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Attention Deficit Disorder (Short Attention Span)
Description
Also called ADD, ADHD, or hyperactivity, a short attention span occurs in 3% to 5% of children, most of them
males.
A normal attention span is 3 to 5 minutes per year of a child's age. Therefore, a 2-year-old should be able to
concentrate on a particular task for at least 6 minutes, and a child entering kindergarten should be able to
concentrate for at least 15 minutes. (Note: A child's attention span while watching TV is not an accurate measure
of his or her attention span.)
If you suspect that your child has a short attention span, ask another adult (a teacher or day care provider, for
example) if they have observed this also.
1. Characteristics
A child hasn't learned to listen when someone talks, wait his turn, complete a task, or return to a
task if interrupted. (These can be normal characteristics of children less than 3 or 4 years old.)
80% of boys and 50% of girls are also hyperactive. A child who has symptoms of hyperactivity is
restless, impulsive, and in a hurry.
50% of children also have a learning disability. The most common learning disability is an
auditory processing deficit (that is, they have difficulty remembering verbal directions). However,
the intelligence of most children with ADD is usually normal.
2. Similar conditions
Disruptive children, children who don't mind, and aggressive children are sometimes included under the
broad category of hyperactivity. Many problem 2-year-olds are considered "hyperactive." These children
should be looked upon as children with behavior problems and approached with appropriate discipline
techniques.
3. Causes
Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is the most common developmental disability. "Developmental" means
that the disability is caused by delayed brain development (immaturity). This delay results in poor self-
control, requiring external controls by the parents for a longer period of time. Often this type of
temperament and short attention span is hereditary. A small percentage of children with ADD are reacting
to chaotic home environments, but in most cases the parents' style of child-rearing has not caused the
disability. Minor brain damage has not been proven to be a cause of ADD but scientists are conducting
research into this area.
4. Expected course
Children with ADD on a developmental basis can improve significantly if parents and teachers provide
understanding and direction and preserve the child's self-esteem. When these children become adults, 2
many of them have good attention spans but remain restless, have to keep busy, and, in a sense, have not
entirely outgrown the problem. However, not only does society learn to tolerate such traits in adults, but in
some settings the person with endless energy is prized. Children with severe ADD may need vocational
counseling as adults.
Call Your Child's Physician for Referral to a Child Psychiatrist or Psychologist If:
Your child shows unprovoked aggression and destructiveness.
Your child has repeated accidents.
Your child has been suspended or expelled from school.
Your child can't make or keep any friends.
You have "given up" hope of improving your child.
You can't stop using physical punishment on your child.
You are at your wit's end.
Living with a Child Who Has Attention Deficit Disorder
Attention deficit disorder is a chronic condition that needs special parenting and school intervention. If your child
seems to have a poor attention span and is over 3 years of age, these recommendations may assist you in helping
your child. Your main obligations involve organizing your child's home life and improving discipline. Only after
your child's behavior has improved will you know for certain if your child also has a short attention span. If he
does, specific interventions to help him learn to listen and complete tasks ("stretch" his attention span) can be
initiated. Even though you can't be sure about poor attention span until your child is 3 or 4 years of age, you can
detect and improve behavior problems at any time after 8 months of age.
1. Accept your child's limitations.
Accept the fact that your child is intrinsically active and energetic and possibly always will be. The
hyperactivity is not intentional. Don't expect to eliminate the hyperactivity but merely to bring it under
reasonable control. Any criticism or other attempt to change an energetic child into a quiet or model child
will cause more harm than good. Nothing helps a hyperactive child more than having a tolerant, patient,
low-keyed parent.
2. Provide an outlet for the release of excess energy.
This energy can't be bottled up and stored. Daily outdoor activities such as running, sports, and long walks
are good outlets. A fenced yard helps. In bad weather your child needs a recreational room where he can
play as he pleases with minimal restrictions and supervision. If no large room is available, a garage will
sometimes suffice. Your child should not have too many toys, for this can cause him to be more easily
distracted from playing with any one toy. The toys should be safe and relatively unbreakable. Encourage
your child to play with one toy at a time.
