ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder of the brain that make it difficult to control behavior. 4-12% of the population may be affected and boys are diagnosed three times as frequently as girls.
ADHD is classified depending on the symptoms involved. The three types are 1) Inattentive 2) Hyperactive and 3) Impulsive. Girls are often of the inattentive type which may make them more difficult to diagnose, this may be the reason boys are diagnosed more often than girls, rather than a true increased incidence in boys.
Without treatment, children often have trouble at home, school and frequently have difficulty getting along with other children. They frequently will have poor grades, low self esteem and may even have lifelong problems such as problems keeping a job and problems with the law.
Diagnosis: The Diagnostic criteria are based on guidelines for children 6-12 years old. To diagnosis ADHD there must be symptoms in more than one setting, such as at home, school and social situations. The symptoms must impair your child's ability to function in these settings, begin before 7 years of age and last for at least 6 months. Questionnaires are given to parents, caregivers and teachers to aid in the diagnosis of ADHD.
Treatment: Once the diagnosis has been established, then there are many treatment options for ADHD. Some of these include 1) Psychosocial treatments, such as adjusting the home and school environments to better fit the child's needs. Sometimes seeing a mental health professional is important to rule out co-existing conditions such as depression, anxiety, oppositional defiant disorder and learning disabilities. 2)Behavioral management, such as parenting classes and teaching positive reinforcement. 3) Medication- Stimulants and other types of medication. These are often safe and effective ways to relieve the symptoms of ADHD. These medications help them focus their thoughts and ignore distractions which enables them to pay attention and control their behavior. Approximately 80% of children will improve on these medications. The type and dose of medication would be discussed in detail before they are started. Any possible side effects would also be discussed.
Follow-up: Once therapy is started, the child will be monitored closely. We will start by following target outcomes such as improvement in personal relationships, improvement in school, better grades etc. These outcomes are personalized for your child. The treatment plan will be there to help achieve the targeted goals. Any possible side effects to the medications will also be monitored.
Resources for further information about ADHD include
1) The American Academy of Pediatrics. The website is www.AAP.org. The AAP offers up to date information about ADHD. They also publish books for parents including ADHD - A Complete and Authoritative Guide.
2) Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD). Phone: 1-800-233-4050.
Website: www.chadd.org
3) National Attention Deficit Disorder Association. Phone: 1-856-439-9099. Website: www.add.org