Category: ADHD Child Treatment

Five Healthy Ways to Discipline Children

As a parent, there is going to come a time when you will need to discipline your child.  Real discipline is more than just telling a toddler not to climb on the furniture or jump on the couch.  While there are lots of different kinds of discipline in which your family can engage, you should make the decision personally.  The decision should be based on the temperament of the child and the temperament of the parent.  When you discipline children, the needs of the child should also be considered.  Using a combination of discipline types is usually a good approach if you do not know which one to choose.

Here are some examples of different healthy discipline styles from which you can choose:

Gentle Discipline

Gentle discipline focuses on avoiding shame and guilt, but rather getting the child to understand that there are consequences to his or her actions.  It is mostly best to use gentle discipline to diffuse a situation or prevent future problems.  You, as the parent, can use humor or distraction to get the child to respond.  You must also keep your emotions in check.  There is no room for anger with gentle discipline.  For example, if you child will not sit down to practice his or her piano lesson.  Gentle discipline suggest that you use humor by saying something to the effect that if the child would rather not practice the piano, he or she could write a two page letter explaining why he or she is not prepared for the next piano lesson.  Then you can offer to sit beside the child and go over the piano lesson together.

Positive Reinforcement Discipline

Positive reinforcement discipline encourages realistic praise instead of hate speech or shaming.  It helps the child learn problem solving skills.  With negative reinforcement, your child may begin to think that he or she is bad in some way, but with positive reinforcement, your child learns that sometimes you need to do things that you do not want to do, but once you get through them, they are done.  Using the child who does not want to practice his or her piano lesson as an example, you could use an authoritative tone to tell the child that his or her piano teacher has trusted him or her to practice and improve his or her skills this week, that you know he or she does not want to practice, but it still needs to be done.  Then ask the child what you both can do to get the practicing done now.

Behavior Modification

Behavior modification is just like it sounds.  Parents attempt to alter the behavior of the child by rewarding or praising good behavior and ignoring or enforcing negative consequences for misbehavior.  In this kind of discipline, rewards should be set up in advance and not used as a bargaining chip to ply your child into good behavior.  Negative consequences should be the same.  Prearrange both sets of consequences so that your child knows what to expect should he or she not meet your expectations.

Emotional Coaching

Emotional coaching gives your child a vocabulary with which to express his or her feelings rather than just acting on them.  Young children rarely have the words to be able to express when they are angry or frustrated or stressed out.  Children experience all of these feelings, but likely do not know how to verbalize them so they act out.  As a parent, you can give them the words by acknowledging the feelings.  Tell your child that you understand that he or she is angry about not being able to play until he or she has practiced the piano lesson.  You understand that he or she gets frustrated when the right notes are hard to find or the song does not sound just right.  These are valid feelings.  Practicing makes everything a little bit easier and it is necessary for getting better.

Boundary Discipline

Boundary discipline focuses on setting limits and clear boundaries for children when it comes to their behavior and the expectations you have of them.  Children need clear expectations outlines so they know what to expect.  The other part of boundary discipline is that you must follow through with your consequences whether positive or negative.  The consequences should be logical to the child and be appropriate for the behavior exhibited.

Seven Red Flags that Your Child is Being Bullied

As parents, we all want our children to live a safe and healthy life. The idea that your child is being bullied or made fun of by other kids should make us feel very uncomfortable. You are probably the kind of parent who hopes that your child will come to you with this kind of problem, but kids are unpredictable and often do not speak up when they are having a problem with bullying.

According to current statistics, 1 in 3 children are the victim of childhood bullying.  This should be a terrifying statistic, but bullying has become so much a part of our culture that most of us probably did not blink an eye in reading those numbers. The research suggests that when an authority figure takes a stand against the bullying, it usually stops.  But too often, parents, guardians, or teachers do not even know that there is a problem until the damage is already done.  Being vigilant can be the best defense.

There are some signs that your child is being bullied at school or somewhere outside of your home.

Sudden Changes in Mood

Dealing with a bully and losing the battle can be hard on a kid.  He or she is likely to feel depressed and helpless while all of this is going on.

Declining School Performance

If the bullying is happening at school, your child can express anxiety about being at school or going to school which is going to affect the way that he or she performs in the classroom.  If your child is one of the smarter children in class and the bully activity is based on that fact, your child may be trying to compensate or may be anxious about what the response will be to his or her performance.  If your child struggles in school and the bullying is in that area, he or she might start to believe that what the bully is saying is true.

