Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder where children have low attention and poor impulse control. They may be restless and over-active. Some of the symptoms are:

How a Child Will Act With Certain Symptoms

With inattention a child:

• Has a hard time paying attention, daydreams
• Does not seem to listen
• Is easily distracted from work or play
• Does not seem to care about details, makes careless mistakes
• Does not follow through on instructions or finish tasks
• Is disorganized
• Loses a lot of important things
• Forgets things
• Does not want to do things that require ongoing mental effort

With hyperactivity a child:

• Is in constant motion, as if "driven by a motor"
• Cannot stay seated
• Squirms and fidgets
• Talks too much
• Runs, jumps, and climbs when this is not permitted
• Cannot play quietly

With impulsivity, a child:

• Acts and speaks without thinking
• May run tino the street without looking for traffice first
• Has trouble taking turns
• Cannot wait for things
• Calls out answers before the question is complete
• Interrupts others

Different Types of ADHD

Children with ADHD may have one or more of the symptoms listed above. Children can also have a type of ADHD:

• Inattentive only (used to be called attention-deficit disorder or ADD) - Children with this form of ADHD are not overly active. Their symptoms may go unnoticed because they do not disrupt the classroom. This form is most common with girls.
• Hyperactive/Impulsive – Children with this type of ADHD are both hyperactive and impulsive, but, they can pay attention.
• Combined Inattentive/Hyperactive/Impulsive – Children with this type of ADHD have all three symptoms. This is the most common type of ADHD.

Causes of ADHD

There is no known cause of ADHD. Research shows that any of these might be a cause:

• Neurobiological: Children with ADHD are thought to have a chemical imbalance in the areas of the brain that control attention and activity level.
• Genetic: ADHD tends to run in families. This means that if a parent had ADHD as a child, then their children have a higher risk for having ADHD.
• Head injuries and exposure to certain toxins, such as lead or alcohol, may place a child at risk for developing ADHD.

We do know that these things do not cause ADHD:

• Eating a lot of sugar
• Some food additives
• Allergies
• Immunizations
• Bad parenting

How to treat ADHD

When you treat ADHD you can do a number of things:

• Educate the child and their family about ADHD
• Medicate (Ritalin, Concerta, Adderall)
• Provide behavior therapy, change the child’s environment to help be more successful
• Train parents, help parents learn more way to deal with their child’s behavior
• Offer individual and/or family counseling or therapy
• Regular follow up with the child’s doctor, psychologist, and any other healthcare professionals who are involved in the treatment

Frequently Asked Questions

Will the medications change my child’s personality?

No. The medications should help your child focus their attention and control their behaviors. It should not change their personality. If your child changes in any other way, be sure to talk with your doctor.

Will the medications cause side effects?

Some children experience side effects while taking the medications. They can be:

• less hungry
• have trouble sleeping
• get headaches

These side effects are usually short-term. They can get better when you change the type of medication, the dose, or even the times you give it to them.

Will the medications for ADHD cause problems for my child in the future?

No. In fact, research shows that these medications help protect the child over time. Children with ADHD who are treated with medications are more likely to make good decisions about drugs and alcohol when they are teenagers and adults.

What about other or “alternative” treatments for ADHD?

There is no evidence that treatment, other than those we’ve listed, will work. This includes vitamin supplements, special diets, or optometric.

Will my child ever outgrow ADHD? Will they always need to take medication?

Most people continue to have symptoms of ADHD as adults. Many of them continue to take medication. The symptoms of ADHD often look differently as they grow older. However, many people can find ways to adapt so they can manage their symptoms.

Why are so many children being diagnosed with ADHD?

Six to nine percent of school children are diagnosed with ADHD. This is probably the same as it has always been. Healthcare professionals are better at recognizing the signs and symptoms of ADHD. More children who have ADHD are being recognized.

Are you sure this is ADHD? They just look lazy and unmotivated.

We all avoid tasks that are difficult. However, for a child with ADHD, nearly all tasks that require sustained effort seem difficult. What may appear to be a lack of motivation or effort is usually their response to a very challenging situation.

Where can I get more information?

The American Academy of Pediatrics offers a resource called ADHD: A Complete and Authoritative Guide (2004). It can be found at www.aap.org. You can also get it by calling 866-843-2271.

You can also try CHADD or Children and Adults with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. This is a nonprofit organization with information about ADHD. Their website is www.chadd.org. For specific help you can contact the National Resource Center on AD/HD which is a program of CHADD. Their number is 800-233-4050. You can find them online at www.help4adhd.org/.

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