ADHD in the Family

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD, is a growing concern for families in the United States. Studies show that between 3 to 5% of school-age students have ADHD. With the disorder gaining more and more attention it is important for families to understand more about ADHD and ways in which families can work together to make their child with ADHD more successful.

Symptoms of ADHD

ADHD affects a person’s ability to pay attention and make decisions. In order to receive an ADHD diagnoses, a child’s problems must be affecting their ability to behave and act in a way that would be normal for their age. For example, if a ten year old child cannot seem to pay attention in class and often gets up and walks around the classroom then this would get in the way of his or her ability to learn and interact as a normal ten-year old.

Children who have ADHD will have at least some of the behaviors before the age of seven and have trouble in more than one place, such as, both at home and school. ADHD makes it very hard for children to learn, make friends, and follow directions. The symptoms have to have a negative impact on the child’s life. If a child has trouble concentrating, but is getting excellent grades, she probably does not have ADHD.

Signs that your child might have ADHD include:

• Not being able to pay attention to directions or assignments
• Problems with organization, including problems keeping their room clean
• Difficulty remembering when they have appointments or when things are due
• Always acting as if “on the go”
• Always fidgeting and squirming
• Not having any patience and not being able to wait for his or her turn
• Talking too much
• Daydreaming too much
• Interrupting conversations and answering questions before they have been asked
• Quickly becoming very frustrated with homework and schoolwork

ADHD affects a child’s ability to control his or her impulses. Children with ADHD often seem to make rash decision and bad choices. They may act up and get in trouble at school more than a typical child. Often children with ADHD will have trouble understanding directions and completing their homework. Their trouble with understanding may frustrate them and cause them to have tantrums and misbehave both at home and school. This means that a child who is 12 may act more like a 9 year old in regards to his ability to focus and have self-control. This does not mean that he is not smart; in fact, research shows that most children with ADHD have at least normal intelligence.

It can be hard to determine if your child has ADHD. If you notice any of the symptoms mentioned above, it may be a good idea to contact your child’s teacher, daycare provider or caregiver to discuss your child’s behavior in places outside of the home. You can also consult your pediatrician, and make an appointment with a doctor or school counselor to discuss your child and the options available to you and your family.

Three Types of ADHD

Researchers have found three distinct types of ADHD: