Info & Resources

Oppositional defiant disorder is when the child refuses to comply with adult rules. Children with oppositional defiant disorder are more often sad than bad.

Most of us initially learn to read using a phonetic approach. That is, we learn to sound out words, and eventually recognition of the word becomes automatic and we are sight reading the word. Many children have difficulty taking words apart into their component sounds. The earlier this is remediated, the better, because children learn new auditory tricks more easily than adults and younger children learn more easily than adolescents. Those with a history of ear infections are more likely to have difficulty recognizing particular sounds. 

Social skills involve the ability to behave with others in a manner that produces positive outcomes. Social skills (also called social intelligence) will often have a greater impact on quality of life than academic intelligence.

Often, psychopharmacological treatments are encouraged too early in a patient's treatment; it is safer to first make use of the many forms of drug-free therapy available.

Temperament is the more biological component of personality.

Individuals considered to suffer from ADHD may have acquired brain damage, neural systems mediating attention or inhibition may have developed slowly, or not fully developed, they may have brain or cognitive dysfunction due to some other biological or psychological cause, the issues may be motivational it may be extremes of temperament. 

The Emotional Impact of having a Learning Disability should never be underestimated. Learned helplessness, shame and/or anxiety are often triggered, resulting in the student seeming to fail to do what they can to help their situation. It is essential to understand the emotional reactions while developing compensatory strategies. This is one of the reasons that a suspected learning disability is best addressed as soon as possible. 

Behavior is often very inflexible and rigid. Any unexpected change causes distress. There may be extreme persistence and inflexible adherence to unhelpful routines and rituals. There may be a burning interest in one or more topic - often to the point of obssesion. There may be a persistent or obsessive interest.

Children suffering from Bipolar Disorder may resemble children with ADHD. Additional features may include horrendous nightmares and intense temper tantrums. The following site provides information and support: Child & Adolescent Bipolar Foundation