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As of today, the majority of cases of “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” or “ADHD” is found in
kids. About 9.4% of kids around the world are affected by the condition. ADHD is a serious psychological
disorder that has been confirmed by tedious research and observations made by professionals in the
field. The number is considerably small because many cases of ADHD go undiagnosed in kids because
many parents lack the knowledge associated with the psychological condition.

Parents provide the first line of training and development when it comes to a child. Parents offer their
kids love, affection, protection, along with all of their needs. But, in some cases, a parent might have a
child that has a special case. The parent might notice that their child is extremely unruly and hyperactive
or in some cases may even show impulsivity. Can this be corrected with traditional discipline and parent
training? Possibly, but unlikely.

If your child presents these traits, you might want to consider getting them diagnosed for a
neurodevelopmental disorder called “Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder” or “ADHD” for short. But
before you do that, you should know what symptoms you should watch out for in your child that are
associated with ADHD.

 ADHD and Its Most Common Signs and Symptoms

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ADHD is not an uncommon disorder when it comes to both kids and adults alike. Statistics show that
about 9.4% of the population of kids around the world have been diagnosed with ADHD. Attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder is very common in kids and it usually develops in them at a particularly
young age. Signs and symptoms of ADHD can present in a child as early as the age of four to twelve
years old. But what are those signs and symptoms? Let’s take a look:

 Easily distracted.

 Loses focus very easily.

 Has significant trouble understanding details.

 Struggles when following instructions.

 Fidgets and squirms a lot.

 Interrupts conservations frequently.

 Dashes around touching everything in sight.

 Has difficulty performing various tasks and activities.

These symptoms can be noticed early because most of the time, these symptoms can be very disruptive
in a child’s life. A child might be sent home from school early because he was being too noisy or hyper in
class. Or he could be bullied because he acts differently compared to their other peers. Many parents
might just say it’s normal for their child to experience these things because they're just a child, but in
many cases, it’s undiagnosed ADHD.

This is why kids need to be evaluated early to determine if they have ADHD or not. But how do you get
your child diagnosed with the disorder?

 The Diagnostic Process of ADHD

ADHD is not exactly that simple to diagnose. Before you can get your child professionally diagnosed with
ADHD, they have to meet certain requirements first. Those requirements are listed right here:

 They must have presented their symptoms at the ages of six to twelve.

 They must present two or more symptoms associated with the disorder.

 They must have clear evidence that their condition causes home, social, and school-related
problems.

If your child meets these requirements, they can be professionally and officially diagnosed with the
disorder. Now, once your child has been diagnosed, the psychiatrist who evaluated your child can
recommend a line of treatments or therapies based on what sub-type or presentation of ADHD your
child has.

 Predominantly Inattentive Presentation (ADHD-PI or ADHD-I)

 Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation (ADHD-PH or ADHD-HI)

 Combined Presentation (ADHD-C)

These presentations of ADHD are present in both the lives of children and adults. The names of these
subtypes and presentations of the disorder are based on the symptoms they present.
The “Predominantly Inattentive Presentation” of ADHD presents symptoms that are associated with
inattentiveness such as difficulty in paying attention, appears to not be listening when being spoken to
directly, and misses many details.

The “Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive subtype however presents symptoms associated with

hyperactivity and impulsivity which include dashing around a lot, climbing, difficulty staying in one place,
and shows disregard to others when making actions.

The “Combined Presentation” shows both sets of symptoms that are associated with the two other
subtypes of ADHD, this makes it harder for the presentation to be recognized and handled.

 Treatments and Therapies Available for Your Child

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Grabowska from Pexels

As of now, there are already several available treatments and therapies for kids who have been
diagnosed with ADHD. Some of the first lines of recommended treatment for ADHD include using
stimulant and non-stimulant medications, behavioral therapies, and therapies with professional
therapists and psychiatrists.

Below is a list of basic available treatments and therapies for kids with attention deficit hyperactivity
disorder:
  Treatments (Medications)

 Stimulants

 Methylphenidate

 Amphetamines

 Anti-Psychotics

 Viloxazine

 Atomoxetine

 Bupropion

 Guanfacine

 Clonidine

One thing to remember when giving medication to kids is to use them with caution and close
monitoring. Though they are effective with ADHD, they also tend to have rare side effects to the young
patient. These side effects may include:

 Psychosis

 Mania

 Mood Swings

 Medicine Addiction

 Extreme Dependence

These side effects are rare though and statistics show that only 0.1% of kids who have ADHD who are
taking these medications experience these rare symptoms.

Basically, the facts show that stimulant medications generally work when treating ADHD cases in kids.
Though there are a few rare side effects, the benefits significantly outweigh the risk. Stimulant and non-
stimulant medications have shown to benefit kids with ADHD but the safety of these medications
haven’t been determined yet for pregnant adult ADHD patients.

 Behavioral Therapies

 Psychoeducational Inputs

 Cognitive Behavioral Therapy

 Interpersonal Psychotherapy

 Family Therapy

 School-Based Interventions

 Social Skills Training

  Behavioral Peer Training

 Organization Training

 Parent Management Training

 Neuro-Feedback

These treatments and therapies have been proven to be effective in improving symptoms within kids
who have ADHD. Many teachers, counselors, and parents have shared their input on these treatments
and have proven that these treatments and therapies have worked in providing short and long-term
changes to young ADHD patients.

Many choose to undergo both lines of treatments in combination with each other, and it has already
shown promising results. Parents have started their kids with ADHD on various behavioral therapies
while taking the recommended medications for the condition.

Key Takeaways

If your child does have ADHD, the best you can do as a parent is to accept that fact and help your child
learn how to manage his disorder and use it to their advantage. parents can do many things to help their
kids who have ADHD. You as the parent can consider various treatments and therapies that will help
your child learn more about his condition and will help also them to manage their symptoms much more
effectively. Setting rules, limitations, and a healthy