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Morning has always been a difficult time for us, even before the ADHD diagnosis. He whines. He grumbles. He shrieks. He goes back to bed. It’s like having two of me in the house!

I have come up with a morning routine that takes into account his ADHD and the fact that he’s not only tired and grumpy but hasn’t had his ADHD medication yet. This routine might not work for everyone, but maybe you can use it as a starting point for a routine with your ADHD child. The main thing, I think, is to have a routine.

Before I wake my ADHD son, I start the shower and put his clothes on the bed where they’re easy to find. I wake the ADHD monster, usher him into the bathroom, and wait.

If I don’t hear him get in the shower after a couple of minutes, I go in and prod him. I know his ADHD makes him distractible and he’s more than half-asleep. After a few minutes of shower time I urge him to finish up, then I tell him when time’s up.

Even with ADHD, my son does a pretty good job of taking his own shower most of the time. Sometimes he has shampoo in his hair when he gets out, but usually he’s clean.

Because of his ADHD, he doesn’t sleep well, or enough. He catches up on his sleep on the weekends. So during the week I let him put his clothes on and get back in bed for 15-20 minutes before he brushes his teeth, takes his ADHD medication, and puts on his shoes and socks.

While Jack’s back in bed catching up on ADHD-deprived sleep, I get his sister in and out of the shower and dressed.

When it’s time to brush teeth and take ADHD medicine, I wake Jack again, usher him back into the bathroom, and lay out his medicine and toothbrush. I stand there as much to make sure he brushes his teeth (he forgets) as to make sure he takes his ADHD meds. Then he puts on shoes and socks and gets ready for the bus.

When I make Jack’s lunch, I fix him a “snack baggie” of dry cereal, usually frosted shredded wheat. I put this in the top of his lunch bag and he eats it on the bus. This makes up for the fact that my ADHD son can’t wake up enough for breakfast.

Again, this routine may not work for everyone with an ADHD child. But the point is to have a routine. It’s what helps my son get up and get going every morning, in spite of his ADHD.

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The “You Have ADHD And It’s An Illness and Not Something You Can Help” talk.

Here are some things to focus on during the talk.

1. Do a Lot of Kids Have ADHD?

On average, about 5% of kids, or 5 out of 100, have ADHD. That means, for instance, out of my son’s fifth grade year at school, probably 5 kids have ADHD.

Boys usually have ADHD more than girls–boys are two to three times more likely to have ADHD than girls, but doctors have no real idea why.

2. Did I Get ADHD From One of My Parents?

It’s possible. ADHD does tend to run in families, and if Mom or Dad has it, at least one kid is likely to have it. But the fact is, no one knows what causes ADHD and no one knows how to cure it.

3. Does ADHD Have Symptoms, Like a Cold?

Yes. Symptoms of ADHD include having trouble paying attention, getting distracted easily, not being able to sit still, and doing things like interrupting people when they’re talking. ADHD kids lose things and forget things.

4. If I Have ADHD, What Will We Do About It?

The first step is a visit to the doctor to find out if you really have ADHD and make sure nothing else is wrong. From there, we’ll talk with the doctor about treatment plans and medication and therapy.

These are some basic questions you can start with for “The Talk.” Of course, you’ll need to adapt the questions and answers to your particular situation, but hopefully this will help you get started.

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After is has been decided that a child should be tested for ADHD, it needed to be decided which ADHD test should be taken to evaluate for the disorder. There are a few different tests that will effectively diagnosis the presence of ADHD. The first step that should be taken, though, should be to rule out a physical disorder that has similar symptoms to ADHD. A general physician will be able to rule out that your child has some sort of physical problem, such as a thyroid problem.

After the child has seen a medical doctor, the next step will be to meet with a psychologist or other licensed mental health professional. They will be able to give your child the necessary tests to diagnose ADHD. You will be able to find specialists through CHADD, which is national organization that educates and helps people with ADHD.

When you find a qualified mental health professional, your first initial meetings will involve your child and a family member that has known the child since they were young. The mental health professional will get a detailed personal history from your child’s point of view as well as the family member’s point of view.

After this, tests such as TOVA (Tests of Variable Attention) will be given to see if there is the presence of ADHD. This test is a 23 minute test, and is accurate in distinguishing is a test subject has ADHD or not. I believe it is important to get formal testing to know for sure whether the child is struggling with ADHD or possibly something else such as a learning disorder.

Other disorders that could look like ADHD are depression and anxiety disorders, Tourette’s Syndrome, early onset bi-polar disorder, conduct disorder and possibly other emotional problems or disorders. It is very important to keep this in mind during the process of evaluation.

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Some of the main signs of ADHD are not being able to pay attention to the task at hand, lack of follow through, loses things easily, makes careless mistakes, has trouble paying attention to details, difficulties organizing, interrupting others, restlessness and overly active. Not every person has every symptom, and some symptoms are more severe in some people compared to others with the disorder. This is why the disorder can be so difficult to discern. Also, many people have trouble with these things at one time or another. But people with ADHD have such a hard time that it affects them emotionally and developmentally.

It is still not known exactly why people are born with ADHD. It is known that many cases are genetic, but not all. Doctors do know that the way your brain is wired will determine whether you have ADHD or not. People with ADHD have a low level of dopamine in their brains. Dopamine is the neurotransmitter that affects focus and attention.

In regards to treating ADHD, I believe there is a real misunderstanding. It is very true that medication helps with the disorder. It helps you focus longer, get things done and evens out emotions as well. But it is by no means a cure all. It is very important to get individual counseling, and possibly family counseling if needed. ADHD can make you feel like the oddball, and it can make adolescence particularly difficult. Get as much help as you can. Most importantly, help yourself. It has been found that regular exercise if very good for the symptoms of ADHD. It stimulates endorphins in the brain and calms the internal restlessness that people with ADHD have. Another thing that is helpful for people with ADHD is meditation practice. Starting off each morning by meditating can be calming for anyone, but particularly for individuals who have trouble focusing and slowing their minds down. Take a few minutes each day and breathe. It costs nothing and it can really affect your life positively.

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