Returns Home with Damaged or Missing Items

Sometimes the source of bullying is that your child has something that the bully wants, and being a bully, he or she simply takes it.  This could mean that your child will come home from the confrontation missing something he or she valued or with damage done to something in his or her possession.

Returns Home with Damage Done to His or Her Body

If your child comes home with cuts or bruises that cannot be explained by a playground trip, then you need to have a conversation with your child immediately.  No form of bullying should be acceptable, but the least acceptable is physical violence.  Your child could be seriously injured if he or she is beat up by a person who is bigger and potentially older and stronger than he or she is.

Returns Home Very Hungry Despite Having a Packed Lunch or Lunch Money

Schoolyard bullies have long been responsible for missing lunches and missing lunch money.  Bullies often extort money or food from their victims.

Has Trouble Sleeping or Has Frequent Nightmares

Some children are just naturally prone to these kinds of nighttime difficulties, but you know your child best.  He or she may be feeling anxiety about going to sleep and staying asleep, because that means that the bullying will begin again the next day.  Some children might have nightmares because of the feelings they are experiencing about being bullied.

Avoids Certain Places or Events

Maybe your child loved going to football games and now avoids them.  Maybe your child loved going to band practice but now will not set foot in the door.  It is possible that a bully is affecting the behavior of your child. When a child is being bullied, they might want to continue doing the things that he or she loves, but not at the expense of being brutalized while there.

What To Do When You Know Your Child Is Being Bullied

While we cannot and should not really fight our children’s battles, there are things that e can do as parents to help grease the wheels of justice.  Find out where the bullying is occurring and alert the proper authority figures or take the stand yourself.  There is no reason why your child should have to endure any kind of bullying.  It is not normal despite statistics to the contrary, and it should be dealt with as swiftly as possible.

ADHD Child Treatment Center In Boca Raton FL

ADHD Child Treatment Center
IS HOMEWORK TIME ALWAYS A BATTLE ?
IT DOESN’T NEED TO BE THIS WAY !

Those with ADHD, as well as their families can suffer a great deal without treatment.  It is for this reason that it is important to find good ADHD treatment for children in Boca Raton FL.  While a lot of people may offer child therapy for ADHD not everyone will provide the complete treatment offered at Proliance Center. When considering ADHD child therapy Boca Raton FL it is important to have a team that is extremely knowledgeable in ADHD treatment so as to come to a comfortable solution quickly.

A lot of people may be able to diagnosis it, but it is very important that they also be able to treat it.  The diagnosis of ADHD is not the subject of this blog, but rather to address the most effective ADHD Child Treatment In Boca Raton FL once the diagnosis is made.

People have mixed feelings after they or their loved one is diagnosed with ADHD, so it is important to get ADHD Child Treatment In Boca Raton FL right the first time.   Some people prefer to see their pediatrician and while that can be a good start it can often take a great deal of time, simply because your pediatrician doesn’t see as many people with ADHD as a Child Psychiatrist may.  Additionally, there is more to ADHD Child Treatment In Boca Raton FL than planning for school and home accommodations, learning study skills and medication treatment.

ADHD Child Treatment Center - Results
LET US HELP YOU TAKE THE “STING” OUT OF HOMEWORK TIME !

It is for this reason that one should consider compressive approach to ADHD Child Treatment In Boca Raton FL.  One that is housed under one roof.  Here at Proliance Center we have professionals experienced in all facets of ADHD Child Treatment In Boca Raton FL and its effect on the patient and family.  We have a double boarded Child, Adolescent and Adult Psychiatrist who is extremely familiar with the pharmacological management of ADHD throughout the entire cycle.  We have numerous Child therapist and behavioral therapist who are very experienced with ADHD treatment.  Lastly because ADHD doesn’t just affect an individual, but their family as well, we have a Family Therapist to help out with Positive Parenting in the context of an ADHD child.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) & ADD

