Homeschooling for Children with ADHD
Part 1
Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactive Disorder is a common neurodevelopmental disorder initially diagnosed at the childhood stage by specialists. This condition disrupts schooling as most educational institutions lack training and experience working with these children (Lawrence et al., 2017). A child with ADHD may display symptoms like forgetfulness, short attention span, poor organization, constant fidgeting (Zang et al., 2020), excessive talking, and difficulty waiting for their turn social interaction or games. ADHD is most common in boys more than girls. A physician can diagnose the condition by analyzing the symptoms. Diagnosis classifies these symptoms into three categories; impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. Medical examinations are also essential to rule out any other possible complications that can cause the symptoms. The specialist can diagnose symptoms over six months. With Covid on the rise and students having no choice but to learn from home, what impact did this have on students diagnosed with ADHD? Did homeschooling affect the way children learn, and did the treatments /therapy change?
Part 2
The impact of the pandemic has affected the way learning takes place, with most parents preferring to homeschool their children. Homeschooling is a trend that has been going since the beginning of education. The system applied to any parent who chose it and made sure to register the appropriate authority (Carlson, 2020). However, the number of homeschooled children in the nation has risen since the onset of the pandemic, increasing by about eleven percent (Heuer et al. 2021) from the previous year, making the number of homeschooled children rise to about two million (Neuman & Guterman, 2017). However, some parents choose to homeschool their children as they view the public schooling system as inadequate (Brown & Brown, 2021). These parents view individualized learning experiences as the most beneficial to their children. Research suggests that homeschooled students tend to benefit more than those in school systems and present above-average results.
Parents with children suffering from conditions like ADHD have also been affected by the pandemic. This situation has forced most parents to prioritize teaching and taking care of their children due to financial constraints, making some of them neglect their jobs (Greenway & Eaton‐Thomas, 2020). Parents who well enough have the ability to hire tutors. Even before the pandemic, children with this condition still found it hard to cope in traditional classrooms while teachers did not have the best training to assist them. Most ADHD symptoms make it hard for children to concentrate in classrooms, say still, or conduct regular social interactions. The effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on schools is beneficial to these children. The children do not also go through social constraints, such as cases of bullying in traditional school systems (Peguero et al. 2020). Children with ADHD have benefitted from individualized learning experiences that allow them to learn at their own pace.
Most scientists believe that ADHD is mostly passed down from parents to the offspring through genetic. Some of the standard methods of treatment that physicians use to treat children with ADHD include medical intervention, behavioral therapy, education services, and counseling. Using these interventions efficiently requires one to consider the specific symptoms that affect the patient in question. Types of therapy used for ADHD are behavior therapy, social skills training, psychotherapy, parenting skills training, and family therapy. These methods can help intervene with problems like anxiety or depression. Homeschooling makes it easier for the parents to keep track of their child’s dietary and medical needs. This approach works best with a team approach that collaborates with the parents, teachers, and therapists.
Stimulant medication used to treat ADHD works by boosting and balancing neurotransmitters. Many physicians claim that this is the best intervention to treat children at school-going ages. Stimulant medication helps treat specific problems like hyperactivity and inattention. Some of the common medications used for the treatment of ADHD are Methylphenidates and Amphetamines. This method can, however, cause several health effects like heart and psychiatric problems like suicidal thoughts. The effects on the heart are possible as taking stimulant drugs can cause increase blood pressure which can eventually affect the patient’s heart. The evidence of the medication causing suicidal thoughts, especially in teenagers, is not proven as not much evidence is given on the subject.
Part 3
Although physicians state that medication is the best method to treat children with ADHD, the evidence shows that stimulants can have adverse health effects on most of the patients that take them. Therapy, however, does not involve any treatment mode involving the patient taking in any use medication but instead works on treating the symptoms by involving those around the patient. Therapy interventions work to treat the patient’s symptoms and help those around them know how best to provide care for this condition. Behavioral interventions include modes like the reward system and timeouts that help parents and tutors learn how to cope with difficult conditions. Parent skills training and family therapy have helped many guardians and other family members understand their children and know how best to deal with their situations. In contrast, social skills training can help improve interactions that the children have outside the home setting. Allowing the children to talk about issues and their feelings allows the physician to devise strategies to deal with their problems.
References
Brown, H., & Brown, P. H. (2021). Homeschooling the right: How conservative education activism erodes the state.
Carlson, J. F. (2020). Context and regulation of homeschooling: Issues, evidence, and assessment practices. School Psychology, 35(1), 10-19. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000335
Greenway, C. W., & Eaton‐Thomas, K. (2020). Parent experiences of homeschooling children with special educational needs or disabilities during the coronavirus pandemic. British Journal of Special Education, 47(4), 510-535. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8578.12341
Heuer, W., & Donovan, W. (2021). Homeschooling in Uncertain Times: COVID Prompts a Surge. White Paper No. 237. Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research
Lawrence, K., Estrada, R. D., & McCormick, J. (2017). Teachers’ experiences with and perceptions of students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 36, 141-148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2017.06.010
Peguero, A. A., & Hong, J. S. (2020). Bullying and youth with disabilities and special health needs: Victimizing students with physical, emotional/Behavioral, and learning disorders. Springer Series on Child and Family Studies, 85-98. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64367-6_7
Homeschooling for Children with ADHD
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Part 1
Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactive Disorder is a common neurodevelopmental disorder initially diagnosed at the childhood stage by specialists. This condition disrupts schooling as most educational institutions lack training and experience working with these children (Lawrence et al., 2017). A child with ADHD may display symptoms like forgetfulness, short attention span, poor organization, constant fidgeting (Zang et al., 2020), excessive talking, and difficulty waiting for their turn social interaction or games. ADHD is most common in boys more than girls. A physician can diagnose the condition by analyzing the symptoms. Diagnosis classifies these symptoms into three categories; impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. Medical examinations are also essential to rule out any other possible complications that can cause the symptoms. The specialist can diagnose symptoms over six months. With Covid on the rise and students having no choice but to learn from home, what impact did this have on students diagnosed with ADHD? Did homeschooling affect the way children learn, and did the treatments /therapy change?
