| Have you ever been distressed because you | | | | by himself, |
| have received a note from school saying that | | | | Often intrudes on others. |
| your kid will not listen or causes trouble in class? | | | | If your child manifests these ADHD symptoms |
| You are not alone. Parents receive these kind of | | | | you should arrange for him to have a |
| notes every day. One frequent cause of this kind | | | | comprehensive evaluation by a psychologist. Your |
| of behavior is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity | | | | child may have other psychiatric disorders as well, |
| Disorder (ADHD). | | | | such as anxiety disorder,depression, or bipolar |
| Even though your kid may want to be a good | | | | disorder which should also be treated. |
| student, if he or she suffers from it, the impulsive | | | | Without proper treatment, your child may |
| behavior and difficulty paying attention which | | | | needlessly fall behind in schoolwork and his |
| results from it, will frequently interfere and cause | | | | friendships and other relationships may suffer. If |
| serious problems for him in school. Often | | | | your kid goes untreated, he will likely experience |
| teachers, parents, and friends feel that your child | | | | more failure than is called for and will be unduly |
| is misbehaving or appears different, but they are | | | | criticized by his teachers and other family |
| often unable to specify what is wrong. | | | | members who do not recognize his behavior as a |
| Most children show inattention, distractibility, | | | | legitimate health problem. |
| impulsivity or hyperactivity occasionally, but if | | | | Scientific studies clearly demonstrate that |
| your kid has ADHD, he or she will show these | | | | medication can be quite successful in helping your |
| symptoms more frequently than other kids of his | | | | child to regain his self-control and ability to |
| age. | | | | concentrate. Stimulant medications, such as |
| ADHD occurs in approximately 4% of school age | | | | methylphenidate and pemoline can improve your |
| children. | | | | childs attention, his ability to focus on goal directed |
| To be officially diagnosed as ADHD the | | | | behavior and his ability to concentrate and |
| symptoms must have begun before the age of | | | | organize. |
| seven; also, this disorder sometimes continues | | | | Some antidepressants may also be helpful; other |
| into adulthood. | | | | treatment approaches include cognitive-behavioral |
| It tends to run in families; about 25% of the kids | | | | therapy, social skills training, parenting education |
| biological parents also have it. | | | | and teachers modifications to your kids lesson |
| A child with ADHD often shows some of the | | | | plans. Behavioral therapy can also help your kid |
| following: | | | | control his aggression and modify his social |
| Difficulty paying attention and concentrating, | | | | behavior. |
| Inattention to details and the frequent making of | | | | Cognitive therapy can help your child enhance his |
| careless mistakes, | | | | self esteem, reduce his pessimistic thoughts and |
| Very easily distracted, | | | | improve his ability to problem solve. As a parent, |
| Often loses school supplies and forgets to turn in | | | | you can also learn helpful child-management skills, |
| homework, or does not do the homework at all, | | | | such as communicating instructions one step at a |
| Frequently does not finish his class work, | | | | time rather than all at once. |
| Does not seem to listen, | | | | If your child is diagnosed with ADHD and you |
| Difficulty following multiple directions, | | | | arrange for him to be treated appropriately, he |
| Tends to blurt out answers and interrupt others, | | | | can move on to have a productive and successful |
| Impatient and fidgety, | | | | life and academic career. |
| Frequently squirms or loses things, | | | | If your child shows symptoms and behaviors of |
| Frequently leaves his seat and runs around | | | | ADHD, locate a clinical psychologist who can then |
| excessively, | | | | diagnose him, treat his condition and most likely, |
| Talks too much and has difficulty playing quietly | | | | change his life for the better. |