ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that makes it difficult to pay attention, keep still and think before acting.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, a child must have more symptoms than other children their age for at least six months. Symptoms may include being short attention span, fidgeting, impatience and other symptoms.
Assessment for ADHD may include parent and teacher questionnaires, psychological testing and other diagnostic tests.
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ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder that makes it difficult to pay attention, keep still and think before acting. ADHD is the most common mental health problem of childhood, affecting 5% to 9% of children and 4% of adults. Although the symptoms of ADHD begin in childhood, ADHD can continue through adolescence and adulthood. Even though hyperactive behaviors tend to improve as a child becomes a teen, challenges with inattention, disorganization and poor impulse control often continue through the teen years and into adulthood.
It is normal for all children to have difficulties with paying attention, being hyper or acting without thinking sometimes. Most young children have trouble sitting still. Many kids don’t finish their schoolwork. Few children sit through meals without tapping, kicking or drumming.
So how do you know what is normal and what is ADHD? Only a doctor can tell you for sure. For these problems to be diagnosed as ADHD, they must be a pattern of behaviors that occur at higher levels than other children the same age and interfere with daily functioning. ADHD behaviors do not occur in only one place, but happen every day in the classroom, on the playground and at home. The behaviors of children with ADHD can lead to serious difficulties in their relationships with parents, teachers, peers and siblings, as well as learning and academic problems.
There are three different presentations of ADHD, including:
ADHD is a brain-based biological disorder that is one of the most researched areas in child and adolescent mental health. Current research suggests ADHD may be caused by interactions between genes and environment or non-genetic factors. Like many other illnesses, a number of factors may contribute to ADHD such as:
Diet does not cause ADHD. Food additives like sugar or artificial dyes and preservatives might cause a slight increase in hyperactivity for any child (with or without ADHD), but they do not cause ADHD.
Although the cause of ADHD is not certain, family stress, such as divorce, does not cause ADHD.
Environmental factors such as the structure of the classroom or parenting styles do not cause ADHD, but they do influence your child’s behaviors.
Although the precise cause of the disorder is unknown, low levels of dopamine (a brain chemical), are found in children with ADHD. Brain imaging studies using PET scanners (positron emission tomography; a form of brain imaging that makes it possible to observe the human brain at work) show that brain metabolism in children with ADHD is lower in the areas of the brain that control attention, social judgment and movement.
Children of all backgrounds can have ADHD. Teens and adults can have ADHD too. ADHD is the most common mental health problem of childhood, affecting 5% to 9% of children and 4% of adults.
It is normal for all children to have problems paying attention, being hyper or acting without thinking sometimes. But for children with ADHD, these behaviors are more severe and occur more often. To be diagnosed with ADHD, a child must have more symptoms than other children their age for at least six months. While each child may experience symptoms differently, the following are the most common symptoms of ADHD.
Children, teens and adults who have difficulties paying attention may:
Children and teens with hyperactivity may:
Children and teens who experience impulsivity may:
Children do not have to have all of these symptoms, nor do they have to show the same symptoms in all settings for a diagnosis to be made. For example, most children with ADHD can pay attention in situations in which they are very interested (e.g., a favorite television show), or in a one-to-one setting such as a testing session with a psychologist.
Since all children show some of these behaviors some of the time, it is important that the behaviors be present to a significant degree compared to other children of the same age and that they be causing significant disruption to the child’s daily life before the child is diagnosed with ADHD. The symptoms of ADHD may also resemble other medical conditions or behavior problems. If you are concerned about whether your child might have ADHD, the first step is to talk with a healthcare professional. The diagnosis can be made by a mental health professional, like a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, primary care provider or pediatrician.
Deciding if a child or teen has ADHD is based on how they act. For a diagnosis of ADHD, behavior must be seen at home and at school. Assessment may include:
There is no blood test, computer test or imaging test (like an MRI) that can reliably diagnose ADHD. To make a diagnosis, doctors need information from parents and teachers about these behaviors listed above. They ask parents and children questions and examine the children to make sure there aren’t other problems. Standardized rating scales and interviews should be used.
A diagnosis is not as important as a good assessment of the problems that a child or teen is experiencing in daily functioning and identifying what can be done to improve the problems.
There are no tests for ADHD. Your child’s doctor may make a diagnosis. Sometimes the doctor may refer you to an expert to assist with diagnosis.
Many people think of ADHD as a childhood problem. However, ADHD can continue through the teen years and into adulthood. Symptoms of ADHD do change over time. Key points to remember as a child grows include:
Every child and teen is different, and you know your child best. As a parent, trust your thoughts and feelings when deciding on treatments. Discuss treatment options with your child’s doctor. Gather as much information as you need to make a decision that is right for you and your child.
Some things to consider when deciding on treatments:
Every effort should be made to manage symptoms and direct your child to helpful paths. There are three treatment options to consider:
Preventive measures to reduce the incidence of ADHD in children are not known at this time. Early detection and intervention, however, can reduce the severity of symptoms, decrease the interference of behavioral symptoms on school functioning, enhance the child's normal growth and development and improve the quality of life experienced by children or adolescents with ADHD.