With school in full swing, teachers are now calling and emailing parents with concerns about a student's behavior, attention and focus...all red flags of ADHD.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most common childhood neurobehavioral disorder and affects about 8% of children between the ages of 4-18.
So what are the symptoms that may point to ADHD? Inattention, inability to focus, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Other problems may include difficulty in remaining organized, being motivated, and shifting from task to task, all of which are necessary in any child's school day.
Many children may exhibit some of the features of ADHD at some time in their life. In order to be diagnosed with ADHD the characteristic behaviors must have occurred for more than 3 months and must be seen at both home and school.
An ADHD diagnosis is subjective and often includes educational testing, as many children with ADHD may also have learning disorders. Parental and teacher observations are essential to making the diagnosis.
The treatment of ADHD involves behavior modification and some children will benefit from medication as well. There are many different medications that are used to treat ADHD, so talk to your doctor about a treatment plan if your child is diagnosed with ADHD.
I'm Dr. Sue with The Kid's Doctor helping parents take charge.
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is the most common childhood neurobehavioral disorder and affects about 8% of children between the ages of 4-18.
So what are the symptoms that may point to ADHD? Inattention, inability to focus, impulsivity and hyperactivity. Other problems may include difficulty in remaining organized, being motivated, and shifting from task to task, all of which are necessary in any child's school day.
Many children may exhibit some of the features of ADHD at some time in their life. In order to be diagnosed with ADHD the characteristic behaviors must have occurred for more than 3 months and must be seen at both home and school.
An ADHD diagnosis is subjective and often includes educational testing, as many children with ADHD may also have learning disorders. Parental and teacher observations are essential to making the diagnosis.
The treatment of ADHD involves behavior modification and some children will benefit from medication as well. There are many different medications that are used to treat ADHD, so talk to your doctor about a treatment plan if your child is diagnosed with ADHD.
I'm Dr. Sue with The Kid's Doctor helping parents take charge.
Dr.
Sue Hubbard is an award winning pediatrician and medical editor for
www.kidsdr.com. She is a native of Washington, D.C. who travelled south
to attend the University of Texas at Austin and never left. 
