Does My Child Have ADHD?

Do you think your child has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? ADHD can cause hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention. About five percent of children in the United States have ADHD. More boys than girls have ADHD.

Hyperactivity causes fidgeting or excessive talking. Hyperactive children have trouble staying in their seats. They can find it hard to play quietly, even when playing a quiet game. A child shows impulsivity when he can't wait his turn. He may answer questions before they are finished or he has been called on. Children with ADHD often interrupt others' conversations. For a doctor to diagnose a child with ADHD, the child must have symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity for at least six months. The child's hyperactivity and impulsivity must be different from what is normal for the child's age.

ADHD also causes problems with paying attention. Children with ADHD do not pay close attention to details. It is hard for them to stay on task. They make careless mistakes in schoolwork and do not follow instructions carefully. Inattention causes distraction and forgetfulness. This forgetfulness can cause the child to lose things such as toys, homework, and pencils.

Symptoms must be present before the child is seven years old. There must be clear evidence of difficulty in at least two settings, such as at school and at home. Other disorders must be ruled out before a diagnosis of ADHD can be made.

Doctors recommend behavior modification therapy and/or medication for children with ADHD. Therapy encourages desired behavior and discourages undesirable behavior. Child psychologists provide therapy. They can also teach parents how to use the same techniques at home. Studies show that a combination of therapy and medicine works better and requires less medicine than medicine alone.

Several medicines are available for the treatment of ADHD. Ritalin is the oldest of these. It is a stimulant that has been used for over 50 years. Concerta and Metadate are new medicines that contain Ritalin in a time release formula. This allows the child to take medicine less often during the day. A Ritalin patch, Daytrana, is now available. Straterra is a non-stimulant medicine for the treatment of ADHD.

Only a doctor can diagnose ADHD. If you think your child has ADHD, make an appointment with your doctor or a child psychologist. He or she can test your child and recommend treatment.