ADHD is now recognized as a legitimate disorder which can be treated.

ADHD is a very common disorder among young children and, if undiagnosed, can lead to severe problems as the child develops. In early times, the disorder was put down to hyperactivity – now it is known to be psychological behavioral disorder, the causes of which are unclear.

Symptoms of ADHD

It is not enough that your child seems overactive and does not seem to ‘settle down’, being full of energy. Children with ADHD may present symptoms like

– Inattentiveness in play and schoolwork
– Hyperactivity
– Impulsiveness
– Disorganized behavior
– Losing things
– Aggressive behavior (likely to fly off the handle at the slightest provocation)
– Extremely and easily distracted
– Being fidgety
– Talkative

Attention deficit means that he or she (more boys than girls are affected by ADHD) lacks the ability to concentrate on the task at hand whether work or play. The child can never sit still and is always on the move, usually attention seeking. He or she can drive the parents up the wall.

The earlier you can get a diagnosis the better the prognosis.

Can ADHD be treated?

Psychiatrists and particularly pediatric psychiatrists or a pediatrician working with a psychiatrist should be consulted. Psychological and IQ tests can usually reveal the extent of the problem. There is usually a three-pronged treatment for ADHD: medicines, psychotherapy and behavioral conditioning and support and counseling.

There are different medications for different kinds of ADHD. Depending on the symptoms and behavior patterns, the doctor may give a special kind of stimulant which calms the child down. Usually amphetamines (or similar drugs) or Ritalin are used for ADHD. These can be given in the form of capsules, pills, liquids or skin patch. Sometimes extended release medicines work better. In any case dosages have to be monitored very careful as all these medications have side effects and the side effects should not outweigh the benefits.

Parents’ role

Parents have to play an active role in the treatment of this disorder. In conjunction with a psychiatrist they have to be able use all their skills in reinforcing positive behavior patterns in the child. They also have to work with teachers and the school system so that the child can keep up with the schoolwork and the teachers are also kept in the loop. Sometimes children with ADHD may qualify for special education problems.

It is also vital that the child be kept to as fixed a routine as possible – this will help him or her be more organized and disciplined and this will help in all kinds of situations. If there are existing family problems, or there are also siblings involved, family therapy can help overcome other problems which contribute to ADHD.

ADHD exists with other disorders

Diagnostic testing is very important and to be properly diagnosed the child has to meet certain criteria for ADHD. Occasionally children with ADHD also suffer from other disorders which make normal life problematic. For instance a child can have a learning disability, oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder, bipolar disorder, Tourette syndrome, bed wetting, anxiety and depression.

Medicine and therapy has to be tailored for the individual child as each child has different type of ADHD and if other disorders are also diagnosed then medicines will be totally different. You also have to be on the look out for side effects as these can be minor like sleeplessness or serious.

The important thing is that ADHD needs to be treated, otherwise children can face even more problems when they grow up and become adults.

Author Bio: Andy Thompson has extensive information on health conditions as well as investigative health journalism on HealthLifeandStuff. ADHD and ADD ADHD test

Category: Wellness, Fitness and Diet
Keywords: ADHD, ADD, ADHD test, ADHD children, Ritalin