Breaking the Notions: Is ADHD Real? How to Support Your Child in the Upcoming School Year

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be a real struggle. It’s a complex neurological condition, and it affects our cognitive abilities used for planning, organization, and time management as well. It’s an invisible disability that results in our children and adolescents (and adults too) struggling in silence. Children with ADHD look like every other kid in the classroom or the karate class, and this is where it’s difficult for parents to advocate for their children because they become their child’s executive functioning brain for years, until they can’t ‘cover it up’ anymore. And then the real struggle begins for our children.The Physiology of ADHD

Children with ADHD have different brain wiring along with possible comorbid disabilities, such as anxiety, dyslexia, executive functioning deficits and/or specific learning disabilities. There is no one size fits all profile for any child with ADHD – each child has a unique combination of symptoms and challenges.Studies have also shown that the ADHD brain produces lower levels of a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. Norepinephrine is linked arm-in-arm with dopamine. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that controls the brain’s reward and pleasure center. Lower levels of dopamine can result in the experience of depression, a low tolerance for stress, increased fatigue, mood swings, poor ability to concentrate, addictions and failure to finish tasks.

ADHD is known for setting its own set of rules. The ADHD brain is consistently inconsistent. A person with ADHD may be able to retain information from the school work, but yet, the next day, he can’t get his homework started. Because our children with ADHD have difficulty with handling situations and struggles consistently, this plays havoc on their feelings of confidence, certainty, safety, ability to trust, etc. Hence the inconsistent presentation of our children on a day to day basis in school and at home.
Despite ADHD’s association with learning disabilities, ADHD does not mean that our children are less intelligent, less capable, or less talented. In fact, many of our children with ADHD have significantly higher-than-average IQs. It’s important for a student with ADHD to learn their processing styles and get to know what works best for them so that they can become their best advocate in school and later in life.

Yes, ADHD Is Real
SO, to answer the question – ADHD is real. There are real physiological implications, even if they can’t be seen with our physical eye. The ‘symptoms’ affect our children’s ability to regulate their emotions, plan ahead, start a task, finish a task, focus for a sustained period of time, and be able to remember where they left their back pack, shoes, or daily planner.

Supporting Your Child with ADHD
Introduce your Child to his Teacher
Start the new school year off by scheduling a time to meet with your child’s new teacher and give him/her a profile on your child. It’s always helpful to create a bullet list of your child’s strengths and weaknesses to hand to your child’s teacher so she he/she doesn’t have to take notes about your child or commit anything to memory. Also, use this as a time to describe your child’s learning style, learning strengths and accommodations that have worked in previous years.

Schedule Monthly or Bi-Monthly Parent-Teacher Meetings
Schedule monthly check-ins with your child’s teacher to ensure that he’s receiving effective accommodations. Together, discuss how you can challenge your child academically, behaviorally, socially and emotionally in slow and progressive ways that emphasize praise and positive feedback.

Insist on Multi-Sensory Teaching Methods
Use a variety of strategies to accommodate the multitude of learning styles in the room will be of key importance to learning for your child. Include visual, auditory and kinesthetic facets to all lessons, plus opportunities for students to work cooperatively and individually.

Create structure
Make a routine for your child and stick to it every day by using checklist, or laminated signs with reminders in their rooms. Establish rituals around meals, homework, and bedtime. Simple daily tasks/chores, such as having your child lay out his or her clothes for the next day or feeding the family pet daily, can provide structure too.

Break tasks into manageable pieces
Try using a large wall calendar to help remind your child of their duties. Color coding chores and homework can keep them from becoming overwhelmed with everyday tasks and school assignments. Even morning routines should be broken down into discrete tasks.

