| Experts estimate that 6 to 10 percent of the | | | | is what it feels like in the mind of a person |
| school-aged population in the United States | | | | with ADD). When you communicate with them, |
| is learning disabled and approximately 3 to | | | | see the communication through their eyes and |
| 10 percent of the population as a whole is | | | | through their model of the world rather than |
| diagnosed with ADD. This growing problem | | | | through yours; they will be much more open to |
| impacts many areas of society and there is a | | | | what you have to say if you do. |
| growing need for effective solutions. | | | | |
| | | | Understand that young people with ADD operate |
| Parenting or teaching a child with ADD or | | | | in a world of images, so verbal and auditory |
| learning difficulties can, no doubt, be an | | | | communication is often the least important |
| enormous challenge. It requires patience of | | | | mode of communication to them. Words are very |
| you that you may not have thought you had; | | | | slow and difficult to process. Whenever you |
| persistence that you may frequently have to | | | | give a young person with ADD instructions, |
| call upon; and consistency that you may be | | | | have him overlap the words into pictures in |
| learning along the way. Here are some tips to | | | | his mind and have him feel his body following |
| assist you in providing the best possible | | | | the instructions. For instance, if you want |
| environment for your child to | | | | him to do the dishes and then pack his |
| experiencesuccess both at home and at school. | | | | backpack for school, have him SEE and FEEL |
| | | | doing the dishes and then packing his |
| Young people with ADD (like all of us) are | | | | backpack. |
| doing the best they know how to do with what | | | | |
| they have to work with. When they have more | | | | Visual learning is the best way to learn |
| options available to them, they will make | | | | academic subjects. Make sure they learn |
| better choices. You, as the adult, are the | | | | visually by making pictures in their mind of |
| teacher, which means that your child will | | | | doing academic tasks like spelling words, |
| model you. If you are flexible and open to | | | | vocabulary words and math facts. When they |
| learning new ways of thinking and behaving, | | | | are reading, make sure they overlap pictures |
| your child will be open as well. | | | | with the words they are reading. Using a |
| | | | visual learning strategy is more interesting, |
| There is positive intention behind every | | | | more effective, takes much less time and it's |
| behavior, no matter how hurtful or how | | | | just more fun. |
| bizarre the behavior may seem. In other | | | | |
| words, there is a need on some level that is | | | | Celebrate and appreciate what makes them |
| being met by doing what they're doing. If we | | | | unique. One of the biggest hurdles that young |
| can look for what the purpose is behind the | | | | people with ADD or learning challenges face |
| behavior or what need is getting met, then we | | | | is the belief that they are "stupid", "weird" |
| can find other more constructive solutions to | | | | or just "don't fit in". The truth is that |
| meeting that need. Always look for the | | | | they are often a step away from brilliance |
| positive intention behind behavior. | | | | and have the ability to see the world in ways |
| | | | that most of us simply can't (think Albert |
| Step into their model of the world. Imagine, | | | | Einstein, J.F.K., Cher and Robin Williams who |
| for instance, what it would feel like to | | | | all had learning disabilities) . Consistently |
| drive in the rain without windshield wipers | | | | looking for and recognizing their uniqueness |
| and how challenging it would be to simply | | | | and value will go a long way in overcoming |
| keep everyone in the car safe, let alone | | | | this belief and raising their |
| maintain any sort of emotional balance (this | | | | self-confidence. |