Signs & of ADD in Children

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is commonly known today as attention deficit /hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Children suffering from this disorder can be inattentive or hyperactive. In many cases, the child will be affected by a combination of both inattention and hyperactivity, which can produce a variety of symptoms. There are several treatment methods for ADHD that have been developed since the disorder was first recognized.

  1. The Facts

    • ADD was first defined in the 1980 edition of the Diagnostic Statistic Manual, DSM III. This manual includes information about known psychiatric conditions and is considered the standard of diagnosis in the mental health industry. ADD was initially classified as a disorder which led to problems with concentration. As more information was learned about ADD, the condition was eventually renamed ADHD in the 1987 edition of the Diagnostic Statistic Manual, DSM IIIR. In addition to the new name, ADHD was broken down into three different types.

    Types

    • There are three main types of ADHD that exist today. The first type is classified as predominantly inattentive. This type of ADHD does not involve impulsive behavior. Children impacted with this type of the disorder are more likely to have concentration issues. Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive is the second type of ADHD. This form of the disorder leads to more impulsive behavior, but concentration is not generally affected. A third form of ADHD is a combination of the first two which results in both impulsive behavior and poor concentration.

    Symptoms

    • Children suffering from the predominantly inattentive form of ADHD will often have short attention spans. These children may be prone to daydreaming and struggle to complete tasks. Inattentive ADHD can cause children to make careless mistakes in their work. Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD can cause children to become very restless. They may frequently talk out of turn and interrupt other people. It may be very difficult for a child with Hyperactive-impulsive ADHD to remain seated even if they have been told to do so several times. A child suffering from combination ADHD will display a variety of these symptoms.

    Diagnosis

    • In order to be diagnosed with a type of ADHD, a child usually has to display a multitude of symptoms over a minimum six-month period. As there are no laboratory tests that can determine if the child is affected by ADHD, observation of the symptoms is vital. These symptoms are typically observed before the child reaches age 7. Diagnosis of ADHD also depends on the child exhibiting symptoms in a number of different settings such as at school and at home. Other disorders are also ruled out before a diagnosis of ADHD is determined.

    Treatment

    • There are several different types of treatment options that are available to children with ADHD. Many parents rely on therapy for children affected by ADHD. This provides an opportunity for the child to explore different behaviors and emotions while boosting their self-esteem. ADHD support groups are designed specifically to help children cope with the disorder. As the children in the group are all suffering from the same disorder, it can become a comforting way to discuss different issues. There are several different types of medication, including Adderall and Ritalin, that are used to control the symptoms of ADHD.

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