What is ADHD?
Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of
the most common neurobehavioral disorders of childhood.
It is sometimes referred to as Attention Deficit Disorder
(ADD). It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and
often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD have
trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors
(may act without thinking about what the result will be),
and, in some cases, are overly active.
What are some of the signs of ADHD?
It is normal for children, at one time or another, to have
trouble focusing and behaving. However, in children
with ADHD, the symptoms continue instead of getting
better, and they can make learning very difficult.
A child with ADHD might:
- have a hard time paying attention and daydream a lot
- not seem to listen
- be easily distracted from schoolwork or play
- forget things
- be in constant motion or unable to stay seated
- squirm or fidget
- talk too much
- not be able to play quietly
- act and speak without thinking
- have trouble taking turns
- interrupt others
Deciding if a child has ADHD is a several step process.
There is no single test to diagnose ADHD, and many
other problems, like anxiety, depression, and certain
types of learning disabilities, can have similar symptoms.
One step of the process involves having a medical exam,
including hearing and vision tests, to rule out other
problems with symptoms like ADHD. Another part of the
process may include a checklist for rating ADHD symptoms
and taking a history of the child from parents, teachers,
and sometimes, the child.
What can I do if I think my child may have ADHD?
If you or your doctor have
concerns about ADHD, you can take your child to a
specialist such as a child psychologist or developmental
pediatrician, or you can contact your local early
intervention agency (for children under 3) or public
school (for children 3 and older). To find out who to
speak to in your area, you can contact the National
Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities by
logging on to
http://www.nichcy.org/ or calling
1-800-695-0285.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
sponsors the National Resource Center, a program of
CHADD – Children and Adults with
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. Their Web site
has links to information for people with ADHD and their
families (www.help4adhd.org). The National
Resources Center operates a call center with trained staff
to answer questions about ADHD. The number is
1-800-233-4050.
In order to make sure your child reaches his or her full
potential, it is very important to get help for ADHD as
early as possible.
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