Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

When my son was four years old he was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and also Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

He had shown no signs at all when he was younger than that and when he started acting out, it was a surprise and shocked us all.

He started being very aggressive, not listening or following orders, he was very hyper, did not pay attention and could not control his impulses.

The child who could sit through whole movies and not budge before 2 years of age, would no longer sit still.

One thing that really irritated me is the assumption that these children do not need medication and we are just doping up our kids. For my son, I would hear that he was just 'being a boy'. Some children may not need medication, that is very true. Some children do in fact need medication and my son is one of them.

Here are some of the things I found relating to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

About eight to ten percent of children will have this common behavioral problem. Three times as many boys will be diagnosed than girls.

There are 3 basic category's. Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), a hyperactive-impulsive type, then there is the combined type referred to as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Some of the signs of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)are:

• Forgetfulness in every day activities
• Having trouble organizing
• Avoiding and disliking anything that requires any mental effort
• Inability to pay attention and concentrating
• Making careless errors in schoolwork and activities
• Tendency to lose items. (clothes, school work, toys, etc.)
• Difficulty following instructions

Signs of the hyper-impulsive types are:

• Difficulty waiting their turn for something
• Problems interrupting and intruding
• Running and climbing excessively
• Fidgeting
• Trouble remaining seated
• Being an excessive talker
• Having trouble playing quietly

Then there is the combined type ADHD which is more common.

For those that think just because my kid acts out I went and had him medicated to be more easily controlled, they need to know that certain guidelines ARE followed in diagnosing someone with this condition.

No, there is no specific test to diagnose Attention Deficit Disorder.

The things that may be done when making a decision on the diagnosis are:

• A physical exam will be done. They will go over the symptoms with you, ask questions about any medications your child is currently taking, go over your family health history and discuss with you any concerns you are having.
• Vision and hearing tests most likely will be conducted.
• There may be a questionnaire with many questions on it. I remember filling this out and it was a very in depth questionnaire about behaviors and situations and how my child handled them and reacted to them.
• An educational evaluation may be done.
• A psychological evaluation may be done by a school psychologist or an independent psychologist.

My son has all of those done, more than once.

To even have the diagnosis of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity considered as a diagnosis:

• Your child must have symptoms from both category's before they turned 7.
• The behaviors must be present for at least 6 months.
• The behaviors must be more severe then other children their age.
• The behaviors must affect their lives in at least two different areas. Such as at home, school, with friends, etc.

Please do not think anything you did parenting wise caused your child's condition. Poor parenting, vaccines and sugar are not what causes ADHD.

There has not been one single thing that has been discovered that caused ADHD. We just do not know what causes it, but it does stem from biological origins.

Chemical changes in the brain have been discovered in children with ADHD. Smoking during pregnancy, premature birth, low birth weight and brain injuries at birth have also been linked as contributers.

My son was born two weeks late, he was nine pounds, seven and a half ounces. I did not smoke. There was no trauma to his brain at birth.

These is some difficulty is diagnosing Attention Deficit Disorder, hyper-impulsively and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder as they usually occur in conjunction with co-existing conditions. Two thirds of those diagnosed also have one of the following:

• Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
• Conduct Disorder
• Anxiety Disorders
• Mood disorders (ex. Depression)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD)
• Tourette's Syndrome
• Learning disabilities

There are no cures for ADHD, but there is treatment and it can be successfully managed.

Medications that can be used are non-stimulants, stimulants and anti-depressants. All medicines can effect each person differently. Unfortunately there may be a time of trial and error until the doctor and you find the medicine that best works for your child and does not effect your child negatively. They also always start out on the lowest possible dosage.

Behavioral Therapy will also be used. Behavioral therapy tries to change behavior patterns.

• Create a routine
• Help your child get organized
• Use rewards and goals
• Limit choices to only 2 or 3 items.
• Effective discipline
• Find something your child enjoys and that they have a talent for. (with my son is is cars and art)
• Use brief and straightforward directions

When in school:

• make sure your child is seated somewhere with as few distractions as possible. Unfortunately sitting next to their friend may not be possible.
• Work with the teachers to set up a plan that works for your child. An IEP (Individualized Educational Plan) may be implemented.
• Always give positive reinforcement. Praise your child instead if criticizing. See if you can get your child's teachers to also participate this way.
• Break down the assignments
• Communication with your child's teachers is very important

Some people find that a more holistic approach and a balanced diet works for their child.

Whichever route is taken to try and help your child live a happy and full life, all treatments need to be closely followed.

Living with and raising a child with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can be very challenging. I do have trouble sometimes remembering that he can not control his behavior and he is not doing it on purpose even if it may seem like he is.

Make sure you are your child's biggest fan, and always support them.