Rule Out Physical Causes. Talk with your physician about exactly what is going on and have a complete physical for your child. Rule out any physical causes.
Get A Complete and Accurate Diagnosis. ADHD often comes along with co-existing conditions. To receive the best possible treatment, it is important to have an accurate diagnosis. Some of the common conditions would be: Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety Disorders, Depression, Learning Disabilities, Conduct Disorder, and Oppositional Defiant Disorder. If your family physician diagnosed ADHD, ask for a referral to a mental health professional in your area that specializes in working with children. You will want to have a complete evaluation done to determine an accurate diagnosis. Once this is completed, you can work with the doctors, or team of professionals, to create a specific treatment plan for your child. This may include counseling or therapy, medication, educational interventions and monitoring by a psychiatrist. Don’t stop until you are satisfied with the diagnosis.
Research the Diagnosis. After you are satisfied that you have received an accurate diagnosis, spend time researching and finding out as much as you can about the disorder.
Use the support group you found to talk with other parents. Talk to the psychologist/psychiatrist about treatment options. Don’t accept the advice of one practitioner or one other parent. Read everything you can find and determine what treatment would work best for your child and your family. Each child is unique in their display of symptoms and intensity of symptoms. Use this knowledge to work with the doctor to develop a treatment plan that is specific to your child’s needs.
Seek A Tutor/Special Education/IEP or Section504. Children with behavioral problems often struggle in school. Some may have specific learning disabilities. Even without a learning disability, school may be difficult because of other symptoms such as distractibility. Request an educational evaluation to determine accommodations or modifications your child may be eligible for. Work closely with teachers and other school personnel to help your child succeed in school.
Disengage Yourself From Power Struggles At Home. This is probably the most difficult to accomplish. With children that are defiant, it is common for the child and parent to become involved in power struggles. Finding ways to eliminate this can help both of you to cope better with your family and home situation.