Although the expression of hyperactivity is allowed in these ways, it should not be needlessly encouraged.
Don't initiate roughhousing with your child. Forbid siblings to say, "Chase me, chase me," or to instigate
other noisy play. Encouraging hyperactive behavior can lead to its becoming your child's main style of
interacting with people.
3. Keep your home well organized.
Household routines help the hyperactive child to accept order. Keep the times for wake-up, meals, snacks,
chores, naps, and bed as regular as possible. Try to keep your environment relatively quiet because this
encourages thinking, listening, and reading at home. In general, leave the radio and TV off. Predictable 3
daily events help your child's responses become more predictable. ADD symptoms are made worse by
sleep deprivation and hunger. Be sure your child has an early bedtime and a big breakfast on school days.
4. Try not to let your child become fatigued.
When a hyperactive child becomes exhausted, his self-control often breaks down and the hyperactivity
becomes worse. Try to have your child sleep or rest when he is fatigued. If he can't seem to "turn off his
motor," hold and rock him in a rocking chair.
5. Avoid taking your child to formal gatherings.
Except for special occasions, avoid places where hyperactivity would be extremely inappropriate and
embarrassing (such as churches or restaurants). You also may wish to reduce the number of times your
child goes with you to stores and supermarkets. After your child develops adequate self-control at home,
he can gradually be introduced to these situations. Be sure to praise your child when he plays
independently rather than interrupting you when you are talking to guests or are on the telephone.
6. Maintain firm discipline.
These children are unquestionably difficult to manage. They need more carefully planned discipline than
the average child. Rules should be formulated mainly to prevent harm to your child and to others.
Aggressive behavior, such as biting, hitting, and pushing, should be no more accepted in the hyperactive
child than in the normal child. Try to eliminate such aggressive behaviors, but avoid unnecessary or
unattainable rules; that is, don't expect your child to keep his hands and feet still. Hyperactive children
tolerate fewer rules than the normal child. Enforce a few clear, consistent, important rules and add other
rules at your child's pace. Avoid constant negative comments like "Don't do this," and "Stop that."
7. Enforce rules with nonphysical punishment.
Physical punishment suggests to your child that physically aggressive behavior is OK. We want to teach
hyperactive children to be less aggressive. Your child needs adult models of control and calmness. Try to
use a friendly, matter-of-fact tone of voice when you discipline your child. If you yell, your child will be
quick to imitate you.
Punish your child for misbehavior immediately. When your child breaks a rule, isolate him in a chair or
time-out room if a show of disapproval doesn't work. The time-out should last about 1 minute per year of
your child's age. Without a time-out system, overall success is unlikely.
8. Stretch your child's attention span.
Encouraging attentive (nonhyperactive) behavior is the key to preparing your child for school. Increased
attention span and persistence with tasks can be taught at home. Don't wait until your child is of school age
and expect the teacher to change him. By age 5 he needs at least a 25-minute attention span to perform
adequately in school.
Set aside several brief periods each day to teach your child listening skills by reading to him. Start with
picture books, and gradually progress to reading stories. Coloring pictures can be encouraged and praised.
Teach games to your child, gradually increasing the difficulty by starting with building blocks and
progressing to puzzles, dominoes, card games, and dice games. Matching pictures is an excellent way to
build your child's memory and concentration span. Later, consequence games such as checkers or tic-tac-
toe can be introduced. When your child becomes restless, stop and return for another session later. Praise
your child for attentive behavior. This process is slow but invaluable in preparing your child for school. 4
9. Buffer your child against any overreaction by neighbors.
Ask neighbors with whom your child has contact to be helpers. If your child is labeled by some adults as a
"bad" kid, it is i