Please enable JavaScript in your browser to experience all the custom features of our site.

RabbiHorowitz.com

Mr. Harry Skydell, Chairman
Mr. Mark Karasick, Vice Chairman
Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, Director
Rabbi Avrohom M. Gluck, Director of Operations
The first 1000 members will have a chance to win a
16 GB
iPod
touch
with Rabbi Horowitz audio

Membership Benefits:

  • Save articles to your favorites folder.
  • Save and print selected articles in a PDF journal.
  • Receive emails containing the latest comments on your favorite articles.
  • Mark articles as "READ".
  • More member features coming soon...

Raffle Rules:

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. To enter, complete the signup form and join as a member. Incomplete entries will be disqualified. All entries shall become the property of CJFL. CJFL is not responsible for lost, misdirected or delayed entries.

The contest is open to the general public. Members need to be at least 18 years old. Identification must be produced on request. Employees of CJFL, its raffle sponsor, advertising and promotional agencies and their respective affiliates and associates and such employees' immediate family members and persons with whom such employees are domiciled are excluded from this raffle. ALL PREVIOUSLY REGISTERED MEMBERS WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY ENTERED INTO THIS RAFFLE. The prize is not redeemable in cash and must be accepted as awarded. Decisions of the raffle judges are final - no substitutions will be available. By claiming the prize, the winner authorizes the use, without additional compensation of his or her name and/or likeness (first initial and last name) and municipality of residence for promotion and/or advertising purposes in any manner and in any medium (including without limitation, radio broadcasts, newspapers and other publications and in television or film releases, slides, videotape, distribution over the internet and picture date storage) which CJFL may deem appropriate. In accepting the prize, the winner, acknowledges that CJFL may not be held liable for any loss, damages or injury associated with accepting or using this prize. CJFL retains the rights, in its absolute and sole discretion, to make substitutions of equivalent kind or approximate value in the event of the unavailability of any prize or component of the prize for any reason whatsoever. This contest is subject to all federal, provincial and municipal laws. CJFL reserves the right to withdraw or terminate this raffle at any time without prior notice. One entry per person.


ADD-ADHD - Part 2 - Assessment and Testing
by Rabbi Yakov Horowitz
Publication: Chicago Community Kollel

Not Rated Yet   |   Viewed 16845 times since 11/2/06   |   0 Comments
Decrease Font Size Increase Font Size    [ Change Font Size ] Email This Article to a Friend
   

11/2/06

Chicago Community Kollel Interactive Parenting Column #5

Shmuel:

As we noted in last week’s column, A.D.D./A.D.H.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder), in the broadest sense, is the difficulty or inability of an individual to sustain the level of concentration necessary to function properly – in school, at work, or in other arenas of social interaction.

As you explore the possibility that you son may have ADD, it is important for you and your wife to collect as much information as possible. To begin with, spend some time objectively observing your son and see if he is exhibiting the standard symptoms of A.D.D. during his time spent out of school.

In particular, try to answer the following questions:

• Is he fidgeting or squirming often?

• Is he interrupting others regularly during conversation?

• Is he very easily distracted?

• Does he have difficulty finishing tasks or chores?

• Does he speak very rapidly?

If the answer to some or all of these questions were a resounding yes – it would be a prudent move to follow up on the rebbi’s recommendation and get your son evaluated for ADD. Should you wish to engage in additional due diligence before moving forward with testing your son, you may wish to use one of the [more precise] assessment tools that are readily available. For example, the Washington D.C.-based American Psychiatric Association lists 14 attributes of ADD/ADHD, of which at least eight symptoms must be present for a child to be officially classified as ADD or ADHD. Simply review them and check them off as you go:

  1. ___ Often fidgets with his/her hands or feet, or squirms while seated.
  2. ___ Has difficulty remaining seated.
  3. ___ Is easily distracted by extraneous stimuli.
  4. ___ Has difficulty awaiting turn in games or group activities.
  5. ___ Often blurts out answers before questions are completed.
  6. ___ Has difficulty following instructions.
  7. ___ Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities.
  8. ___ Often shifts from one uncompleted task to another.
  9. ___ Has difficulty playing quietly.
  10. ___ Often talks excessively.
  11. ___ Often interrupts or intrudes on others.
  12. ___ Often does not listen to what is being said.
  13. ___Often forgets things necessary for his/her tasks or activities.
  14. ___Often engages in physically dangerous activities without considering possible consequences.

