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Journalism of Courage
Filmmaker Shekhar Kapur may have taken a long time to admit to his faulty comprehension of letters and numerals in his childhood but eventually used Twitter to reveal that he had been diagnosed with dyslexia, a condition often accompanied by attention deficit disorder (ADD).
In his tweet, Kapur shared some of the life lessons he had because of his condition, grateful that he was not sent to special schools given his special abilities and insisting that he wouldn’t be as creative as he is today if he were sent there. He wrote, “Lessons of Life : I am completely dyslexic and have intense ADD. I don’t know what else! Thank God there were no special schools for kids like me when I was growing up. They would have beaten out all the rebellion in me. Certainly would not have made any films. Or been creative.”
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, or ADD/ADHD as it’s commonly known, is a neuro-developmental disorder which involves three core diagnostic features. Dr Samir Parikh, Director, Fortis National Mental Health Programme, describes the symptoms to watch out for. “The first symptom is inattention, which may manifest in the form of not being able to stay focussed on a task for long, making careless mistakes, difficulty completing tasks and following instructions, forgetfulness in day-to-day activities and so on. Hyperactivity, the second core feature, is more noticeable, such that an individual may find it difficult to stay seated for too long, seeming always ‘on the go’, acting fidgety or being very restless. Impulsivity is the third aspect of this condition, wherein individuals may experience difficulty waiting their turn, interrupt others or blurt out responses before the other person has finished speaking. It is the most commonly diagnosed disorder in children, and while it is largely associated with childhood, its symptoms in some individuals may also continue into adulthood,” he says.
Like Kapur had problems understanding the shape and sound of letters or understanding the intricacies of arithmetic, children with ADD face difficulties in coping with normal school life and lessons. “At the same time, they may also get into trouble for breaking discipline, or experience difficulties maintaining friendships due to the impulsivity of their actions. Looking the odd one out, the condition affects their emotions, interpersonal relationships and self-esteem,” says Dr Parikh.
But the condition can be managed if there is early identification and intervention. “The first step then is to create awareness, among parents, teachers and students alike. Doing so will not only aid in early identification but also create an environment of acceptance and empathy within the classroom or work environment. At the same time, individuals with ADD/ADHD benefit from remedial intervention, which may involve behavioural therapy, special education and at times medical intervention as well,” says Dr Parikh.
The idea is to keep your child engaged and a participant in all spheres of your life. This positivity is for parents and family to practise. “The best way is to help your child focus and make him forget the embarrassment of not being good at everything. Playing a sport, engaging in physical activity or a creative pursuit like playing an instrument or art can be a fun-filled way of boosting focus and bonding. Puzzles like crosswords and Sudokus help build our capacity to sustain focus. The ‘e’ exercise where you take a newspaper article and strike out all the ‘e’s is an effective exercise as well. Set a routine. This not only helps in better time management but for the affected child, who finds any task or workload immense, helps break it down into slots and finish the job within a stipulated time. Set a timer if need be to keep to your goals. Factor in breaks so that your child does not feel exhausted or overwhelmed. Keep him engaged and wanted,” Dr Parikh advises.
