6 year old son can not focus or remember what he studied

by James
(Canada)

My son is very active and very mechanical minded. But his problems are:

1. If I ask him tell the English alphabets, he can tell very quickly, but if I show him an alphabet and ask him, he will not remember some.

2. If I ask him about anything he studied at school, he will not remember it.

3. He can hardly sit in one place concentrate and study. Even at school, he doesn't want to concentrate, but he want to get involved in his own interests.

Please advice.

Doug's Reply. If you son's problems with concentration are severe enough to interfere with school performance, you might want to have him tested for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).

Symptoms of ADHD include hyperactivity, distractability, poor school performance, impulsive behavior, and problems focusing on tasks.

This condition is sometimes treated with medications. While these can be helpful, they often have side effects.

Another treatment option is "neurofeedback". During this procedure, electrodes monitor the child's brain waves. A computer program then helps the child adjust his own brain waves back to normal.

Neurofeedback is rather new, but a friend of mine who actually bought the machine says it's been very effective with her son and daughter who both have ADHD.

However, keep in mind that some children are more energetic than others. This might be a phase that your son will grow out of. So it's important not to diagnose your child yourself.

Talk to your family physician to get a professional opinion and find out more about your options.

Best regards,
Douglas
Memory-Improvement-Tips.com