Common Symptoms in Childhood
Symptoms of ADHD are divided into two main categories:
Inattention and Hyperactivity-Impulsivity. A diagnosis
of ADHD is based on the number, persistence and history
of ADHD behaviors, and the degree to which they affect
a child's performance, at home and at school.
Symptoms of Inattention include:
- Often ignores details; makes careless mistakes.
- Often has trouble sustaining attention in work
or play.
- Often does not seem to listen when directly addressed.
- Often does not follow through on instructions;
fails to finish.
- Often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities.
- Often avoids activities that require a sustained
mental effort.
- Often loses things he or she needs.
- Often gets distracted by extraneous noise.
- Often forgetful in daily activities.
Symptoms of Hyperactivity-Impulsivity include:
Hyperactivity
- Often fidgets or squirms.
- Often has to get up from seat.
- Often runs or climbs when he or she shouldnt.
- Often has difficulty with quiet leisure activities.
- Often on the go, as if driven by a motor.
- Often talks excessively.
Impulsivity
- Often blurts out answers before questions have
been completed.
- Often has difficulty waiting his or her turn.
- Often interrupts or intrudes on others.
Because all children, at times, behave in these ways,
only a professional can diagnose a child with ADHD.
Coexisting Conditions
Children with ADHD often have other conditions that
can complicate diagnosis and treatment. Here are some
of the most common. Common coexisting conditions with
ADHD include:
- Opposional Defiant Disorder
- Conduct Disorder
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Tourette's Syndrome
Treatment of ADHD
Current ADHD treatment practices focus on management
of symptoms through a combination of treatment methods:
- Behavior modification (including coaching and therapy)
- Medications
- Combination therapy (medication and behavior therapy)Treatment
should be individualized for each patient. Treatment
for ADHD should be monitored closely by a physician
and psychologist.
Treatment Process in Children and Adolescents
with ADHD
The treatment process has three basic stages:
- Baseline evaluation: As part of
the diagnostic evaluation, the physician or healthcare
professional determines the target symptoms and the
baseline degree of impairment. A complete and thorough
medical evaluation should be done, as well as a comprehensive
psychological evaluation.
- Treatment strategy: The physician
forms a treatment strategy by prioritizing the target
symptoms and determining which treatment methods are
best suited to reduce them.
- Symptom monitoring and strategy adjustment:
A key part of ADHD treatment is monitoring of symptoms
in various areas (such as learning, academics, family
interactions and peer relationships) and settings
(such as home, school and extracurricular).
Medication treatment for ADHD may include:
- Stimulant medications such as Ritalin or Adderall.
- Strattera
- Several other medications are sometimes used, or
a combination approach.
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