Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. It makes it hard for a child to focus and pay attention. Some children may be hyperactive or have trouble being patient. For children with ADHD, levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behaviors are greater than for other children in their age group. ADHD can make it hard for a child to do well in school or behave at home or in the community. Children of all backgrounds can have ADHD. Teens and adults can have ADHD, too.
What causes ADHD?
No one knows for sure. ADHD probably stems from interactions between genes and environmental, or non-genetic, factors.
ADHD often runs in families. Researchers have found that much of the risk of having ADHD has to do with genes. Many genes are linked to ADHD, and each gene plays a small role in the disorder. ADHD is very complex, and a genetic test for diagnosing the disorder is not yet available.
Among the non-genetic factors that may increase a child’s risk for developing ADHD are:
Some studies suggest that artificial food additives and dyes may worsen hyperactivity and inattention, but these effects are small and do not account for most cases of ADHD.
What does ADHD look like?
ADHD has many symptoms. Some symptoms may, at first, look like normal behaviors for a child, but ADHD makes them much worse and occur more often. Children with ADHD have at least six symptoms that start in the first 12 years of their lives.
There are three types:
ADHD symptoms affect children...
How does ADHD affect teens?
Being a teenager isn’t always easy. Teens with ADHD can have a tough time. While hyperactivity tends to get better as a child becomes a teen, problems with inattention, disorganization, and poor impulse control often continue through the teen years and into adulthood. School may be a struggle, and some teens take too many risks or break rules. But like children with ADHD, teens can improve with treatment.
Support your teen. Set clear rules for him or her to follow. Try not to punish your teen every time he or she breaks the rules. Let your teen know you can help.
How do I know if my child has ADHD?
Your child’s doctor may make a diagnosis, or sometimes the doctor may refer you to a mental health specialist who is more experienced with ADHD to make a diagnosis.
There is no single test that can tell if your child has ADHD. To make a diagnosis, the doctor or specialist will examine your child and use several rating scales to track ADHD symptoms. The specialist will also collect information from you, your family, and your child’s teachers.
Sometimes it can be hard to diagnose a child with ADHD because symptoms may look like other problems. For example, a child may seem quiet and well-behaved, but in fact he or she is having a hard time paying attention and is often distracted. Or, a child may have behavior problems in school, but teachers don’t realize that the child has ADHD.
How do children with ADHD get better?
Children with ADHD can get better with treatment, but there is no cure. There are three basic types of treatment:
1. Medication. Research indicates that pharmacological treatment is the treatment of choice for ADHD. The most common types of medications are called stimulants. Medications help children focus, learn, stay calm, and regulate their behavior. Sometimes medications cause side effects, such as sleep problems or stomachaches. Your child may need to try a few medications and dosages to see what works best. It’s important that you and your doctor watch your child closely while he or she is taking medicine.
2. Behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can help teach children to control their behavior so they can do better at school and at home. Behavioral regulation strategies aim to improve the frequency and duration of positive, on-task behaviors. Reinforcing/rewarding children for these positive behaviors can be effective. The environment is modified to focus on the child's strengths and areas of concern. Parents and teachers should work together to establish realistic expectations regarding behavioral management and task completion.
3. Medication and therapy combined. Many children do well when both medication and behavioral therapy are implemented.
Give your child guidance and understanding. A specialist can show you how to help your child make positive changes. Supporting your child helps everyone in your family. Also, talk to your child’s teachers. Some children with ADHD can get special education services.
Taken from National Institute of Mental Health and ADHDinfographic.com
ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder that begins in childhood and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. It makes it hard for a child to focus and pay attention. Some children may be hyperactive or have trouble being patient. For children with ADHD, levels of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behaviors are greater than for other children in their age group. ADHD can make it hard for a child to do well in school or behave at home or in the community. Children of all backgrounds can have ADHD. Teens and adults can have ADHD, too.
What causes ADHD?
No one knows for sure. ADHD probably stems from interactions between genes and environmental, or non-genetic, factors.
ADHD often runs in families. Researchers have found that much of the risk of having ADHD has to do with genes. Many genes are linked to ADHD, and each gene plays a small role in the disorder. ADHD is very complex, and a genetic test for diagnosing the disorder is not yet available.
