Recently I had the pleasure of speaking with Enelle Lamb about her newly published book,

One Step Forward Two Steps Back – Living with ADHD/ODD, a Mother’s Perspective.

To get a better understanding of the challenges she faces every, I read her book before the interview.

Robert Kelleher: Thank you Enelle for talking with me.

Enelle Lamb: Hello Rob, my pleasure, thank you for this opportunity to discuss my book.

RK: One of the first things I wanted to ask you is what compelled you to write One Step Forward Two Steps Back?

EL: I thought about writing this book two years before I did. At that time, I didn’t think anyone would be interested in reading it. But after publishing an article on Hubpages, I saw how many people were searching for answers and that motivated me to give them some.

RK: When was your son first diagnosed with ADHD?

EL: My son was diagnosed with ADHD/ODD in June of 2004, at the age of 7.

RK: Why did it take so long for him to be diagnosed?

EL: I was told by the pediatrician that they are reluctant to diagnose ADHD before the age of 7.

Often young children with behaviours similar to those caused by ADHD will grow out of those behaviours. Medical professionals don’t want to take the risk of misdiagnosing them. If the behaviours have not disappeared by the age of seven that is a strong indication they are caused by ADHD.

RK: What phase of ADHD is your son in?

EL: ADHD stands for Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. There are no phases for this disorder. However, there are normal developmental stages that any child will go through. The challenge is going through them with a child with ADHD.

RK: Is it true ADHD is the most common behavioural disorder, which not only affects children - but people of all ages?

EL: My research has shown that ADHD is one of the most common behavioural disorders, and it is also true that ADHD is not only a childhood disability. I know of a 40 year old who was just recently diagnosed with ADHD.

RK: What causes ADHD?

EL: Current evidence points to abnormal development in the frontal lobe of the brain. The causes of this abnormality are still being researched. However, there are strong genetic links.

RK: Is ADHD inherited or genetic?

EL: Scientists and Psychologists in the United States have done extensive studies regarding genetics and heredity with ADHD. These studies disprove ADHD is a product of your environment.

It has been shown that ADHD is genetically inherited, much the same way you inherit hair colour, height, weight, etc. Scientists have discovered no less than 6 genetic markers that can be linked to ADHD.

RK: Is it true, that research also links smoking and other substance abuse during pregnancy to ADHD?

EL: Certain environmental factors such as smoking and substance abuse contribute to ADHD, but they aren’t the cause.

RK: Does eating too much or too little sugar cause ADHD?

EL: No, it might cause diabetes, or tooth decay, and it may cause your child to bounce off the walls, but it does not cause ADHD. It does contribute to hyperactivity in some children, but it isn’t related to ADHD.

RK: Do food additives cause hyperactivity?

EL: A small percentage of preschool children are mildly sensitive to certain food additives, such as the food colouring added to some processed meats. However, there is no evidence that any of these additives cause or affect hyperactivity.

RK: How about lack of vitamins?

EL: There isn’t any proof this affects a child with ADHD any more than any other person. My son’s paediatrician keeps tabs on his growth and weight curve to make sure they are within normal parameters.

When you have a child with ADHD, you really need to really keep an eye on is their diet. Especially if they are on medications which tend to suppress the appetite.

RK: Is it true that children with ADHD may not make enough chemicals in key areas of their brain causing the organizing centers of the brain not to work well?

EL: According to Russell Barkley, some scientists have suggested that certain neurotransmitters are deficient in those with ADHD...stimulant and non-stimulant drugs that are known to affect neurotransmitters temporarily improve the behaviour of children with ADHD.

RK: What are the symptoms of ADHD?

EL: Because this is a disorder, not a disease it is described in terms of behaviours rather than symptoms. Not everyone with ADHD will exhibit all the same behaviours, but there are certain qualities that appear universal.

Once such quality is the inability to sit still for any length of time, often described as hyperactivity. Inattentive behaviour most often expresses itself as the inability to focus on a task until it’s completed.

RK: How is ADHD diagnosed?

EL: Only a professional can make a diagnosis. A paediatrician, psychiatrist, sometimes a doctor, but certainly not a teacher or parent. Parents know something is wrong with their kids, but until they fill out a questionnaire, they really have no idea what the problem is.

RK: What medications are used to treat ADHD?

EL: Well there are several different kinds of medications. The first choice of medication is typically one of the ‘slow-release’ forms of methylphenidate, such as Ritalin, or Concerta.

RK: How effective are they?

EL: My son’s current medication, Ritalin, is very effective for his ADHD, keeping him focused and calmer. Unfortunately, it does nothing for the ODD, and he does experience a noticeable crash as the medication wears off.

RK: How is ADHD treated, and is psychotherapy used?

EL: ADHD is treated with a combination of drug therapy, counselling, and behaviour modification. The last two are also applied to the parent as well as the child.

RK: Will a child ever outgrow ADHD?

EL: No, unfortunately, they won’t. However, they can learn to manage the disability and hopefully control the behaviours.

RK: Is there a cure?

EL: At present, ADHD is with you for life. However, proper medication and therapy can help those with the disorder live a full and happy life.

RK: What conditions can coexist with ADHD?

EL: Depending on the severity of the disorders, there are many things that can coexist with ADHD.

Not all present strongly enough to warrant medication on their own, but some of the common ones are, Traumatic Stress, Anxiety Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, and Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, to name a few.

RK: What are the symptoms of ODD?

