European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - July 31, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                1 3 your health managing an add child a wonderful children suffer from attention deficit disorder Sis Lynda Davidso Glenda and Dennia Wall of Ramsten a with children Audrey 7, and Andrew 9. By Janet do Agostino medical writer Hen he was 2 years old Andrew Wall would not take no for an answer. Quot i  Deal with him i like other mothers could Deal with their children a said Andrewes Mother Glenda Wall. A if he wanted to do something he was going to do it one Way or the other we did no to know How to Stop  Andrew became More difficult to Deal with As he grew older. His temper flared quickly and he  follow simple instructions such As picking up his toys said his father Dennis Wall an air Force technical sergeant with the 377 combat support Wing at Ramstein a West Germany. Andrewes teachers also found his behaviour disruptive and he was eventually diagnosed As having attention a deficit disorder add. Marked by inattentive and impulsive behaviour the disorder is a relatively new problem recognized Only in the past 30 years said or. Col Charles Onufer paediatric consultant for 7th medical come in Heidelberg West Germany. Some children with the disorder May also be hyperactive. Children with attention deficit problems have difficulty focusing on tasks or paying attention for periods of time that would ordinarily be appropriate for their age. A child with attention deficit disorder May be watching television but become distracted by noises or sights that other children would filter out such As a honking Horn or the color of toys lying on the floor. The exact cause is unknown but it appears that children with attention Delch problems have difficulty with the part of the brain that controls concentration and organization. They cannot control organize and coordinate their actions As others do. The most common characteristic shared by children with attention deficit problems is poor self esteem Onufer said. Lack of self esteem results when the child has difficulty completing tasks or activities that ordinarily would draw Praise from parents or teachers. Other major characteristics of the disorder include Short attention Span impulsive actions restlessness easily distract Ible possible hyperactivity and frequent mood changes. There Are Many other characteristics that May signal attention deficit disorder. Children May have some but not All of these traits said or. It. Col Gregoria Marrero a child psychiatrist for the family guidance service at Kapaun As which is part of the air Force clinic at Ramstein a. To some degree she said the characteristics of attention deficit disorder Are seen occasionally in All children and it can be difficult to determine when the behaviour is inappropriate for the age level. Commonly diagnosed As having the disorder by age 7, children with attention deficit problems often Are Bright with above average intelligence. Some children with attention deficit disorder May not have behavioural problems. Andrew s sister Audrey who is 7, also was diagnosed with the disorder she does not misbehave but instead is prone to daydreaming when she cannot focus on a task at school or at Home the Walls said. The majority of children with attention deficit disorder can be helped with medication such As the stimulants ritalin or dexedrine. Medication however is Only one element of the total treatment plan Onufer said. The medication Quot is a Crutch not a cure Quot he said. It can help the child Complete activities More successfully and can make him More responsive to behavioural approaches by parents and teachers children should be evaluated frequently As to How they Are responding to the medication. Andrew began to behave better at Home was less disruptive in class and improved his school work when he started taking ritalin in first Grade said Dennis Wall. In the second Grade Andrew made the Honor Roll. Unfortunately Andrewes behaviour worsened when the family was transferred to Germany. Quot he went wild again Quot said Wall adding that Andrew would spit water at Oteyer students talk Back to his teachers stand on desks and misbehave generally. A revaluation of Andrew who is now 9, found he needed an increased dose of ritalin which once again turned his behaviour around. The mainstay of treatment consists of changes made in the Way parents and teachers Deal with the child. These changes must help the child learn ways to overcome the attention deficit problems so that he can learn How to Complete tasks and therefore build self esteem. Quot there s a lot to managing an add child a Onufer said. Successfully helping the child requires follow up with parents arid teachers not just a prescription for medication. Parents need to be patient and accepting of the child and find ways to accent his Strong Points said Marrero. They can do this by observing his diagnosis of attention deficit disorder a youngster must display at least eight of the following characteristics for at least six months prior to the age of often fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat in adolescents May be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness has difficulty in remaining seated when required. Is easily distracted by extraneous stimuli. Has difficulty awaiting turn in games or group situations. Often blurts out answers to questions before they have been completed. Has difficulty following through on instructions from others not due to oppositional behaviour or failure of compressione.g., fails to finish chores 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities. Often shifts from one uncompleted activity to another. Has difficulty playing quietly. Often talks excessively. Often interrupts or intrudes on others e.g., Butts into other children s games. Often does not seem to listen to what is being said to him or her. A often loses things necessary for tasks or activities at school or at Home e.g., toys pencils books assignments often engages in physically dangerous activities without considering possible consequences. So. A a   cd do or parents q  n or Page 16 a a a the stars and stripes tuesday july 31, 1990