ADHD

What is ADHD?

ADHD is an abbreviation of attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder is marked by ongoing difficulty with attention and/or hyperactivity that interferes with daily functioning or development. 

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

Symptoms of inattention include:

• Overlooking details or making careless mistakes
• Difficulty maintaining attention in tasks or play
• Failing to complete schoolwork/tasks or becoming sidetracked
• Difficulty with organization or sequencing
• Difficulty with time management
• Being easily distracted by unrelated thoughts

Symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity include:

• Restlessness
• Fidgeting
• Constantly in motion or on the go
• Leaving their seat when staying seated is expected
• Difficulty waiting his or her turn
• Interrupting or intruding on others

ADHD results in behavior that stands out from the norm; for example, children walking out of the classroom during a lesson or failing to respond to repeated efforts to get their attention.  

Organizational and sequencing skills are a particular challenge for children who have ADHD, and when they feel frustrated by their inability to understand such subjects, they may act out.  Symptoms of ADHD can be mistaken for emotional or behavioral problems or may be missed entirely in well-behaved children.

ADHD symptoms can appear before children begin elementary education and can continue into adolescence and adulthood.  Generally, symptoms of inattention become more prominent with age and symptoms of hyperactivity lessen with age.

How is ADHD diagnosed and treated?

Treatment for ADHD may involve using medication, behavioral therapy, and classroom interventions.  Both stimulant and non-stimulant medication can be effective in reducing symptoms of ADHD.  

Your physician will complete a comprehensive assessment of your symptoms and discuss if medication treatment is appropriate to reduce symptoms.  As part of your comprehensive assessment, your physician may coordinate with schools and/or teachers to recommend accommodations or behavioral interventions.  Psychological testing may be recommended to assist with diagnosis when symptoms are atypical or unclear.

If you think your child has ADHD or you have behavioral problems that you don’t understand, call Carolina Wellness Psychiatry, PLLC, today, or book an appointment online.