What is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is an often-misunderstood condition, which is not only over diagnosed, but under diagnosed as well.  While Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common mental health disorders of childhood, ADHD is not just a childhood disorder.  The symptoms affect children, teens, and adults.  Recent national surveys have documented an increase in the prevalence of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) during the past decade.  In fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (more simply known as the CDC), it is estimated that in the United States alone approximately 8 percent of children ages 3-17 years have ever been diagnosed with ADHD.  This includes 11 percent of boys’ ages 3-17 years old and nearly 6 percent of girls’ ages 3-17 years old.  This stunning fact means that around 5 million children from the ages of 3-17 years old have been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the United States.  In childhood, ADHD is more common in boys than girls by a ratio of 3 to 1, but by adulthood this ratio seems to even out.  The symptoms of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) include inattention, impulsivity and hyperactivity.  Nearly everyone shows some of these behaviors at times, but ADHD lasts more than 6 months and in affected individuals these symptoms frequently lead to problems in several areas of a person’s life.  These include academic, school, occupation, family, home, relationships and social settings.  They begin in childhood and often persist into adulthood. The specific causes and risk factors for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) are unknown, but genetic factors do play a large role.  The appropriate diagnosis of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) should involve several steps, including a medical exam; a checklist for rating Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms based on reports from parents, teachers, and sometimes the child; and an evaluation for coexisting conditions.

Why is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Over Diagnosed?

There are a number of conditions or problems that can mimic the distractibility, impulsivity and hyperactivity usually associated with ADHD.  For instance, while a lack of focus (distractibility) is considered by many to be suggestive of ADHD there are actually two things that must be present for one to focus:  Attention and Concentration.  Attention problems may certainly be the result of ADHD, but certain kinds of Seizures can affect this as well.  The second is concentration.  There are a number of things that if present can cause problems with concentration and lead someone to be diagnosed with ADHD, when the real problem is something else.  Depression, Anxiety, OCD, Tourette’s Disorder, Poor Nutrition, High Levels of Lead in the Blood and Poor Sleep can all lead to a decrease in concentration, which would then cause focusing problems.  Impulsivity and hyperactivity can also occur with Anxiety, Tourette’s Disorder, Poor Sleep, Poor Nutrition (such as Foods with Sugar, Food Additives, and Dyes) and Bipolar Disorder.  Additionally, the level of acceptable hyperactivity varies depending on ones age.  So while one could expect a 5 year old to be running around a fountain at a public park, we wouldn’t expect it from a 15 year old.

Why is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Under Diagnosed?

Some critics of ADHD allege that children with problematic behavior are often diagnosed with ADHD when the behavior may result from other causes.  These critics are correct and this underscores the need to have individuals evaluated correctly.  Other critics state that some children diagnosed with ADHD, or labeled ADHD by parents or teachers, are normal but do not behave in the way that responsible adults want them to behave.  This too is important, given that parents often see kids as a reflection of themselves or are afraid of how others may view them.  As a result, they can be overly critical of normal childhood behavior due to fear of embarrassment or being wrongly judged.

Does Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Occur in Adults ?

It is now known that in 60% of children ADHD symptoms can continue into adulthood.   That amounts to 4% of the US adult population, or roughly 8 – 10 million adults. However, few adults are identified or treated for adult ADHD.   Additionally, while ADHD affects males at a higher rate than females in childhood, this ratio seems to even out by adulthood.  Adults with ADHD may have trouble in a number of areas that can cause associated behavioral, emotional, social, occupational and academic problems.  These include chronic lateness, forgetfulness, problems concentrating and following directions.  They also include problems organizing tasks and completing work within time limits.   Furthermore, they can result in impulsiveness, low frustration tolerance, and chronic feelings of boredom, difficulty controlling anger and more.  These behaviors can be mild to severe and can vary with the situation or be present all of the time.   For instance, some adults with ADHD can be withdrawn and antisocial, or they can be overly social and unable to be alone.  Some are able to concentrate if they are interested in or excited about what they are doing (such as something that gives their brain a “Wow”). Others may have difficulty focusing under any circumstances.  Some will look for stimulation, but others avoid it.  Adults with ADHD are more likely to have had a history of poor educational performance, been underachievers in school, had more frequent school disciplinary actions, repeated a grade or dropped out of school.  As a result of all these challenges, they can end up with anxiety, mood swings, depression, substance abuse or addiction, low self-esteem and relationship problems.  Adults with ADHD are more likely to smoke cigarettes, have driving violations such as: be cited for speeding; have their licenses suspended; be involved in more crashes; rate themselves and others as using poorer driving habits.  They may have a lower socioeconomic status, and use illegal substances more frequently.

How Does Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Affect Teenagers?

Incredibly, ADHD teens can have about four times the amount of traffic citations, four times as many car wrecks and are seven times more likely to be involved in a second car accident as non-ADHD teens.  In school they can have problems with authority figures, exhibit verbal hostility, defiance and non-compliance.   As teenagers 21% repeatedly skip school, 30% fail subjects and repeat a year of school, 35% get suspended and 35% drop out of school. It is important to diagnose and treat ADHD in teens with some form of child psychiatry.

