Conclusion

There is hope that children of younger ages may not necessarily continue to suffer from AD/HD in later childhood or adolescence. According to Barkley (2000), the majority of toddler/preschool children with AD/HD, whose parents rated them as inattentive and overactive by the age of four, may get better over a period of time (Barkley, 2000, p.91). Also, Barkley (2000) points out that "among those children whose problems may be severe enough to receive a clinical diagnosis of AD/HD, only half will have the same diagnosis by later childhood or early adolescence" (p. 91).

The problems associated with AD/HD in a child of younger age may diminish over time with the influence of the child’s physical environment—in particular, due to the efforts of parents or caregivers in modifying the way the child thinks and acts. Therefore, parents and caregivers play a very important role in helping younger children with AD/HD because children of preschool age learn a great deal of their cognitive and behavioral processes and development from their parents. Parents or caregivers are the role models and mentors who support these children in their lives. AD/HD may be due to an abnormality of brain that causes impairment in impulses; however, effective parenting can help these children adjust their cognitive and behavioral processes over time. Younger children with AD/HD who do not receive a helping hand from their parents or caregivers in their behavior modification unfortunately may continue to suffer AD/HD throughout their late childhood and adolescence, possibly even into adulthood.

References

Anastopoulos, A.D. & Shelton, T. L. (2001). Assessing Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

Barkley, R.A. (2000). Taking charge of ADHD: the complete, authoritative guide for parents (Rev. ed.). New York: Guilford Press.

Bee, H. (1997). Lifespan development. (2nd ed.). New York: Longman.

Jacobs, E. H. (2000). ADHD: helping parents help their children. Northvale, N. J.: Jason Aronson.

Sandberg, S. (Ed.). (2002). Hyperactivity and attention disorders of childhood (2nd ed.). Cambridge, UK; New York: Cambridge University Press.

Teeter, P.A. (1998). Interventions for ADHD: treatment in developmental context. New York: Guilford Press.