this type of lighting causes behavioral changes. Natural daylight is best! A session in the park?

Kelley

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bill Kennedy on October 28, 2010 at 11:28am

Some ADHD children find fluorescent lighting distracting because of the pulses. They are also very sensitive to other environmental cues. I would echo Mark's comment about using those external distractions (e.g. sounds, smells and sights) in the induction if treating with hypnosis.

Karate is also recommended as a complementary therapy for ADHD, right Kelley? http://www.addcoach4u.com/complementarytherapies.html

Bill

Kelley Woods said:

Make sure that your office does not have flourescent lighting. Albeit controversial, there are theories that this type of lighting causes behavioral changes. Natural daylight is best! A session in the park?

Kelley

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Bill Kennedy on November 2, 2010 at 3:37am

I love this imagery and the reframing of hyperfocus. Has anyone been able to anchor this feeling of hyperfocus in a way that it can be accessed consciously and used to help the child/adult focus on what they need to focus (but typically get distracted from)?

Bill

Mark Tyrrell said:

There a lot of great comments here and helpful advice. I've found that ADHD kids don't just suffer distractibility or 'novelty addiction'. A feature of ADHD seems to be an amazing ability to focus of attention when something is found to absorb their interest.

I liken this to being a hunter in the wild. A hunter needs speed, to be able to respond to unexpected new stimuli but they also need to sustain focus for long periods and be able to narrow down their sights when the prey comes into view-whether this 'prey' is a soccer goal or tiger.

I will often start off a discussion by describing a prehistoric hunt then ask them to close their eyes and picture seeing hunters moving swiftly then, bit by bit, as they get closer narrowing down their focus-but I'll blend it with references to their school day or sporting challenges. This also reframes ADHD from a purely pathological, dysfunctional deficit into an attribute that can be harnessed. (NB I won't go into great detail describing a grizzly hunt (I love animals too :) ) but will describe the pattern of what a good hunter needs and then maybe link it to car racing or another such arena in which ADHD traits may work productively.)

Another induction I've found useful is the Old Betty Erickson '3 things induction' by getting them to focus outward for a few seconds then focus on sounds then sensations and then switching again the induction nicely mirrors typical ADHD consciousness and, gradually, as you slow it down they can start to slow down a bit too.

• ▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on November 2, 2010 at 6:27am

Absolutely, Bill. In fact, there have been several cases of ADD/ADHD diagnosed children who have joined our martial arts dojo and within months experienced significant changes. If they stick with it, they are often able to reduce or eliminate the need for medication. One 22 yr old male has been studying karate for over 10 years; at the beginning of his journey he was nearly beyond hope of assimilating into normal society and nowadays he navigates it just fine!
Participation in the martial arts develops the connection between mind and body, increases self discipline to focus and concentrate, requires one to go "within" and yet still consider that which surrounds. For many, it becomes a way of life that provides a constant sense of security and self-confidence, something that's beneficial for everyone.

Kelley



Bill Kennedy said:

Some ADHD children find fluorescent lighting distracting because of the pulses. They are also very sensitive to other environmental cues. I would echo Mark's comment about using those external distractions (e.g. sounds, smells and sights) in the induction if treating with hypnosis.

Karate is also recommended as a complementary therapy for ADHD, right Kelley? http://www.addcoach4u.com/complementarytherapies.html

Bill

Kelley Woods said:

Make sure that your office does not have flourescent lighting. Albeit controversial, there are theories that this type of lighting causes behavioral changes. Natural daylight is best! A session in the park?

Kelley

• ▶ Reply

▶ Reply to Discussion

• ‹ Previous
• 1
• 2
• Next ›
• Page