Among the non-genetic factors that may increase a child’s risk for developing ADHD are:
- Smoking or drinking during pregnancy
- Birth complications or very low birth weight
- Exposure to lead or other toxic substances
- Extreme neglect, abuse, or social deprivation
Some studies suggest that artificial food additives and dyes may worsen hyperactivity and inattention, but these effects are small and do not account for most cases of ADHD.
What does ADHD look like?
ADHD has many symptoms. Some symptoms may, at first, look like normal behaviors for a child, but ADHD makes them much worse and occur more often. Children with ADHD have at least six symptoms that start in the first 12 years of their lives.
There are three types:
- Inattentive: Child exhibits significant inattention across multiple domains with no significant hyperactivity or impulsivity. This is what used to be considered "ADD."
- Hyperactive: Child exhibits adequate attentional control; however, presents with significant deficits with activity level and/or impulse control.
- Combined: The most common form of ADHD in which the child struggles with paying attention as well as regulating behavior.
- often makes mistakes in homework
- often has trouble keeping attention on tasks or play activities
- often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
- often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork
- often has difficulty organizing activities
- often avoids, dislikes, or doesn't want to do things that take a lot of mental effort for a long period of time
- often loses things needed for tasks and activities (e.g., toys, assignments, school materials)
- often easily distracted
- often forgetful in daily activities
- fidgets with hands or feet in seat when sitting still is expected
- often gets up from seat when remaining in seat is expected
- often excessively runs about or climbs when and where it is not appropriate (adolescents and adults may feel very restless)
- often has difficulty playing or doing leisure activities quietly
- often "on the go" or acts as if "driven by a motor"
- often talks excessively
- often blurts out answers before questions have been finished
- often has difficulty waiting one's turn
- often interrupts or intrudes on others
ADHD symptoms affect children...
- at home: difficulty following morning routines, increase in frequency of arguments with parents/siblings, difficulty completing homework and daily chores, messy/disorganized room
- at school: difficulty remaining seated in class, missing instruction due to inattention, difficulty completing work in a timely fashion or rushing through work to get done, difficulty organizing materials
- socially: difficulty regulating behavior on the playground, trouble interacting with peers, difficulty waiting turns during games
How does ADHD affect teens?
Being a teenager isn’t always easy. Teens with ADHD can have a tough time. While hyperactivity tends to get better as a child becomes a teen, problems with inattention, disorganization, and poor impulse control often continue through the teen years and into adulthood. School may be a struggle, and some teens take too many risks or break rules. But like children with ADHD, teens can improve with treatment.
Support your teen. Set clear rules for him or her to follow. Try not to punish your teen every time he or she breaks the rules. Let your teen know you can help.
How do I know if my child has ADHD?
Your child’s doctor may make a diagnosis, or sometimes the doctor may refer you to a mental health specialist who is more experienced with ADHD to make a diagnosis.
There is no single test that can tell if your child has ADHD. To make a diagnosis, the doctor or specialist will examine your child and use several rating scales to track ADHD symptoms. The specialist will also collect information from you, your family, and your child’s teachers.
Sometimes it can be hard to diagnose a child with ADHD because symptoms may look like other problems. For example, a child may seem quiet and well-behaved, but in fact he or she is having a hard time paying attention and is often distracted. Or, a child may have behavior problems in school, but teachers don’t realize that the child has ADHD.
How do children with ADHD get better?
Children with ADHD can get better with treatment, but there is no cure. There are three basic types of treatment:
1. Medication. Research indicates that pharmacological treatment is the treatment of choice for ADHD. The most common types of medications are called stimulants. Medications help children focus, learn, stay calm, and regulate their behavior. Sometimes medications cause side effects, such as sleep problems or stomachaches. Your child may need to try a few medications and dosages to see what works best. It’s important that you and your doctor watch your child closely while he or she is taking medicine.
2. Behavioral therapy. Behavioral therapy can help teach children to control their behavior so they can do better at school and at home. Behavioral regulation strategies aim to improve the frequency and duration of positive, on-task behaviors. Reinforcing/rewarding children for these positive behaviors can be effective. The environment is modified to focus on the child's strengths and areas of concern. Parents and teachers should work together to establish realistic expectations regarding behavioral management and task completion.
3. Medication and therapy combined. Many children do well when both medication and behavioral therapy are implemented.
Give your child guidance and understanding. A specialist can show you how to help your child make positive changes. Supporting your child helps everyone in your family. Also, talk to your child’s teachers. Some children with ADHD can get special education services.
Taken from National Institute of Mental Health and ADHDinfographic.com