Parenting Children

I was lucky enough to have a ADHD specialist answer all of our questions about ADD/ADHD. Lets begin:

We hear about ADD/ADHD so much these days in the media. It seems that every other child has been diagnosed with one or both of these disorders. Is it being overly diagnosed?
Many children are too young to make and accurate determination, physicians need to do a complete evaluation focusing on home life, siblings does the parent have ADD, diet, before determining if it is indeed an ADD case. While ADD is a biological disorder, acting out may not be ADD related.
What is the difference in a normal, active, excited child from one that has ADHD? ADHD is constant throughout the day over at least a six month period. Acting hyper, overly stimulated, unfocused, poor behavior, inattentive all day every day are symptoms of this disorder. Everyone is affected by ADHD, the parents, siblings and teachers.

Is there anything we can do to prevent this in our own children?NO. ADHD is a disease just like diabetes and can be controlled by medications but all other avenues should be explored before prescribing drugs to treat the disorder.

Why does it seem that there are more boys with this disorder then girls?
Boys have a natural tendency toward acting out or being more aggressive or the hyperactive type. Girls fall into the inattentive type, and probably go more undiagnosed, especially as they enter their teens.

What should I look for in my child? When should I seek help?
As stated before, if everyone the child comes in contact with is affected, then you know you need to do something. Most parents will seek help after a teacher states their concerns.
The warning signs:
trouble sitting still
excess of physical energy
excessive talking
cannot do quiet activities
restlessness
forgetful
doesn’t listen even when spoken directly to
no attention to details
hard time waiting their turn
interrupts or intrudes on conversations

As a parents what you can do is simple, take an active role in helping treat ADHD, learn as much as you can about the disorder and work closely with healthcare professionals and your child’s teachers.

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