Perhaps one of the most challenging conditions that can afflict a child early in life is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (also known as ADHD or ADD). But rather than being engrossed in wondering what we, as parents, might have done wrong or what might have caused the onset of the disorder, it is better to find ways to help our children cope up with this condition.

ADD can be a lifelong burden. Studies indicate that approximately 30 to 70% of all ADD cases can persist up to the adult years. What's worse is that majority of these cases can go on undiagnosed and untreated. Being an adult with ADD is not an easy call, either. The symptoms of ADD can very much complicate an afflicted individual's life, which may lead to the development of low self-esteem, substance abuse and relationship problems, among others.

Given this scenario, treating and supporting a child with this condition can be considered a dire necessity. It can be very vital in order to give our children an equal chance in succeeding and living a happy life.

Aside from the usual stimulant medication routine, there are also several intervention approaches available to help an ADD child cope with the condition. Among these are the following:

. Psychotherapy. In clinical settings, the therapist generally urges the patient to talk about thoughts or feelings which can be upsetting him (or her) and how he (or she) may have reacted or dealt with the offending situation. From thereon, both patient and therapist try to explore alternative ways to handle the patient's emotions and find ways to change for the better. In psychotherapy, the patients are taught how they can better cope with their disorder and learn how they can accept and like themselves despite the disorder.

. Social Skills Training. This approach is mainly geared towards teaching children to learn accepted behaviors necessary in developing and maintaining social relationships. An ADD child is known to be hyperactive and impulsive. They might find it hard to build friendly relationships with other children since they cannot control their emotions and they generally don't think before they act. Simple things like waiting for a turn in a game or toy they want may be impossible for them.

What they naturally lack, they might learn to develop in a social skills training session. During these sessions, the therapist explains and models appropriate behaviors for particular situations and gives the children a chance to practice what they learned.

. Behavioral Intervention. Children with ADD have short attention spans and may find difficulty in organizing. Therefore, one major task left for us parents is to help them in this aspect. To answer this need effectively, here are some simple behavioral interventions which may go a long, long way: ? Stick to a schedule. Having the same routine day after day can be a great help for these children and may help them create a sense of order in their otherwise chaotic existence. It is best to write down the schedule (be as detailed as you can be!) and post it where they can see it. For this task, the refrigerator door can be your best choice! Teach them to write it down! Stress the importance of writing down assignments and other school work. And finally, be a good role model. To do this, you may simply need to have a place for everything and keep everything in their proper places at all times. You'll be surprised at how much this can positively affect your child!