Poor parenting not just causes but also contributes to severity of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder among children

I cried the first time Vijay and I sat down to read a book together without a fuss", recalls Vijay's mother Sujata, "Vijay smiled, and I saw in him the happy, successful child that I had always hoped he would be."

Vijay's early years were lost in disciplining him rather than in play. When he entered school his teachers said he was frequently hyperactive, distracted and disruptive. He was fidgety and had difficulty following instructions, often failing to complete tasks. He was obsessed with one idea (Batman) in every written or pictorial task, and sometimes even hit fellow students. Even though Vijay's grades were low, he was a bright child.

Vijay has Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, which is a neuro-biological disorder. The brain's frontal lobes control attention, impulsive behaviour, and other executive functions. About three to seven per cent of school children and about five per cent of adults suffer from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD). These children are met with disapproval, social rejection and other forms of discouragement. The ratio of ADHD boys to girls treated in clinical settings is typically 4:1. It is a myth that poor parenting causes ADHD. However, it is highly probable that poor parenting contributes to the severity of ADHD symptoms.

Children like Vijay who suffer from ADD or ADHD exhibit a tendency to be very intellectual, imaginative and ingenious. You come across people in all walks of life with ADHD, including successful doctors, lawyers and business owners. Albert Einstein and Mozart also were ADHD, says Dr Anjali Morris, who heads the Morris Foundation and has tied up with several schools to help the children with the problems. More than 400 children are provided counseling from various schools.

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