ADHD or Attention Deficit Disorder is typically diagnosed when children are between the ages of 3 and 6. The symptoms can vary from being hyperactive, impulsive, showing lack of attention, or a combination of the latter. Many parents visit their family doctors for help and according to a new study from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, they found that most children are not getting the proper treatment.
In their study, they collected data from children with special health care needs, ages 4 through 17 years of age and they found that most children with ADHD received either medication or behavioral treatment, not both. Less than 1 in 3 children with ADHD received both types of therapy and only half of children ages 4-5 received behavioral therapy. Half of those children were taking medication and 1 in 4 were treated with only medication.
What to Do?
- If you suspect your child has the symptoms, have a conversation with their doctor
- Ask their doctor to recommend a psychologist or mental health professional that has specific training in diagnosing and treating ADHD
What to Expect?
- The therapist will ask many questions about your child’s behavior
- They will talk to you, his teachers, and other family members
- They will ask the teachers to fill out evaluation forms
- Possibly even observe your child in the classroom or in a social environment
- There is Neuropsychiatric Based Assessment Aid System, which is a scan that measures brain waves, but it is only used on children 6-17 years of age
Next Steps
- Once your child has been diagnosed with ADHD, make sure you ask questions about the medication they will be taking
- Make sure you know the effects of the medication
- Ask for behavioral therapy from their doctor and at school
- You can also do a couple things at home that will help your child:
- Set a schedule and develop a routine he can follow
- Tell him what you expect from him
- Praise positive behavior
- Help them become organized
- Model good behavior