Educated Mommy Magazine

By Doreen Stoltz

"Billy just can't seem to sit still. His teacher tells me how disruptive he is in class and how difficult it is for him to concentrate. Seems to me I see some of these things at home too. I wonder what it could be."

Sound anything like your child? This child could be suffering with ADHD. ADHD is a common childhood disorder that can affect children from preschool and early elementary years and up. It can also follow some right into adulthood. It is thought that about 3-5% of school age children had ADHD. So, you can assume that in a classroom of 20-25 students, at least one of them is suffering. For the teachers and parents alike, ADHD can pose a challenge.

ADHD can have many symptoms, but the most common ones are inattention, hyperactivity, impulsiveness, inability to concentrate, disruptive in the classroom and behavior issues. There are really no known causes of ADHD, but some doctors seem to think that ADHD can be caused by environmental issues such as smoking and alcohol usage during pregnancy, exposure to lead, brain injury, food additives or food allergies. Genetics can also play a part.

Diagnosis is usually done by a professional with training in ADHD. A parent can start with a visit to their child’s pediatrician or family physician. A complete physical, medical history and a behavior rating may be done. Other tests may be ordered such as hearing, vision, and blood work just to rule out any other disorders that may sometimes accompany ADHD such as learning disabilities, Tourettes Syndrome, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, anxiety, depression and Bipolar Disorder.

There is no cure for ADHD, but there are treatments. Treatment can include medication, behavior modification therapy, parent skill training, and support groups. Usually a combination of treatments is used.

If this sounds anything like your child, contact your pediatrician with your concern. If you would like to learn more about ADHD, take a trip to your public library or search the internet. Both are filled with in depth information and other resources that may be helpful.