Does My Child Have ADHD?
Attention-Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder is a disorder that is almost exactly what it sounds. It is when children (and adults) are inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive causing significant life problems. Some with ADHD only have problems with inattention. Others only struggle with hyperactivity, and some have issues with both. marriage counseling
ADHD
is a disorder usually first diagnosed in childhood. If you are a parent and are
concerned that your child may have Attention Deficit / Hyperactivity Disorder,
here are a few things to consider and some information on how to seek out
appropriate help.
To
be diagnosed in childhood, symptoms of inattention or hyperactivity must occur
before the age of seven. Also symptoms must occur in another location besides
home; usually at school. If you are concerned that your child may have ADHD I
recommend that you seek out help immediately. Here are a few ideas for how to
access resources for diagnosing the problem and finding treatment. diversity
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If
your child is in school you may request an evaluation from your school
psychologist. I also recommend that you communicate with the teacher to compare
notes and talk about concerns. If there is a counselor at school you may
consider initiating counseling. family
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Outside
the school there are also resources. Talk with your pediatrician about your
concerns. Or have your child seen by a psychiatrist, preferably one that
specializes in children. Both a pediatrician and psychiatrist are able to
prescribe medication for ADHD, although some pediatricians are more comfortable
doing this than others. family
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You
may be asked to complete some assessment tools to help a physician diagnose
ADHD. These comprise of written questions to be answered by a parent, and one
other adult who has viewed the child in a setting outside the home (such as a
teacher). These questions are really helpful for diagnosing ADHD and help bring
objectivity to the evaluation because they gather data from two different
settings. Also, because behaviors such as inattention, hyperactivity and
impulsivity can happen for a variety of reasons, the assessment tools help rule
out other disorders and issues. Depression
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Finally,
I encourage you to seek out help in diagnosing this disorder if you have
concerns about your child. As a parent you know your child the best and can
become a strong advocate for getting answers and finding support. ADHD makes it
very difficult for children to thrive, especially in school. So intervening
early will make all the difference.
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