EL: Again, because this is a disorder, not a disease it is described in terms of behaviours. ODD, is Oppositional Defiant Disorder and is characterized by escalating violent acts, verbally abusive outbursts, openly defiant behaviour, no concept of consequences, low self esteem, and disregard for authority to name a few.

RK: What about treatment of this disorder?

EL: As this disorder usually manifests itself with ADHD and other disorders, it is treated as part of the whole. The only medication currently available for ODD is antidepressant therapy, which is rarely prescribed for children because of the increased risk for suicide. That leaves behaviour modification therapy.

RK: If a parent suspects their child has ADHD, what must they do?

EL: Well the first thing you need to do is have their child evaluated. You can start at the school level. The forms available to me were: The Problem Behaviour Questionnaire, the Hawthorne

EBPS-2 Home Version Rating Form, the Conner’s Teacher Rating Scale, and the Conner’s Parent Rating Scale. You will need to find similar questionnaires for your State or Province. Once you have completed them, you have a starting place.

RK: How can parents work with their child’s school?

EL: You must become your child’s advocate. You have to insure that you and your child’s professionals are on the same page.

You will need to set up regular Care Team Meetings, and have your child assigned with the appropriate status so the school can provide your child with a Learning Assistant in the classroom. In addition, there are a number of steps you have to take, but first and foremost, it is up to you to take the leadership role.

RK: What can a parent do to help their child at home?

EL: Be consistent, be consistent, and be consistent! Research ADHD...take a parenting course...this is something that is very important for your family. Everyone needs to know how and why the behaviours happen, and what can be done to help not only your child, but also the rest of the family to cope with these behaviours.

Every member of the family needs to be involved. An excellent resource that I would suggest is to get your hands on a copy of the book by Russell A. Barkley, PhD., Taking Charge of ADHD – The Complete Authoritative Guide for Parents.

RK: Do teens with ADHD have special needs?

EL: Most normal teens have special needs. To throw ADHD into the mix only complicates this already complicated time even more. My son and I are just beginning this phase of his development, so I will keep you posted!

RK: Can adults have ADHD?

EL: Yes, ADHD does not go away. We do not grow out of it, however we can learn to adjust the behaviours and adapt successfully. We are so fortunate now to have access to earlier diagnosis, which means that fewer children with ADHD will have to struggle to adulthood undiagnosed.

RK: What is the primary misconception about ADHD?

EL: The most common misconception is that the behaviours people see, particularly the acting out in public, are the result of poor discipline, spoiling the child, or simply inadequate parenting.

RK: With the population of children with ADHD, increasing in significant numbers, why has ADHD not been more spoken about?

EL: ADHD has not been spoken out about mainly because of the common misconceptions around the disorder. People can’t see a physical problem. Autism, another frontal lobe disorder, has received immense sympathetic exposure through novels, television, and movies – Rain Man, for example.

Because the undesirable behaviours caused by ADHD are indistinguishable from simple bad behaviour...because there are no easily identifiable ticks, repetitions, or facial contortions accompanying the behaviours that point to their cause... we assume the child is simply spoiled or acting out.

We all too easily dismiss these children as incorrigible. We just don’t accept these behaviours are caused by a disability. Maybe the next time you see a child acting out in public, instead of thinking what a rotten kid or what a terrible parent they have, stop and consider just for a moment that maybe that child has ADHD/ODD.

RK: What efforts are underway to improve treatment?

EL: Currently the United States is the leader in this field, and other countries are coming online with their own research. Given the number of children with this disorder, I feel there is not enough research being done.

RK: If there were one message parents need to grasp from One Step Forward Two Steps Back, what would it be?

EL: Never give up. You are all that stands between your child and chaos. Don’t watch your child spiral out of control. You must help your child now, if you don’t step up to the plate because it’s just too hard, your child loses any chance of a happy life.

RK: What advice would you give to parents right now who are facing exhausting hours with no light at the end of the tunnel?

EL: Be kind to yourself, this isn’t your fault, however there is a lot you can do to improve your situation. Join a support group. Read everything you can get your hands on. Seek counselling.

Make some time for yourself – you need to do something just for you: take up a hobby, write, paint, garden, scrap book, it could be anything you enjoy. See if there are any available programs for your child to give you some respite.

RK: Is there anything you’d like to add to enlighten us, giving hope to everyone?

EL: Always remember this...you are not alone. There are other parents out there going through the same things, feeling the same things, and there is help. Every time we speak out about ADHD and its attendant disorders, every time we increase awareness about these disabilities, we are helping to dispel the misconceptions and ease the isolation felt by those living with this disorder.

RK: Are you getting any type of assistance?

EL: At this time, there is no funding for families of children with this disorder. Unlike Foster Parents, who have financial resources available to help them with the costs associated with high needs children; natural parents must go it alone.

However, there are some free resources available, such as support groups, Community Support Workers, and local chapters of CHADD, and a variety of online sources.

RK: Are there any support group chapters out there?

EL: If you go to the website for CHADD, Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder, www.chadd.org you can search for a chapter in your area. You can also check out these great organizations:

ADDA, Attention Deficit Disorder Association, www.add.org ,

The Learning Disabilities Association of America, www.ldanatl.org

and the Learning Disabilities Association of Canada www.ldac-taac.ca

RK: Where can everyone purchase One Step Forward Two Steps Back?

EL: You can purchase One Step Forward Two Steps Back by clicking the link on my website www.livingwithadhdodd.blogspot.com , or you can purchase it directly from Lulu.com. It will also be available shortly on amazon.com.

RK: Thank you Enelle for the most informative book on the market today about living with ADHD/ODD.