Is Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Genetic?

There is strong evidence that genetics plays a role in the risk of getting ADHD. In fact, a study conducted in 2009 concluded that genetics account for about 75 percent of the risk.  Additionally, it runs in families, to the point that 40% of ADHD children have at least one parent with ADHD.   Specific studies have found that kids with ADHD were more likely to have small parts of their DNA that were duplicates or missing.  These deletion or duplication of genetic material is called copy number variants or CNVs.  However, this research did not conclude that ADHD is entirely genetically based.  In fact, human development includes both genetic origins of behavior and the direct influence that environmental forces have on the expression of those genes (nature vs. nurture).  Simply put, how our genes express themselves is greatly impacted by our environment.  This is important because increased environmental stress can, in effect, turn ON genes that were previously in the OFF position.  Presently, once these genes are turned ON and ADHD is expressed (present in the individual) the genes cannot be turned OFF.  However, while there is no cure for it, treatments can in effect “dim the lights” to the point that someone can appear as if they don’t have ADHD, provided they continue with treatment.

How Does Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Lead to Academic or School Impairment?

It is estimated that in a classroom of 30 students there are about 1 to 3 children with ADHD.  65% of ADHD children have problems with authority figures, exhibit verbal hostility, defiance, temper tantrums and non-compliance. About 25% of ADHD students have additional learning problems that can be serious. These include problems with listening skills, oral expression, reading comprehension and mathematics.  50% of ADHD students have problems with listening comprehension.  33% of ADHD students have language deficits, poor organizational skills, poor fine motor skills and poor memory.  ADHD children are three times more likely to have problems with expressive language.  As teenagers 21% repeatedly skip school, 30% fail subjects and repeat a year of school, 35% get suspended and 35% drop out of school.  Adults with ADHD are more likely to have had a history of poor educational performance, been underachievers in school, had more frequent school disciplinary actions, repeated a grade or dropped out of school.   Some people have misconceptions about ADHD, such as that those with ADHD are lazy or dumb.  The truth is that anyone of any level of intelligence can have ADHD and the higher one’s intelligence the longer they can go without being detected.  The reason for this is that when someone has the distractibility that comes with ADHD, but is highly intelligent, they can afford to miss information and still get by.  However, as the difficulty of subjects increases with advancing years, this becomes more difficult and people can no longer simply “wing it” by not fully listening in class or preparing for exams.  This is why many adults escape detection until college, graduate school, law or medical school.  Another misconception is that medicine for ADHD can make you smart.  The reality is that it just gives you back your own brain so you can use it.  People with the distractibility of ADHD are often unable to read something in spite of deciding they NEED to read it.  They find themselves thinking or daydreaming of other things as they are reading, to the point that they get to the end of a page and realize they don’t know what they just read.  Medicines do help with this tremendously and dramatically to the point people often feel as if someone turned on a light in their brain.

How Does Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Lead to Occupational Impairment?

Adults with ADHD are more likely to have problems organizing tasks, completing work within time limits, forgetfulness, and problems concentrating and following directions.  This leads to fewer occupational achievements, promotions, etc.  Due to impulsiveness, low frustration tolerance, and difficulty controlling anger, they have a difficult time interacting with their peers and managing others.  They may also be chronically late and procrastinate a lot.  As a result they change employers frequently and perform poorly.

How Does Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Lead to Family, Home or Relationship Impairment?

Due to impulsiveness, low frustration tolerance, and difficulty controlling anger, parents with an ADHD child are three times as likely to separate or divorce as parents who don’t have an ADHD child.   Adults with ADHD are more likely to have more marital problems and multiple marriages.  They also have a higher incidence of separation and divorce.  However, most of these problems that are related to ADHD can improve with appropriate treatment.

How Does Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Lead to Social Impairment?

In childhood the rate of emotional development for a person with ADHD can be 30% slower than the emotional development of a similar person without ADHD.  Therefore, a 10-year-old child with ADHD operates at a 7-year-old maturity level.  Also ADHD children are three times more likely to have problems with expressive language, making communication with peers a challenge.  The impulsiveness, low frustration tolerance, and difficulty controlling anger that can be present in ADHD, make establishing and maintaining friendships more difficult.  Children often want to at least take turns and get tired of someone who always has to play their way.  Adults too cannot deal well with people who get angry and easily upset all the time.

Does Medicine for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Make You Smart?

