What are the signs of attention deficit disorder and ADHD

What are the signs of attention deficit disorder and ADHD

If it is hard for your child to pay attention and it affects their everyday school life and interactions, your child may have Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder.  Dr. Elize Opel, a pediatric specialist at Aurora Health Care, explains the vital signs that your child may be struggling with ADHD.

“Children with ADHD have behavioral problems that are so frequent and severe that they impact learning, interfere with relationships, and disrupt normal life,” says Dr. Opel.  “Some children have inattentive type ADHD, some have hyperactive/ impulsive type ADHD, and some have a combination.”

Symptoms of ADHD include inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity.

Inattention can mean that your child:

  • has a hard time paying attention
  • does not seem to listen
  • is easily distracted
  • makes careless mistakes
  • does not follow through on instructions
  • forgets information
  • loses a lot of important things
  • avoids doing things that require ongoing mental effort

Hyperactivity can mean that your child:

  • is moving in constant motion
  • cannot stay seated
  • squirms and fidgets
  • talks too much
  • runs and jumps and climbs when not permitted
  • cannot play quietly

Impulsivity can be seen as someone:

  • who acts and speaks without thinking
  • has trouble taking turns
  • cannot wait for things
  • calls out answers
  • interrupts others

“If children age 4-18 years display symptoms of ADHD on a regular basis for more than 6 months, evaluation is recommended,” Dr. Opel suggests. “Symptoms usually appear before 7 years of age.”

A full medical history and neurological examination can help put a child’s behavior in context.  It is also important to screen for other problems which can affect behavior.   A pediatrician can monitor for learning disability, vision or hearing impairment, chronic illness, anxiety, severe aggression, or sleep problems which can impact behavior.

Successful treatment can include behavior therapy, medication, or a combination approach. Your child is not struggling alone; ADHD can be very common in children. Treatment can begin as soon as a diagnosis is established.

Now is the perfect time to schedule your child’s annual checkup. Find a primary care doctor in Illinois or Wisconsin.

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Comments

3 Comments

  1. What about the signs and diagnosis of ADHD in adults?

  2. Adults with ADHD Hyperactivity or Inattentive presenting such as myself could benefit from quality adult friendly information. I would offer to look up ADDitude — it is a virtual magazine that can go into much more detail and resources for adults, and adults professionals who struggle with dopamine/ attention dysregulation.

    There are many resources that do take some time to gather and find. But do not give up on seeking that information or tailoring of new skills that could work for you. Professional help is always a bonus if you have access.

    I appreciate E-health news for putting this together and would love to provide any community resources to you that may have yet to of been discussed. Thank you

    • Thanks for the info on ADDitude – I didn’t know we would need this, but it is a great resource with so much valuable information for someone just beginning this journey! So glad I came across your message 😉

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health enews Staff
health enews Staff

health enews staff is a group of experienced writers from our Advocate Health Care and Aurora Health Care sites, which also includes freelance or intern writers.