Diagnosing ADHD

Call your doctor if your child shows symptoms of ADHD, or if teachers notify you that your child is having academic difficulties, behavioral problems or difficulty paying attention. There is no single test to diagnose ADHD. Your doctor may make the diagnosis or may refer your child to a specialist. The doctor will ask you if your child has shown any of the characteristics of ADHD.

Since many of these characteristics are more likely to be seen in a school setting, your doctor also will ask about your child's behavior in school.

To help collect this information, parents, teachers and other caregivers may be asked to fill out special behavioral checklists. Your pediatrician also will ask about your child's medical and developmental history, and will examine your child. It is important to be sure that your child does not have other conditions that may affect his or her behavior, such as trouble hearing or seeing, learning disabilities, speech problems, seizure disorders, anxiety, depression or other behavior problems. In some cases, other testing is necessary to check for one or more of these conditions. Your child may be referred to a specialist (usually a psychologist, psychiatrist or neurologist) for psychological or neuropsychological testing. These tests, which can take many hours to complete, are made up of a series of written and spoken questions and are designed to detect mental conditions (such as depression or anxiety) or learning problems.

Treating ADHD

Although there is no cure for ADHD, many treatment options are available. The goal of treatment is to help children improve social relationships, do better in school, and keep their disruptive and dangerous behaviors to a minimum. Medication alone rarely is the answer. The best results usually require a combination of medication and behavior therapy. Several different types of medication are prescribed by doctors to treat ADHD. Stimulants, such as methylphenidate (Ritalin, Concerta and others) and forms of amphetamine (Dexedrine, Adderall and others) are safe and effective for most children, helping them to focus their thoughts and control their behavior. Despite their name, stimulants do not cause increased hyperactivity or impulsivity. In some children, these medications may cause mild side effects, such as decreased appetite, weight loss, stomachaches, sleep problems, headaches and jitteriness. Rarely, there may be more serious side effects, such as dizziness, stuttering, tics or increased blood pressure. Children who take stimulants should be monitored regularly to make sure that the medication is working properly and to check for side effects. Recently, a non-stimulant medication called atomoxetine (Strattera) was approved for treating ADHD in children and adults. Other types of medicines, such as antidepressants, also are used to treat ADHD occasionally. Other treatment approaches, used alone or in combination, may include:

1. Behavioral therapy: techniques that try to improve behavior, usually by rewarding and encouraging desirable behaviors and by discouraging unwanted behaviors and pointing out the consequences.
2. Cognitive therapy: psychotherapy designed to help a child change his or her thinking so that he or she can build self-esteem, stop having negative thoughts, and improve problem-solving skills.
3. Social skill training: Improving social skills helps children with ADHD to make and keep friends.

Parent education and support

Training classes, support groups, and counselors can help to teach and support parents about ADHD, including strategies for dealing with ADHD-related behaviors. Because many children with ADHD also are troubled by poor grades and school behavior problems, it is important that schools provide educational adjustments and interventions (such as an individualized educational plan) to promote the best possible learning environment for the child.

Don't Judge, Adjust