European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - March 9, 1993, Darmstadt, Hesse A amps St a scholar Justin Shanahan s school work has improved dramatically since the add tvs diagnosed says his Mother Janice proper diagnosis vital to helping children with attention disorders by Steve scholar medical writer in year old Justin Shanahan sat at his dinner table proudly showing his Mother the 100 percent he had received on a school project. Janice Shanahan Justin s Mother said that perfect score would t have been possible a year ago. For some time Justin had been having behavioural and performance problems in school a deficiencies his teachers has attributed to simple immaturity. It took the recognition and efforts of his 4th Grade teacher in fort Belvoir va., to eventually help determine what really was to blame attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The family now lives in Kaiserslautern Germany where Justin s father army it. Col. Michael Shanahan is chief of ground operations for the Warrior preparation Center at Einsiedler Hof air station. Quot we knew that something was wrong with Justin Quot recalled his Mother. Quot he was having trouble concentrating. His grades were getting worse he was falling further and further behind and he was easily Quot it took a very special teacher to recognize and suggest that it might be add Quot she said. The developmental disorder according to or. Col Chuck n. Onofer a 7th medical come paediatric consultant is characterized primarily by an inadequate attention Span. Justin was referred to Walter Reed Hospital where a doctor confirmed that add was Likely to be at the Root of his problems. Quot going into the 4th Grade Justin was two years behind in his Reading and just could t pay attention in class Quot Shanahan said. Other major features of add according to Onofer include impulsive behaviour and restlessness. Current medical thinking suggests that boys Are 10 times More Likely to suffer from add than girls. Physicians Are unsure Why that is. Onofer advises parents who think their child May have add to talk with school officials and the child s paediatrician. The team approach to treatment he says is the Best approach. The causes for add Are thought to result from malfunctions tithe areas of the brain that control concentration and organization. Many children respond favourably to medications. The usual medications include ritalin dexedrine and Cylvert. These drugs stimulate the parts of the brain that control concentration and organization. Onofer said 70 to 80 percent of children with add respond favourably to medication and symptoms Are reduced. Like Many medications though there Are Side effects. These May include a marked decrease in sleep and appetite and mood swings. Justin s parents opted for daily dosages of 10 my of ritalin. Quot the medication has really helped Justin. At first the medication caused him to cry and have emotional swings. Those have worn off but he still has a decreased appetite Quot his Mother said. Despite the Side effects Shanahan said she is pleased with Jason s. Progress. Quot he s doing very Well. He a functioning better in school getting As and is and seems Able to concentrate better Quot she said. Or. Benjamin Feingold a proponent of Orth molecular treatment which focuses on proper nutrition has found that Many of the add symptoms also decrease by eliminating consumption of chemical additives such As food colouring and Flavouring. Feingold a stateside civilian physician claims a sound diet May be one key in treatment those children with add. Onofer agrees that diet is crucial to children with add. Quot try eliminating these foods from it your child s diet for two weeks and see if it makes a difference in his or her behaviour Quot he says. Environment also plays an important role in treatment. Quot a child with add needs to be in a quiet Well structured controlled environment Quot Onofer said. It seems that continual loud noise and other distractions May contribute to the problem. The Good news Onofer says is that up to 70 percent of children with add will out Tow the symptoms by the time they Are 16. For the other 30 percent Many will find the symptoms significantly decreased. Closer look typical add warning signs in children in cases of attention deficit hyperactive disorder Early recognition and intervention Are important. Without help children with add often develop school social peer and. Self esteem problems despite its name the disorder does t always include hyperactivity. Here Are some of the things to look for inattention often fails to finish things does no to seem to listen is easily distracted has difficulty concentrating on schoolwork or other tasks impulsiveness a often acts before thinking shifts quickly from one activity to / another has difficulty organizing work needs a lot of supervision frequently Calls out in class has difficulty awaiting turn in games or group activities hyperactivity runs or climbs excessively has difficulty sitting still or fidgets excessively has difficulty staying seated moves about excessively during sleep is always on the go Quot Many children display some or All of these activities a said or. Col Chuck n. Onofer a paediatric consultant with the 7th medical come. Quot look Tor a continual pattern. If your children display Many of these symptoms for at least six months before the age of seven it s possible your child might have add Quot Onofer Steve scholar tuesday March 9, 1993 a the stars and stripes 17
