Hope

ADHD (attention deficiency hyperactivity disorder)

Dyslexia

Autism

You only have to have a handful of them in school and it will send the school reeling in circles looking after their demands. It's a stone's throw away and many have symptoms to a certain degree of the above mentioned...disorders. I am wary of this 'disorder' because it attaches a certain label to it. But yet it is important to recognise it as an early address to it can mean a world of difference. Cases above are real and counsellors, teachers and students help them through in their school life. The counsellors devise sessions for them while their classmates put up with their temperaments and exercise patience. Sometimes the friends also do not know why such cases behave in this manner; they only know they will be unkind if they tease them.

Yet, the main stream school has to find ways and methods to solve problems attached to such behaviour and seek the cooperation of parents. Such cases can never be solved without the full support and cooperation of fathers and mothers. There are proven cases that when the parents recognise the symptoms and work towards handling them with professional and medical help; the disorders will decrease in due time. I have seen it happening.

Today I witnessed before my own eyes a case of ADHD turning good.

The year was 1999? Sam was in Form 1 then. We teachers were afraid for him. He would burst out and wail in despair tearing his hair. Then he would sometimes go to a corner and talk to himself. We were afraid he might lose control and hurt himself unknowingly. When such times happen, the students were advised to keep themselves away from him so as to not add irritation. Classes would be disrupted as the teacher had to attend to his needs.
The greatest fear was when we saw him cycling in the school compound heading towards an oncoming car. He was not afraid of any consequences. He seemed to be oblivious of the danger he was in. That was the limit for us. The mother was called in and after a long discussion we wanted the mum to seek proper treatment and address the problem. Sam was asked to take leave because we felt inadequate to handle him.
Sam's mum was cooperative. She took our advice and sought medical help. Sam underwent proper help and after 6 months came back to school. We were glad to have him back but we knew we had to be careful with him. He was treated with great care. Friends and teachers took effort to leave him to do what he was comfortable with; not to arouse any unnecessary hurt.

He stayed with us till his SPM year; age17. Then occasionally he would drop by to say hello albeit sometimes still displaying some tantrums. But today after so many years, he came by to pick a sibling. I stopped him and asked for the latest. He told me that after he left school, he enrolled in a hospitality course and later to switch to another college to do a higher diploma and finally a degree. He did it ! A case when we thought was difficult. But he achieved it with the help of supportive parents who knew how to chart his career path. I believe the parents are only interested that he has a vocation that will earn him independence and self sufficiency in life.

Out of interest I asked:

Me : Do you still go back for medical help?
Sam : Yes. I visit the doctor as she is keen to see my progress. I talk to her and I like visiting her. The visits are just routine exercises.
Me : How about the work place? Can you adjust yourself well?
Sam : It was difficult in the beginning. Being a junior chef, I can be under tremendous pressure and I do get upset at times. But I also know the expectation is for my good. I now strive to do as well as I can.
Me : Have you got a girlfriend?
Sam : No, not yet.
Me: Hang on; you will one day.

Sam left me for his sibling who was feeling unwell. Now his parents trust him and believe that he is capable of taking care of someone else. That is marvellous. After all these years of teaching, it is rewarding to know that there is hope when you thought there was none.

There is hope.

We will continue to work on such cases.