Part 2
The impact of the pandemic has affected the way learning takes place, with most parents preferring to homeschool their children. Homeschooling is a trend that has been going since the beginning of education. The system applied to any parent who chose it and made sure to register the appropriate authority (Carlson, 2020). However, the number of homeschooled children in the nation has risen since the onset of the pandemic, increasing by about eleven percent (Heuer et al. 2021) from the previous year, making the number of homeschooled children rise to about two million (Neuman & Guterman, 2017). However, some parents choose to homeschool their children as they view the public schooling system as inadequate (Brown & Brown, 2021). These parents view individualized learning experiences as the most beneficial to their children. Research suggests that homeschooled students tend to benefit more than those in school systems and present above-average results.
Parents with children suffering from conditions like ADHD have also been affected by the pandemic. This situation has forced most parents to prioritize teaching and taking care of their children due to financial constraints, making some of them neglect their jobs (Greenway & Eaton‐Thomas, 2020). Parents who well enough have the ability to hire tutors. Even before the pandemic, children with this condition still found it hard to cope in traditional classrooms while teachers did not have the best training to assist them. Most ADHD symptoms make it hard for children to concentrate in classrooms, say still, or conduct regular social interactions. The effect that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on schools is beneficial to these children. The children do not also go through social constraints, such as cases of bullying in traditional school systems (Peguero et al. 2020). Children with ADHD have benefitted from individualized learning experiences that allow them to learn at their own pace.
Most scientists believe that ADHD is mostly passed down from parents to the offspring through genetic. Some of the standard methods of treatment that physicians use to treat children with ADHD include medical intervention, behavioral therapy, education services, and counseling. Using these interventions efficiently requires one to consider the specific symptoms that affect the patient in question. Types of therapy used for ADHD are behavior therapy, social skills training, psychotherapy, parenting skills training, and family therapy. These methods can help intervene with problems like anxiety or depression. Homeschooling makes it easier for the parents to keep track of their child’s dietary and medical needs. This approach works best with a team approach that collaborates with the parents, teachers, and therapists.
Stimulant medication used to treat ADHD works by boosting and balancing neurotransmitters. Many physicians claim that this is the best intervention to treat children at school-going ages. Stimulant medication helps treat specific problems like hyperactivity and inattention. Some of the common medications used for the treatment of ADHD are Methylphenidates and Amphetamines. This method can, however, cause several health effects like heart and psychiatric problems like suicidal thoughts. The effects on the heart are possible as taking stimulant drugs can cause increase blood pressure which can eventually affect the patient’s heart. The evidence of the medication causing suicidal thoughts, especially in teenagers, is not proven as not much evidence is given on the subject.
Part 3
Although physicians state that medication is the best method to treat children with ADHD, the evidence shows that stimulants can have adverse health effects on most of the patients that take them. Therapy, however, does not involve any treatment mode involving the patient taking in any use medication but instead works on treating the symptoms by involving those around the patient. Therapy interventions work to treat the patient’s symptoms and help those around them know how best to provide care for this condition. Behavioral interventions include modes like the reward system and timeouts that help parents and tutors learn how to cope with difficult conditions. Parent skills training and family therapy have helped many guardians and other family members understand their children and know how best to deal with their situations. In contrast, social skills training can help improve interactions that the children have outside the home setting. Allowing the children to talk about issues and their feelings allows the physician to devise strategies to deal with their problems.
References
Brown, H., & Brown, P. H. (2021). Homeschooling the right: How conservative education activism erodes the state.
Carlson, J. F. (2020). Context and regulation of homeschooling: Issues, evidence, and assessment practices. School Psychology, 35(1), 10-19. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000335
Greenway, C. W., & Eaton‐Thomas, K. (2020). Parent experiences of homeschooling children with special educational needs or disabilities during the coronavirus pandemic. British Journal of Special Education, 47(4), 510-535. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8578.12341
Heuer, W., & Donovan, W. (2021). Homeschooling in Uncertain Times: COVID Prompts a Surge. White Paper No. 237. Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research
Lawrence, K., Estrada, R. D., & McCormick, J. (2017). Teachers’ experiences with and perceptions of students with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Journal of Pediatric Nursing, 36, 141-148. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pedn.2017.06.010
Peguero, A. A., & Hong, J. S. (2020). Bullying and youth with disabilities and special health needs: Victimizing students with physical, emotional/Behavioral, and learning disorders. Springer Series on Child and Family Studies, 85-98. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64367-6_7
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