If you’re worried your child has attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), you’re not alone. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, over 6 million children and adolescents ages 2-17 years have an ADHD diagnosis. And researchers suspect many more children, especially girls, are still undiagnosed.
At the Bowman Medical Group, we understand it can be difficult to distinguish between normal “kid behavior” and the symptoms of ADHD. We also know that parenting a child or adolescent with ADHD brings extra challenges.
Our experienced team of psychiatrists and care providers offers help diagnosing and treating ADHD to families at our Beverly Hills, California, office. We also understand the power of educating patients, so we’ve put together this informative guide to help you better understand ADHD and the signs your child may have it.
What is ADHD?
The term ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) describes a neurobehavioral medical condition. You may also hear it called ADD (attention-deficit disorder), the previous name for the condition. Some people may use the terms interchangeably.
ADHD affects millions of children and adolescents in the United States, and while children and adults can both have the disorder, it’s much more common to be diagnosed in children.
ADHD causes differences in how the brains of affected children develop. It also affects brain activity associated with attention and self-control. For children with ADHD, these differences can cause trouble in different areas, including socialization and friendships, schoolwork, self-esteem, mood, and difficulties at home.
It’s important to note that while ADHD has traditionally been diagnosed in boys more often than girls, new research suggests this is because boys are more likely to exhibit hyperactive symptoms while girls are typically more inattentive.
Because hyperactivity often leads to behavioral difficulties, boys may simply be brought in more often for evaluation.
While there isn’t a cure for ADHD, treatment from qualified professionals, like the team at Bowman Medical Group, can help your child manage their symptoms and struggle less in school, relationships, and at home.
Keep in mind that while it’s never too late to seek help, the earlier a child is diagnosed and begins treatment, they’re typically better able to manage their ADHD as they grow and mature.
What are the signs of ADHD in children and adolescents?
To understand the signs, it’s important to understand there are three subgroups of ADHD: predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive/impulsive, and the combined type.
Symptoms of ADHD are divided into two groups (inattentive and hyperactive/impulsive). If your child has symptoms in both groups, they may have the combined type ADHD. Here’s a look at symptoms in both groups:
Recognizing inattentive symptoms
You child may have signs of inattentive ADHD if they:
- Make frequent careless mistakes
- Have trouble following instructions
- Have difficulty listening when spoken to
- Are forgetful or lose things often
- Avoid tasks that call for sustained effort
- Are easily distracted or seem absent-minded
- Often don’t finish what they start
- Are disorganized or have trouble organizing
Note that ADHD ranges in severity from mild to severe, but if the condition creates a negative impact on your life or your child’s life, seeing an expert can help.
Recognizing hyperactive and impulsive symptoms
Your child may have signs of hyperactive and impulsive ADHD if they:
- Have trouble staying in one place
- Have difficulty waiting their turn
- Fidget, squirm, or can’t sit still
- Exhibit excessive energy (e.g., excessive running, climbing, jumping)
- Interrupt frequently, blurt out answers, or talk excessively
- Are impatient and/or easily bored
- Have difficulty with quiet tasks
- Often act before thinking or in risky ways
- Frequently have emotional reactions that are too intense for the situation
Having symptoms in one or both groups make it challenging to function and perform well at school and during other structured activities, like sports, games, interactive play, extracurricular classes, and more.
In addition, there’s no doubt that when your child has unmanaged ADHD, parenting becomes more challenging and conflicts at home increase, both between you and your ADHD child and between your ADHD child and any siblings.
What treatments exist for ADHD?
The good news is that treatment options can make managing symptoms of ADHD easier. At the Bowman Medical Group, we use a comprehensive approach to accurately diagnose your child.
Our team works with you and your child to create a personalized ADHD treatment plan for optimal help in managing difficult symptoms. We’ve found that children with ADHD often have the best results when a combined approach to treatment is implemented, which may include:
- Psychotherapy (family, individual, or group)
- ADHD medication
- Anti-anxiety or antidepressant medication
Are you ready to learn more about the signs of ADHD in your child? The Bowman Medical Group is here to help. Call our Beverly Hills, California, office at 310-982-7003 and schedule an appointment today.