As your child’s parent, advocate and daily support, you have a stressful job. However, it’s important to remain positive and encouraging, as you know that your child is receiving negative feedback on a regular basis about what they struggle to do. Praise your child’s good behavior so they know when something was done right. Your child/student may struggle with ADHD now, but with the right support and tools they can flourish as an adult with ADHD/ADD. Have confidence and be positive about their future.

by Chrissy Sunberg, M.Ed., AAC
"The various psycho-educational testing Dr. Liz conducted on our son gave us critical clues about where his learning strengths and weaknesses lie so that his needs could be better addressed at home and school. Moreover, because of their warm, kindhearted personalities, both Dr. Liz and her associate, Stephanie, formed an immediate bond with my son. He eagerly looks forward to his weekly therapy sessions. We are so lucky Dr. Liz came into our family's lives when she did! For stressed-out families trying to help their children as best they can, she is a calming voice of reason!"
- Julie C.
"Dr. Matheis has a remarkable ability to understand the unique needs of her patients and address them constructively. She builds strong, meaningful relationships with patients and their families, encouraging trust and collaboration. When working with my son who struggles with autism-related anxiety, she created an environment in which he was able to calm down and open up to her in ways I had not seen before. She was able to reach him and helped him work through his crisis/problem. Most importantly, she empowered him to move forward."
- N.L.
"Dr. Matheis is amazing. She has tremendous resources and loads of energy. She is not willing to accept anything less than the most effective results for her clients. She made me feel as if my son was her top priority throughout the entire process. I would, without reservation, give her my highest recommendations.  Thank you, Dr. Matheis!"
- Anonymous
"Dr. Matheis has an amazing ability to read kids and connect with them. She has been an invaluable resource for our family over the past several years and has helped us with everything from educational consulting, to uncovering diagnoses as well as family therapy. Working with Dr. Matheis never feels clinical and most importantly, our children love and trust her. We can not thank you enough Dr. Liz!"
- Anonymous
"My teenage son had been seeing Dr. Matheis through his senior year of high school, as he was only diagnosed with ADHD at 16 years old.  Dr. Matheis came highly recommended from our pediatrician and she has done wonders for our son as well as our family, navigating new ways for him to deal with his diagnosis without the use of medication.  She taught him ways to organize himself and even when something did not work for him, she patiently continued teaching him new ways to keep himself on track.  She has also helped us as parents to understand how his mind works so that we did not continue to blame his lack of focus on him, rather on his unique way of thinking.  Thank you Dr. Matheis!!!!"
- LG
"Dr. Liz is the best! Our family was directed to her by our Pediatrician to assist with figuring out severe mood changes, severe anxiety, strange new fears and food aversion that had come onto one of our children literally overnight. After just a couple of visits, she suggested that the issues may actually be rooted in a physical issue and suggested we immediately take our child to be swabbed for strep, because Dr. Liz suspected PANDAS (a pediatric autoimmune disorder brought on by strep). The same Pediatrician that suggested Dr. Liz would not do the swab (they do not believe in PANDAS and we no longer go there) but I took my child to my doctor who did the swab and it was positive for strep. When our child went on antibiotics, within 24 hours all symptoms went away and our child was back :-) Dr. Liz then recommended a PANDAS specialist who helped us and our child is in complete remission and is happy and healthy. We are incredibly grateful to Dr. Liz for her knowledge of all things, even the most remote and unusual and for helping us so much! Thank you!"
- Anonymous
"The various psycho-educational testing Dr. Liz conducted on our son gave us critical clues about where his learning strengths and weaknesses lie so that his needs could be better addressed at home and school. Moreover, because of their warm, kindhearted personalities, both Dr. Liz and her associate, Stephanie, formed an immediate bond with my son. He eagerly looks forward to his weekly therapy sessions. We are so lucky Dr. Liz came into our family's lives when she did! For stressed-out families trying to help their children as best they can, she is a calming voice of reason!"
- Anonymous
"Thank you, Dr. Liz. Although we have told you countless times, it will never feel enough. You have listened when J could barely speak and continued to listen when he was sad, angry and confused. You've challenged him and directed us in our roles as parents. You've helped J face his fears while the list evolved and changed, and yet you've stayed committed to 'the course.' We pray that your children realize that time away from them is spent helping children learn and that vulnerability is a sign of strength and bravery."
- June I
"My son was admitted to an Ivy League school when only 2 years ago, you assessed him and saw his struggles, his Dyslexia. We are grateful that he no longer has to carry that deep feeling of inadequacy or shame that must have kept him so self conscious and from reaching his potential. He has the PERFECT program for him. He has A's in high math and economics. He became a Merit Scholar, a Boys State legislature, the HEAD captain of the football team and help a job ALL while studying and managing his classes and disability. I am PROUD of you, a young doctor, who knows and sees the vulnerability of children and helps them recognize "it's NO big deal" God bless."
- Anonymous

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