What is ADHD?
A neurodevelopmental disorder, ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) affects around 11% of children over 5 years old. It typically causes behavior that isn’t appropriate for a child at their age. Common problems include inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.
In most cases, childhood ADHD continues to affect children into adulthood. Without expert diagnosis and treatment, children with ADHD experience challenges in their school and home life that persist when they grow up.
While most children have problems with focusing, impatience, and impulse control at times, these issues are ongoing for a child with ADHD and interfere with their lives every day. ADHD can lead to:
- Failure at school
- Family disruption
- Depression
- Relationship problems
- Substance abuse
- Delinquency
- Accidental injuries
- Job failure
However, if your child receives a diagnosis of ADHD at an early age and has support from an expert in child development like Dr. Rotenberg, they can flourish.
What are the symptoms of ADHD?
ADHD symptoms develop in early childhood and must be present by the age of 12 for that diagnosis. There are three variations of ADHD, and symptoms of predominantly inattentive ADHD include:
- Lack of attention to detail
- Making careless mistakes
- Difficulty sustaining attention
- Not appearing to listen
- Struggling with instructions
- Difficulty with organization
- Disliking tasks requiring sustained mental effort
- Losing things
- Being easily distracted
- Forgetfulness in daily activities
Symptoms of hyperactive-impulsive ADHD include:
- Fidgeting with hands or feet
- Squirming when seated
- Difficulty remaining seated
- Running about or climbing excessively
- Difficulty doing activities quietly
- Acting as if driven by a motor
- Talking excessively
- Blurting out answers too soon
- Difficulty waiting or taking turns
- Interrupting or intruding upon others
Children with a combined presentation have symptoms of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD. Children can have mild, moderate, or severe ADHD. Symptoms and their severity can also change as your child gets older.
Some of these symptoms are present in children who have other behavioral disorders, such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder, so an accurate diagnosis is vital.
How is ADHD treated?
Treating a child who has ADHD typically requires a comprehensive or multifaceted approach that includes medical, educational, behavioral, and psychological therapies. Supporting your child with skills training, counseling, and education enables them to learn how to manage their ADHD.
Medication can often help children who have ADHD, so Dr. Rotenberg might recommend stimulants for your child. Stimulants can help children focus their thoughts and avoid distractions. These medications are effective in as many as 80% of cases.
If stimulants don’t work, or your child experiences disagreeable side effects, non-stimulants might help. These medications can help improve your child’s impulse control and concentration.
If your child has symptoms of a behavioral disorder like ADHD, call Houston Specialty Clinic today.
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