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Children and ADHD
Attention deficit disorder is the term that is used to refer to a common behavioral disorder that is present in children (also teens and ADHD) as well as adults. Prior to 1994, the disorder was simply referred to as attention deficit disorder and commonly known as ADD. At that time, the disorder was renamed Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, now known as ADHD.
It is estimated that somewhere between 4% and 8% of all school age children have this disorder.
Studies have shown that boys are significantly more at risk for having ADHD than girls, although the reason behind this risk is not known.
It is not known at this time what causes ADHD, but it is believed that the disorder is genetic in origin.
Children and ADHD Risk Factors
Certain risk factors, such as:
... have been associated with the development of ADHD later in childhood.
So, what is ADHD and how do you know if your child has it?
Basically, individuals with ADHD tend to act without thinking, have difficulty focusing and concentrating and are generally hyper.
While this type of activity and behavior can describe most children at some time or another throughout childhood, children with ADHD exhibit behavior that appears for longer periods of time and is present at home as well as at school.
ADHD Child Symptoms
Some of the most common symptoms of ADHD include:
Children and ADHD Tests
There is no test that can definitively answer whether an individual has or does not have ADHD.
Instead, a comprehensive evaluation is performed by a trained diagnostician, such as an ADHD Pediatrician or ADHD doctor specializing in this field. An ADHD specialist is likely to be associated with an ADHD clinic.
A psychologist or neurologist may be brought in to consult if there is any indication that there may also be the presence of another disorder or learning disability.
In general, a child may be suspected of having ADHD if they exhibit any of the behaviors listed above by the age of 7 and the behavior lasts for 6 months or more. In addition, the behavior must be present in more than one area of the child’s life-not just at home or at school.
It should be noted that children who are experiencing stressful situations due to a recent move, divorce, illness or other situation sometimes display similar behavior, so it’s important to be up front about such stressors when the child is evaluated.
A physical examination may also be performed and the child’s family history as well as medical history will be taken into consideration. This is to make sure that there are no other issues that could be causing the behavior problems, to prevent misdiagnosis.
Children and ADHD Treatments
It is important to recognize that ADHD cannot be cured ...
... but it can be treated and managed.
Each child is different and the process of treating and managing his or her ADHD will be a joint effort between the health care provider, the child and his or her parents.
Behavior therapy and ADHD medication are normally used in a joint treatment plan for managing ADHD.
This includes follow-up and monitoring.
In most cases, the child’s teachers will also play an important role in the management and treatment plan.
ADHD Medication
Because medication affect everyone differently, it will be important to find a medication that works for the child. There are several different kinds of medication used to treat ADHD and it may be necessary to make adjustments and modifications during the treatment plan.
ADHD Behavior Therapy
Behavior therapy plays an important role by working to change patterns of behavior. This includes giving clear instructions and directions and providing a system of consistent rewards for good behavior while using negative consequences for unacceptable behavior.
Tips for helping a child with ADHD change their behavior include:
To find out more about adult ADD take a look at our frequently updated ADD articles.
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Legal Disclaimer The information contained in this web site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to medically diagnose, treat or cure any disease. Consult a health care practitioner before beginning any health care program.
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