By Charlotte Gerber
Is your child the type that can never sit still? Do they jump around the room for no apparent reason, flap their arms quickly like a bird or talk constantly? If they do, they may have ADHD. However, there are many life stresses that can also bring on ADHD-like behavior in children. Therefore, it is important for your child to have a complete physical so that you can discuss your child’s behavior with his or her physician.
Many children are labeled as having ADHD even when they do not have a diagnosis simply because they are very active or seem to have behavior problems at school. This may be the reason why so many children are incorrectly labeled as having the disorder. When a teacher or school psychologist determines that your child has the symptoms of the disease it is still important for you to take your child to a pediatrician for an actual diagnosis.
What are some of the warning signs of ADHD? According to the Cleveland Clinic’s Children’s Hospital, some of the symptoms for children ages 6 to 12 are as follows:
· A child is in constant motion.
· Squirming and fidgeting.
· A child doesn’t seem to listen.
· A child has difficulty playing quietly.
· Escessive talking
· A tendency to interrupt or intrude on others conversations · Easily distracted
· Inability to finish tasks
Problems that can mimic ADHD-like behavior include the following:
· A sudden life change (such as divorce, a death in the family, or moving)
· Undetected seizures
· Medical disorders affecting brain function
· Anxiety
· Depression
It is difficult to diagnose ADHD in children under the age of 6 and in teenagers. This is because children in these age groups often act unpredictably in certain situations, especially stressful ones. A diagnosis is often made after several sources have had an input in the diagnosis. The sources often include caregivers, school teachers, school psychologists and primary care physicians.
There are three different ADHD types that are currently known. The first is the Combined Type. This type includes the diagnosis of Inattentive/Hyperactive/Impulsive. This is the most common type of ADHD. The second type is the Hyperactive/Impulsive diagnosis. These children are hyperactive and exhibit impulsive behaviors but they are able to pay attention. The third type is Inattentive and was formerly known as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder). Since these children are not overly active and usually don’t disrupt classrooms, their symptoms aren’t readily identifiable.
Treatment programs often include special education, medication and behavior therapy. Research has shown that a combination of therapy rather than just medication alone significantly improves the success of a child managing their symptoms.
If you feel that your child’s unusual behavior is causing problems at school or at home, the best place to start is with a yearly physical. This gives you the opportunity to discuss any behavior problems that may be medically related with your child’s physician. The sooner this type of disorder is diagnosed the better it is for your child. Your child’s success in school, as well as future endeavors, depends on it.
Post a comment
FamilyLobby.com Articles is your source for family-related articles. Talk about this article in the FamilyLobby Community.
|
|
|
|
|
StumbleUpon
