Could It Be ADHD?
Approximately 1.6 million elementary-age children in America are diagnosed with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. How do you know if your child has the condition?
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) affects between 5 and 9 percent of school-age children. A number of factors contribute to the disorder’s prevalence among children, including genetic predisposition and in utero exposure to alcohol and tobacco.
Mary Cook, MD, Medical Director of Behavioral Health at The Children’s Hospital, encourages parents to be aware of the following warning signs of ADHD:
- Academic struggle
- Difficulty making friends
- Impulsive behavior
- Inability to sit still
- Profound inattention
While no single test is used to determine if a child suffers from ADHD, physicians usually begin treatment for the condition if symptoms persist longer than six months.If your child has shown these signs for a significant period of time, ask your family physician or pediatrician about seeing a pediatric specialist at Children’s who can help.
“Prescription stimulants prescribed for children diagnosed with ADHD work well 70 to 80 percent of the time,” Dr. Cook said. “Progress of ADHD treatment is monitored using a scale in which the teachers and parents of the child chart his or her behavioral patterns. If symptoms do not improve, additional medication may be prescribed.”
For more information, visit www.thechildrenshospital.org and search “ADHD.”