Please note that although some of these attributes may seem similar, they are not exactly the same. It is also important to note that ADD/ADHD diagnoses are further broken into three (there are actually several additional sub-types, but that is beyond the scope of this article) specific categories, each with its specific clinical presentation that better describes a child’s behavior:

1) Hyperactive/Impulsive Type (classic Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder),

2) Inattentive Type (classic Attention Deficit Disorder), and

3) Combined Type (a combination of inattentive and hyperactive).

The most common type of ADD/ADHD is "Classic ADHD." This "bouncy" type is also the easiest to diagnose. People with Classic ADHD fidget, squirm, and talk often and loudly. They can’t sit still, are impulsive and they have more than enough energy to spare. The Inattentive Type, on the other hand, is the second most common, but is the sort that most often slips through the cracks. These are generally pleasant people to be around but are forgetful and seem to be ‘daydreamers.’

Getting Assessed

While educators are often the ones who recommend children for ADD/ADHD testing, it is very important to bear in mind that only competent, credentialed professionals are qualified to actually make the actual diagnosis and suggest medication (when appropriate).

There are generally two routes to take in order to evaluate your child for ADD/ADHD. One would be to get an ‘evaluation’ from your local school district. Most school districts in the United States offer free educational/psychological assessments of students – including those who attend non-public schools. Your child’s principal or the director of special services can, in all likelihood, direct you to the appropriate office to arrange for an evaluation to be done. If you are finding it difficult to access district services, consider contacting Mrs. Leah Steinberg, Director of Agudath Israel’s Project LEARN (Limud Education Advocacy and Referral Network). LEARN helps parents navigate the path from determining that their child has special education needs to obtaining the services that they are entitled to by law. Mrs Steinberg can be contacted at (212) 797-9000, ext. 325, or via email at lsteinberg@thejnet.com.

Another route to take would be the medical one. Speak to your pediatrician and ask for a recommendation to a pediatric neurologist or a physician who specializes in attention deficit.

© 2006 Rabbi Yakov Horowitz, all rights reserved



To sign up for Rabbi Horowitz’s weekly emails, please click here.


Related Articles:
ADD-ADHD - Part 1
ADD-ADHD - Part 3 - Medication


Reader's Comments:      Rating & Comments Policy      Rate & Write a Comment!
 Average Rating:       Not Rated Yet
Subscribe to this Article
(by subscribing you will receive email notification
when new comments are posted)
There are no comments yet. Click above to write the first comment.
Dear Readers:

Please visit our Parenting Resource listing to learn about agencies and services that you can make use of. If you know of an agency that can be of assistance to others, kindly drop an email to our site administrator at admin@RabbiHorowitz.com and pass along the information to him.

I ask that you please consider supporting the work we are doing to improve the lives of our children. Click on these links to learn more about our teen and parent mentoring program that serves hundreds of teens and their families, or our KESHER program, now in 20 schools in 4 states. Your financial support can allow us to expand these services and help more children.

If you believe in the governing principles of this website – to help effect positive change through the candid discussions of the real issues we collectively face, please consider becoming a daily, weekly or monthly sponsor of this website and help defray the costs of it’s maintenance.



Working with Families and Educators on Behalf of our Children

This site is managed by The Center for Jewish Family Life, Inc., 56 Briarcliff Drive, Monsey, NY 10952
Project Y.E.S. was founded by Agudath Israel of America
The Center for Jewish Family Life/Project YES - 56 Briarcliff Drive, Monsey, NY 10952 (845) 352-7100 ext. 114 Fax: (845) 352-9593
email: email@kosherjewishparenting.com


Advertisements