Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a type of brain disorder. A person with ADHD faces problems in paying attention and controlling his behavior. ADHD mostly appears in kids and teens. This disorder may continue into adulthood. This is the most common type of disorder in children. Both girls and boys can face ADHD however boys are more likely to get ADHD than girls. The symptoms of ADHD can appear in the early school years. A person can also develop ADHD in his youth. Whenever you see any symptoms of ADHD, you should pay attention.
This brain disorder can’t be cured. But you can educate the child to manage the symptoms. There are lots of education programs and therapies that can help the kid to manage ADHD.
What are the causes of ADHD in kids?
Like other mental disorders, there is no exact cause behind ADHD. However, few things can cause ADHD in children.
Genes
ADHD can run in families. If a kid has ADHD, his siblings can also have the same disorder. But some studies show that this occurs due to the behavior they watch at home.
Brain changes
A child can develop ADHD when the attention-controlling areas of the brain are less active. Due to this, the kid often fails to pay attention in class.
Brian chemistry
ADHD can occur when some of the brain chemicals are imbalanced.
Alcohol abuse during pregnancy
ADHD can occur when the baby’s brain development processes are affected during pregnancy. This mainly happens when the pregnant woman drinks alcohol, smokes, or takes drugs.
Exposure to toxins
If the child is exposed to harmful toxins like lead, the brain development process will get affected. This problem appears in those families that live near factories.
Brain injury
Any damage to the frontal lobe can cause issues in controlling emotions and impulses.
Common symptoms of ADHD
The symptoms depend on the type of ADHD
A child with Inattentive ADHD
Doesn’t follow directions
Can’t finish tasks
Get distracted easily
Often forget daily activities
Can’t organize daily tasks
Unable to sit properly for a long time
Often make careless mistakes
A child with hyperactive-impulsive ADHD
Can’t play quietly
Talks too much
Blurts out answers
Always running in alleys or climbing trees or walls
Can’t stay seated
Always ready to go
Unable to wait for a long time
Children with combined ADHD will have symptoms of both types of ADHD.
ADHD in adults
If a child carries ADHD to his adulthood, the symptoms will change. Common ADHD symptoms in adults are:
Anxiety
Low self-esteem
Impulsiveness
Unable to organize things
Often late to work
Unable to follow the schedule
Procrastination
Mood swings
Depression
Problems in relationship
Diagnosis and testing for ADHD
Diagnosing ADHD is difficult, especially in kids. The doctor can only diagnose ADHD after talking to the kid’s parents, and teachers and then observing the kid’s behavior. To confirm ADHD, the child may have to give some neurological and psychological tests. Your pediatrician may ask you to visit a specialist like a psychiatrist or a psychotherapist.
For diagnosis, you will require the social and medical history of the kid and other family members. The kid may undergo some neurological assessment like hearing, vision, motor skills, etc. An evaluation of aptitude, personality traits, etc. Your doctor may also suggest a neuropsychiatric EEG-Based Assessment Aid to measure the theta and beta brain waves.
Treatment options for ADHD
Several medicines and treatment options are available for ADHD. However, managing ADHD in kids requires special treatment. Doctors often suggest a multimodal approach to treat the kids. In this model, several methods are used to treat the condition. Some of the ADHD symptoms can be reduced by medications. Therapies are used to teach the kids’ about behavior toward others.
Medication
Stimulants are often prescribed to treat ADHD symptoms. These medicines control hyperactive and impulsive behavior.
But lots of people don’t suggest stimulants as the kid may get used to them. Overuse of stimulants can lead to other problems. Stimulants don’t work on every person with an ADHD case. Children with ages more than 6 can take non-stimulant medicines like atomoxetine, and clonidine. Sometimes the doctor may also prescribe antidepressants for treating ADHD. These medicines can cause some side effects like fatigue, skin discoloration, loss of appetite, upset stomach, headache, anxiety, etc.
Most of the side effects of these medications are for a short period. Your doctor may change or reduce some doses to reduce the side effects. Some medications may cause major issues like heart diseases etc. You should consult the doctor regularly for proper dosage and treatment.
Natural treatment
Depending on stimulants since childhood is not good. To treat ADHD, you can go for natural medications. With a natural ADHD treatment Pennsylvania, your kid can manage the symptoms without facing any harmful side effects. These medications are fully safe for the kids. Your doctor will ask some questions regarding your kid’s daily life, diet, school routine, and behavior and then prescribe the medicines.
Therapy
Therapies work best to treat ADHD in kids. With the help of therapies, your kid can learn the new behavior that helps him to manage the ADHD symptoms.
Special educations
Search for the education center that is providing special classes for ADHD. Your doctor may suggest these special education classes. There your kid can learn to have structure and routine to manage daily tasks.
Behavioral therapy
This is the common therapy for most mental disorders. In this therapy, the therapist will try to replace the bad behavior with the good ones. He will let the kid know what behavior others are expecting from him. The therapist may ask you to make some rules to control the behavior. For good behavior, give the kid some reward. Whereas for bad behavior, you have to increase restrictions on games, etc.
Psychotherapy
Your kid may need counseling to treat ADHD. The psychotherapist tries to remove the negative and impulsive thoughts from the kid’s mind. He will help to handle the emotions and improve self-esteem. The therapist may ask the parents also to understand the child’s behavior.
Social skills training
You have to work with your kid to deal with his ADHD symptoms. Parents need to teach behavior like sharing things among siblings or friends. Ask the kid to wait for his turn, etc. Using medicines and therapies, you can treat the ADHD of your kid.