How to Help Someone With ADD

Managing Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD, is a challenge whether you are an adult or a child. There is no cure for ADD, but there are many things you can do to reduce symptoms. ADD can create many challenges for a person who has been diagnosed with it, help from family and friends can help children manage and learn better in school, while adults will be better equipped to lead a productive and successful life. If you are looking for ways to help someone with ADD, there are plenty of things you can do that will make a difference in his life.

Instructions

• 1

  Recognize the symptoms of ADD so you are able to understand and help. Attention deficit disorder is often misunderstood. A person with ADD is usually very intelligent, but due to a chemical receptor problem in the brain, he may have difficulty focusing and could be viewed as slow. Some of the symptoms or outward expressions of having ADD are: trouble focusing on more than one thing at a time, organizational skills, difficulty with patience, blurts out answers, fidgets, jumps from one activity to the next, doesn't complete tasks, zoning out, sometimes overly sensitive.

• 2

  Schedule regular and frequent exercise time. Someone with ADD has a lot of energy. The health benefits of exercise include sleeping more soundly, feeling less stressed and the ability to focus more easily. Getting exercise every day is one of the best ways for anyone to achieve a healthy body and mind.

• 3

  Make sleep a priority. Sleep is essential when you have ADD. Make sure you set a regular and predictable bedtime and then make sure she gets at least eight hours of sleep a night.

• 4

  Provide healthy and nutritious food for someone who has ADD. Good nutrition is important for everyone, but a healthy diet is especially important in controlling ADD symptoms. Some of the foods to eliminate from the diet are sugar, MSG, artificial colors and preservatives, soda, caffeine and junk food.

• 5

  Help identify subjects he is interested in learning, or help him find a career he finds interesting. Maintaining attention and focusing at work and school is a challenge for someone with ADD, especially when he is not interested in the subject.

• 6

  Remind her to take her medication on time and make sure she always has the prescription filled. Medication may be prescribed to someone with ADD to help manage impulses. It is important medication is taken regularly and consistently.

• 7

  Set up a schedule so he will remember to do the things needed, such as homework, paying the bills, doing his laundry, or cleaning his room. People with ADD may have difficulty focusing on one task at a time and may get distracted. Your supervision may be needed to make sure he stays organized.