Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a group of behavioral symptoms that may include impulsivity, hyperactivity, and inattention. The symptoms associated with this condition tend to be noticed at an early stage when children are about 6 to 12 years old. However, the symptoms tend to intensify when the child’s circumstances changes, such as when they start school. The journey of parenting a child who has ADHD may sometimes feel lonely. But you shouldn’t feel alone. It is estimated that this neurodevelopmental disorder affects about 11 percent of school-age children—that’s about 6.4 million children in the US alone.  Studies also reveal that the ADHD symptoms may also continue from childhood into adulthood. In fact, an estimated 2.5 percent of adults have ADHD in the United States. In adults, hyperactivity may decrease, but one may struggle with restlessness and impulsiveness; and may find it difficult to pay attention. Treatment for both childhood and adult ADHD is normally similar, though some medications prescribed for children may not be suitable for adults. It is also important to note that boys and girls tend to display different types of ADHD symptoms. Boys are significantly more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls—studies show that at least four in every five cases of ADHD are diagnosed in boys.

Many parents who discover that their child has ADHD (or attention deficit hyperactive disorder) are not keen on treating them with pharmaceuticals due to potential side effects. While many health experts point to prescription medication as the most common treatment for ADHD, they also acknowledge that medication is effective in only 80-percent of cases. This is why many parents turn to non-medical means (with recommendation from their family doctor), including the following therapeutic, dietary, and lifestyle changes, to control and decrease the symptoms of ADHD, and thus help their children live better quality lives at home and at school: 1) Dietary changes The link between diet and ADHD symptoms has long been controversial. However, studies from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration claim artificial food dyes, while considered safe, have been known to contribute to hyperactive behavior. Other known dietary culprits that have been linked to increasing ADHD symptoms are milk, food additives, sugar, wheat, and eggs. 2) Neurofeedback While the verdict is still out on the scientific effect of this treatment on the behavior of patients with ADHD, many parents turn to neurofeedback (or electroencephalography biofeedback) by recommendation from a family doctor. Neurofeedback treatment connects patients to a brain wave machine to monitor brain activity as they concentrate on different tasks.

As mentioned earlier, ADHD is not a result of your child’s disobedience, selfishness, poor upbringing, low intelligence, poor motivation, or laziness—just to name a few. Although these are some of the symptoms associated with the condition, having these problems don’t cause chronic impulsiveness, hyperactivity, or inattention, which are the core symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. The exact cause of ADHD isn’t known, although numerous researchers agree that genetic and brain structure and function are responsible. 1)   Genetics Heredity is thought to be one of the most common causes of ADHD. The evidence in this thought is derived from extensive molecular genetic research (such as this), twin studies, adoption studies, and family studies. For example, if a trait is genetic, adopted children resemble their biological relatives more closely than they do their adoptive relatives. ADHD is hereditary and tends to run through families. Therefore, if you or your child have the condition, there is a greater chance that you inherited it. In fact, research shows that siblings and parents of children with ADHD are four times more likely to develop this condition themselves. 2)   Brain Function and Structure There is ongoing research that indicates that the cerebellum, caudate nucleus, basal ganglia, and frontal lobe (as well as other parts of the brain) play a key role in the development of ADHD, because all these parts play a significant role in regulating behavior and mental functions.

Treating ADHD often requires psychological, behavioral, educational, and medical intervention. Depending on the age of the patient, the treatment options may include:    Parent training    Education regarding ADHD    Educational supports    Behavioral therapy    Counselling    Skills training    Medication Treatment for ADHD can help relieve the symptoms and improve the patient’s daily living conditions. The treatment options can be therapy, a medication, or, better yet, a combination of both. Let’s look at these two commonly used treatment approaches. Therapy Different therapies can be used to treat ADHD in both children and adults. Therapy has been seen as a useful approach in treating other problems associated with the disorder, such as anxiety and conduct disorders. Some therapies used to manage ADHD include: Social skill training —A child suffering from ADHD can be engaged in a role play situation to teach them how to socialize with other children and understand how their behavior affects others. Behavior therapy —Behavioral therapy entails behavior management, whereby a system of reward is used to encourage a child with ADHD to control their behavior towards situations and other people. Both parents and teachers are integral parts of this therapeutic approach. Psychoeducation —This is a form of talk therapy, wherein you and your child are encouraged to talk about ADHD.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, there is no single test to diagnose ADHD, because many other health conditions such as certain learning disabilities, depression, anxiety, and sleep disorders can have similar symptoms. If you suspect that you or your child might have ADHD, the first thing you should do is talk to your doctor to check if the symptoms fit the diagnosis. A person is diagnosed with ADHD if he/she portrays more than six symptoms of ADHD for more than six months. Additionally, the symptoms must be present in more than one setting since the age of 12. Depending on the type of symptoms, a patient can be diagnosed with either Inattentive Type, Hyperactive-Impulsive Type, or Combined Type ADHD. Many healthcare providers. such as doctors, psychologists, psychiatrists, and pediatricians can diagnose ADHD with the help of standards from the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM) or the American Academy of Pediatrics guidelines. The diagnosis pertains to gathering of information from parents or caregivers about the child’s behaviors. Your doctor or your child’s GP may inquire about the following: A family history of ADHD. Other health conditions you or your child may have. Any significant event in your life, or that of your child, for instance divorce or death of a close family member.