Dr. Robert Needlman
Specialist in pediatric behavior and development.
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 Ask Dr. Needlman
ADHD-Inattentive Subtype | | | QUESTION | | | Dear Dr. Needlman,
How do you handle a nine-year-old that is getting into trouble at school for not paying attention? He is a good kid, very polite to others and very sensitive. But he is a daydreamer, which is causing his grades to go down, and he already has low C's and B's. We have tried to take things away, I have even spanked him once for it, but I know that is not the answer. Any advice you have will be much appreciated...— Nancy in Houston, TX | | | ANSWER |
March 15, 2001 | | | Dear Nancy,
When daydreaming causes a good kid to get bad grades, it is a problem. In particular, if your son lets you know that he is really trying to pay attention but simply can't manage to do it for any length of time and especially if he is becoming frustrated and down on himself, then he needs help. First you need to figure out the cause.
I don't want to jump to conclusions--particularly since I've not met your son face to face. But from what you've written, I suspect that the problem might be Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Inattentive Subtype (also called ADHD-I). For more on this problem (and the other problems that can be confused for it), look through our Attention Problems program for information on ADHD and a new article entitled ADHD-Inattentive Subtype coming soon.
The good news is that this is a very readily treated condition. Medication combined with support and guidance often makes a world of difference for children with ADHD-I and their families. If you think ADHD-I is a possibility, the first thing to do is consult your son's doctor.— by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P. |
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