A new organization has been started to help parents cope with children with Attention Deficit (Hyperactivity) Disorder.

Children who have ADD or ADHD can have symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity. They can be restless, easily distracted, impulsive and impatient. Genetics and environment can be causes of the disorders.

Eileen Bailey and her husband founded ADDHelpline Inc., an online organization that allows parents to chat with ADD coaches and other parents about dealing with children who have the disorders.

About a year ago, Bailey was looking for a support group to help out her son, but she was getting nowhere in her research and decided to start an e-mail discussion with other parents. The discussion grew rapidly, and Bailey soon turned it into a Web site. The first official site, www.addhelpline.org, was launched April 1, 2000, and quickly went international.

“We have visitors from almost every time zone in the world coming to the site on a regular basis,” Bailey said.

Currently, the monthly newsletter reaches about 3,000 parents, and an average of 150 people visit the site each day. Bailey reads about 50 to 100 e-mails a day and talks to about 15 people at the weekly chat sessions.

“Many parents seem to like our ‘Parent Talk,'” Bailey said. “It allows them to offer help, guidance and support to a parent that has written for help.”

ADDHelpline consists of chat rooms for parents and an “Ask the Coach” link where parents can talk with a professional ADD coach. There also are articles for parents and educators, motivational and organizational tips, products and services designed to help parents and a directory for further assistance.

Advertising helps pay for the software, Web hosting and incidental costs, and the Baileys pay for the rest. Thousands of hours, Bailey said, go into the volunteer work to keep up the site.

“The benefits of having an online organization is that the information is available to everyone around the world at all times,” Bailey said.

On the other hand, Web work just isn’t enough.

“I receive e-mails and I feel that an e-mail alone is not enough,” Bailey said. “Sometimes there is pain and frustration to the level that I just wish I could reach out and give them a hug, and being online, that is impossible.”

Information on stimulant medications and alternative treatments is available on the site also.

“The most important is, I think, that we try to remain neutral in the controversy of medication,” Bailey said. “We offer support to all parents, regardless of their treatment choices.”

Besides the treatment information, there is a section for educators giving them help on how to deal with ADD/ADHD children in the classroom. In August, there will be an online auction to raise money for an online classroom which will provide in-service seminars for teachers and parents.