Some people have misconceptions about ADHD, such as that those with ADHD are lazy or dumb.  The truth is that anyone of any level of intelligence can have ADHD and the higher one’s intelligence the longer they can go without being detected, despite being distractible.  The reason for this is that when someone has the distractibility that comes with ADHD, but is highly intelligent, they can afford to miss information and still get by.  However, as the difficulty of the subject increases with advancing years, this becomes more difficult and people can no longer simply “wing it” by not fully listening in class or preparing for exams.  This is why many adults escape detection until college, graduate school, law or medical school.  Another misconception is that medicine for ADHD can make you smart.  The reality is that it just gives you back your own brain so you can use it.  People with the distractibility of ADHD are often unable to read something in spite of deciding they need to read it.  They find themselves thinking or daydreaming of other things as they are reading, to the point that they get to the end of a page and realize they don’t know what they just read.  Medicines do help with this tremendously and dramatically to the point people often feel as if someone turned on a light in their brain.

How Do You Diagnose Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

The appropriate diagnosis of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) should involve several steps, including a medical exam; a checklist for rating Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) symptoms based on reports from parents, teachers, and sometimes the child; and an evaluation for coexisting conditions.

What Are There Different Types of Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Primarily Inattentive Type – ADD

The general public tends to refer to this as simply ADD, because of the lack of the hyperactivity (the H), but in reality it is also a form of ADHD.  The reason for this is that while the majority of symptoms (six or more) are in the inattention category and fewer than six symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity are present, hyperactivity-impulsivity may still be present to some degree.  Children with this subtype are less likely to act out or have difficulties getting along with other children. They may sit quietly, but they are not paying attention to what they are doing. Therefore, the child may be overlooked, and parents and teachers may not notice that he or she has ADHD.  Children who have symptoms of inattention may:  be easily distracted, miss details, forget things, start but not finish things and frequently switch from one activity to another.  They may have difficulty focusing on one thing; become bored with a task after only a few minutes, unless they are doing something enjoyable; have difficulty focusing attention on organizing and completing a task or learning something new; have trouble completing or turning in homework assignments; often losing things (e.g., pencils, toys, assignments) needed to complete tasks or activities; seem not to listen when spoken to directly; daydream, become easily confused, and move slowly; have difficulty processing information as quickly and accurately as others; struggle to follow instructions.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, primarily Hyperactive-Impulsive Type

In this subtype, most symptoms (six or more) are in the hyperactivity-impulsivity categories.  Fewer than six symptoms of inattention are present, although inattention may still be present to some degree.  Children who have symptoms of hyperactivity may:  fidget and squirm in their seats, talk nonstop, run around, touch or play with anything and everything in sight, have trouble sitting still (such as during dinner, school, and story time), be constantly in motion, have difficulty doing quiet tasks or activities.  Children who have symptoms of impulsivity may: be very impatient, blurt out inappropriate comments, often interrupt conversations or others’ activities, show their emotions without restraint, act without regard for consequences, have difficulty waiting for things they want or waiting their turns in games, etc.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Combined Type

Most children have the combined type of ADHD.  It includes the presence of six or more symptoms of inattention and six or more symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity.

What Does a MEDICAL Exam for Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Involve?

