A support group in Wollongong is looking at new ways to help children diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) that included parents and siblings in the process.
The Citylife Community Initiatives ADHD Support Group has hosted seminars that aim to educate relatives of people with ADHD about the condition.
A practical workshop titled ‘What It’s Like Living With a Sibling with ADHD‘ provided families with techniques they can use to make sure children with ADHD and their siblings feel equal love and affection.
Support group leader Amy Williamson said the seminars had been created to target the siblings of children with ADHD and parenting skills.
“The ADHD child is always going to be the one who’s in trouble, who’s causing issues in the eyes of their siblings,” Ms Williamson said.
“Because the child with ADHD is getting so much time it makes the other children feel left out, and so we are trying to teach parents how to be equal to all their children.”
This seminar followed new research that claimed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a legitimate medical condition and not just children misbehaving.
A report released by the James Cook University on Monday, examined 174 MRI scans and found significant differences in the way the brains of people with ADHD process information.
Lead researcher Dr Helen Boon said, as an ex-teacher, she didn’t expect to find any physical evidence of ADHD and went into the research skeptical.
“It’s not something to do with the way a child is brought up, it’s not something to do with poor control, poor parenting or anything like that,” Dr Boon said.
“There is a genetic component as kids with ADHD often have a parent or sibling with ADHD.”
Dr Boon and Ms Williamson hoped the research would lead to more people are understanding of both children and adults diagnosed with ADHD.
“The topics we’re covering in these seminars are things I’m struggling with, so if I’m struggling with it every other parent out there is struggling with it too,” Ms Williamson said.
