Adhd: What Can We Do?; ADHD: What Do We Know?

Although the names and acronyms have changed over the years ("Fidgety Phils," "Brain-Injured Child Syndrome," "Hyperactive Child Syndrome," "Attention Deficit Disorder," and now "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder"--or ADHD), the symptomatic behavior of children and some adults afflicted by the disorder has remained the same. Inattentive, impulsive, and hyperactive, the number of ADHD children in the U.S. currently total some 2 million. These two new programs, presented by Dr. Russell Barkley offer up-to-date descriptions and observations of the disorder and available treatments. The first volume, ADHD: What Do We Know? introduces Kevin (age 6), Melissa (age 12), and Dan (an adult), and their guardians and relatives, while showing viewers the typical symptoms of ADHD behavior. The tape looks at the probable causes of the disorder, discusses associated problems, and outlines the day-to-day life of growing up with ADHD.The second tape, ADHD: What Can We Do? begins by dismissing discounted treatment methods (dietary, vitamin supplements, exercise, visiting a chiropractor), and examines some tested treatments for the home and in school. Since the ADHD child's attention span is severely abbreviated, techniques must be tailored to the situation: token systems, time-out chairs, brief instructional periods, etc. have had measurable success in making life easier for all involved. Too, various stimulants, anti-depressives, and anti-hypertension drugs are effective in helping ADHD children.A good companion series to Guilford Press' Day by Day: Raising the Child With Autism/PPD. Highly recommended. (Available from: Guilford Press, 72 Spring St., New York, NY 10012; (800) 365-7006.)