The right therapy

Some stimulant drugs like Ritalin are commonly used for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD as it’s better known.

But many parents may not be aware that these drugs can have lots of side effects and doses have to be closely monitored.

In part two of my column on the subject, I would like to emphasise how important it is that any problems are discussed with the child’s doctor. Make sure you are aware of all the possible side effects and how to deal with them if they occur.

Your child should also know about them and should be prepared through different therapies so as not to harm confidence or self-esteem. After all, these treatments are there to benefit the children without harming them on an emotional level.

Relying soley on medicine is not a very good idea for ADHD. The best results come through teamwork involving the physician, therapist, parents and teachers.

It is more about educating yourself, as a parent, about the condition as well as discussing plans on how to move forward with the child’s teacher and therapist.

There are behavioral therapies which can enhance the effect of treatments and they are available in Bahrain.

l Music Therapy: Music therapist Aksana Kavaliova who has experience working with ADHD children believes music provides structure – there’s a rhythm that goes with the music.

This structure helps bring soothing feelings to the ADHD brain.

Music fires up synapses that are missing between the left and right lobes of the brain. Pleasurable music (i.e. mood music or spatial music helps increase dopamine production and release which makes them feel good about what they’re doing and helps increase self-esteem. Music also helps social relationships. Students who play in an ensemble or take turns in playing various parts and writing group songs together benefit because music helps them anticipate cues in musical performances and sheet music preps them for any challenges.

Music therapy also helps children in expressing themselves positively when they are frustrated, irritated or angry. Rhymes or songs can be created to help them learn spellings or mathematics.

* Art Therapy: Art therapist Dalal Al Sindi says this allows individuals to create art with the use of different mediums including painting, sculpting, collage and drawing. This free process is concentrated on the relationship of the client with the art materials and the art therapist, where art serves as the main mode of communication in the session.

Individuals with ADHD can benefit from the art therapy’s processes and controlled art activities that improve concentration and encourage relaxation.

For ADHD children, art therapists lessen the stimulating aspects in the art therapy room allowing the child to focus on the activity.

Through designated art activities and a structured art therapy session, the child learns to engage in an emotionally expressive activity which releases anxiety and improves perceptual relaxation and concentration.
 
Overall, art therapy serves as an expressive healing treatment which allows the child to be in the creative process through accessing the treasures of the right brain.

ADHD/ADD children have extremely good attention span for  tasks of their likings, or choice. Help them become aware of the positive aspects of themselves and help them develop these hobbies. Every child is unique and so are children with ADHD. It is our responsibility to help them nourish that uniqueness.

Dr Puja Taneja Malhotra,
Ph.D. Psychology,
Psychological Consultant, Trainer & Coach.