Cure for ADHD?
By Dr. Lara Honos-Webb
Q:
Is there already a "cure" for ADHD?
A: There is currently no "cure"
for ADHD. It is an excellent question because it highlights
a common myth about medications for ADHD. While it is true
that these medication can reduce symptoms, medications do
not cure ADHD, they manage symptoms. They typically only
work while the child is taking them and they have many side
effects. They also work to patch of weaknesses, rather than
building on the strengths of the child.
I think the closest thing to a cure is for parents to find
the gifts of their child and focus on those gifts. What you focus on you
will get more of. Many times families narrowly and rigidly
pay attention only to what the child doesn't do well, rather
than what the child does do very well. Many times children
with ADHD don't do well in school, but they are very
creative and sensitive. In my book,
The Gift of ADHD,
I review the 5 gifts of ADHD: Creativity, Intuition, Emotional
Sensitivity, Exuberance and Ecological Consciousness. If
parents focus on these gifts, they will stay connected to
their child and their children will live up to the positive
focus by trying harder in all areas.
Sometimes I think the cure is for society and parents to
value those children who are artistically oriented and stop
trying to fit them into the mold of standard educational
settings and unrelenting performance demands.
As a culture we need to strive for excellence, but allow excellence to
be across many domains - including the arts and social and emotional arenas.
|
Checkout these other ADHD children questions