Unfortunately, no single test can diagnose a person as having ADHD.  Instead, a licensed medical health professional (such as a Medical Doctor who completed a 4 year medical school and a further 3-6 years of Residency Training) needs to gather information about the person, and his or her behavior and environment.  This is important because there are a number of MEDICAL causes and conditions that can appear like ADHD.  A mother’s pregnancy history can increase the risk for ADHD, such as the use of cigarettes, alcohol, or other drugs during pregnancy.  In addition, preschoolers who are exposed to high levels of lead may have a higher risk of developing ADHD.  Lead is a danger for them because it can sometimes be found in plumbing fixtures, well water, and old building paints and in some older Chinese made toys.  Individuals who have suffered a traumatic brain injury may show some behaviors similar to those of ADHD.  Those with undetected seizures could appear hyperactive, impulsive and/or inattentive.  A middle ear infection or any undetected hearing or vision problems can cause someone to “miss” things and appear inattentive.  Learning disabilities can do this as well.   Anxiety or depression, or other psychiatric problems can lead to ADHD-like symptoms, because they affect a person’s concentration and subsequently will decrease their focus.  Environmental changes and stressors can cause this too.  Things such as a significant or sudden change in the individual’s life (death of a family member or friend, a divorce, a parent’s job loss, school stress/bullying, new school, new home, new town, new country) can seriously impact a person’s ability to concentrate and focus.  This is why a specialist will often review school and medical records for clues, to see if the child’s home or school settings appear unusually stressful or disrupted, and gather information from the child’s parents and teachers.  Babysitters, coaches, and other adults who know the child well also may be consulted.  Some families may want to first talk with the child’s pediatrician. Some pediatricians can assess the child themselves, but many will refer the family to a Child Psychiatrist with experience in childhood mental health challenges such as ADHD. The pediatrician, or preferably a medical health professional that specializes in mental health challenges (Child Psychiatrist or Psychiatrist) will first try to rule out other possibilities for the symptoms.  A specialist will investigate whether the behaviors are excessive and long-term, and do they affect all aspects of the person’s life?  Do they happen more often in this person or child compared with the person or child’s peers?  Are the behaviors a continuous problem or a response to a temporary situation?  Do the behaviors occur in several settings or only in one place, such as the playground, classroom, home or work?  The specialist will pay close attention to the individual’s behavior during different situations.  Some situations are highly structured, but some have less structure. Others would require the person to keep paying attention. Most children with ADHD are better able to control their behaviors in situations where they are getting individual attention and when they are free to focus on enjoyable activities. The same is true of adults. These types of situations are less important in the assessment.  A child also may be evaluated to see how he or she acts in social situations, and may be given tests of intellectual ability and academic achievement to see if he or she has a learning disability.  Finally, if after gathering all this information the child meets the criteria for ADHD, he or she will be diagnosed with the disorder.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Checklists for Rating ADHD Symptoms – new content coming soon

What are Some Coexisting Conditions that Occur in Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?

65% of ADHD children have problems with authority figures, and exhibit verbal hostility, defiance, temper tantrums and non-compliance and many are diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder.  50% of ADHD children also have sleep problems.   These can range from poor sleep habits, restlessness in bed, sleep apnea, sleepwalking and Enuresis (bedwetting).   Many parents believe that foods with sugar, food additives, and dyes make their children more hyperactive.  However, while this may be true, these foods have not been shown to cause ADHD.  There is also a relationship between high levels of lead in the blood and distractibility.  But again, this doesn’t cause ADHD and the treatment involves getting rid of the extra lead in the body.  Sometimes individuals with certain types of seizures (i.e. Absence Seizures) can appear to have the distractibility of ADHD as they are seen to be “starring into space”.  While this is easily treated with medication once identified, its identification is imperative, as many of the medications used to treat ADHD can make this problem worse.  ADHD can also occur with and or lead to a Depression if it remains untreated for a long time.  The reason for this may not just be genetics, but an environment of failure across several areas of an individual’s life that eventually erode their self-esteem and lead to depression.  ADHD can occur with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) and other Anxiety Disorders (Generalized Anxiety, Separation Anxiety, Panic Disorder, PTSD, etc).  This is important to find out for several reasons.  Some of the medications used to treat ADHD can make OCD and or Anxiety worse.  Additionally, having OCD or Anxiety affect concentration and focus and lead some to mistake them for the inattentive features of ADHD.  Tourette’s Disorder, is also common and can co-occur with ADHD.  It can cause repetitive involuntary movements of the eyes, nose, mouth, face, neck, head, arms, hands, etc. and vocal sounds such as throat clearing, coughing, clicking, grunting or sneezing sounds.  Often many of the symptoms of Tourette’s Disorder can be confused for those of ADHD and are only identified by the characteristic movements these individuals have, that only those trained to identify them can detect.  Additionally, these symptoms can be made worse by many of the very same medications used to treat ADHD and require special planning and management when treating with medications.  ADHD can also occur with Bipolar Disorder and given that several symptoms of ADHD, in childhood are also common to Bipolar Disorder the likelihood of a misdiagnosis or the wrong diagnosis is high.  So while increase energy, distractibility, and pressured speech commonly occur in ADHD and Bipolar Disorder, irritability, grandiosity, racing thoughts, decrease need for sleep, euphoria/elation, poor judgment, flight of ideas and hyper sexuality generally occur only with bipolar disorder.  This too is important to know, because some of the treatments for ADHD can worsen or bring out symptoms of Bipolar Disorder.

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment often includes medicines to control symptoms. But some form of child psychiatry is imperative for children and teens who are dealing with ADHD. For example, structure at home and at school is also important. Parenting classes or behavioral therapy may also help.  – new content coming soon

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