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Secondary education

Attention and concentration issues

4 replies

Cally1962 · 15/05/2013 09:59

I am the single parent of a boy who has just turned 13. He has an attention problem. He cannot concentrate, he cannot sit still and because his brain is buzzing all the time he can?t remember much. He is of average IQ and tests have shown that his visual memory is very weak. He doesn?t read or have any interests except XBox: and his time on that is strictly rationed. He is falling behind at school. He worries about this but doesn?t/cannot do anything about it. I can?t find a way to motivate him and he simply can?t imagine what his future will be without educational qualifications. These are long-standing problems. They are not the effects of adolescence.

He has always been anxious and he can be very emotional. He has little self-confidence and needs constant reassurance. He is frightened of physical risk and avoids it. The Scouts and BMX biking have not helped to make him tougher. But he has lots of friends. He has an obsession about security: for example, he constantly checks to make sure that doors are locked. He is, generally, fearful of the world. These are also long-standing problems.

I need practical advice on how he and I can overcome these problems and turn his life around. I hope someone can help me.

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bringbackopalfruits · 15/05/2013 10:01

Has he had any formal assessments? There are ways to help improve attention and concentration if the specific issues can be identified. An OT assessment would be helpful.

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CalicoRose · 16/05/2013 05:45

If you research ADHD you will find there's loads and loads and loads that can be done to help attention problems.

Some people use medicine for it, others have success with vitamins and supplements (eg omega, b12, zinc, magnesium, behaviour balance....) and some people have lots of success with a wide range if alternative therapists.

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Tigersarebetterlooking · 16/05/2013 12:16

Hi my dd had long standing concentration problems at school and at the beginning of year 7 I tried giving her fish oils - a good strength one, not a kids one. It could have been a coincidence but after a few weeks her teachers said she was a changed person and no attention or concentration problems ever since. Just might be worth a try. Good luck.