ADHD in Kids: Signs, Medication, Treatment
Over 6 million children in the United States, between the ages of two and 17 are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This almost 10% of the population doesn’t include those who haven’t been diagnosed yet. ADHD in kids is one of the most common neurological disorders.
ADHD in Kids Symptoms
According to the CDC, signs and symptoms of ADHD in kids include daydreaming more than is typical, forgetting or losing things more than is typical, squirming or fidgeting a lot, talking too much, making careless mistakes or taking unnecessary risks. Also having a hard time resisting temptations, having trouble taking turns and having difficulty getting along with others.
ADHD has two forms. The predominantly inattentive type is characterized by less movement based symptoms. And the predominantly hyperactive impulsive type is characterized by more movement based symptoms. If a child is diagnosed with ADHD, they may fall under either type. But it doesn’t mean that they may not have symptoms of both. Also, children may show some symptoms like talking too much or, or making careless mistakes, but it doesn’t mean that they’re diagnoseable as having ADHD.
Did you know each child has their own behavior type? Take my free quiz to find out which one yours has by clicking below!
ADHD in Kids Treatment
There are several ways to address ADHD in kids. It’s usually with some combination of medication and behavioral therapy. The medication typically prescribed works on the chemistry of the brain, allowing it to tamp down impulsivity and bring about a more calm and focused body to work with. Behavioral education works on a child’s motivation to proper attention and effort on important tasks. It also practices mindfulness and relaxation strategies.
Medications are generally not recommended for children younger than six years of age, but behavioral education – particularly that which involves parent training – is recommended as early as possible. And once a child turns six or later, depending on the severity of the symptoms, a doctor may prescribe medications such as Adderall, Concerta, Evekeo, Focalin, Quillivant, Ritalin, Strattera, and even Vyanese. These medications each have a set of expected benefits. But those benefits need to be demonstrated in the individual to determine if the medication is appropriate.
You also have to consider the many side effects that can come from these medications. Stimulant medications can cause appetite suppression and weight loss. Some can also cause headaches and trouble falling asleep. Although it’s much less common, some medications may cause some children to experience visual or tactile hallucinations or even to develop a tic. It’s generally believed, however, that most of the side effects can be remedied or even removed altogether by changing the dose or the schedule of the medication or trying a different medication.
Some of the problems beyond side effects associated with medications for children include the length of time that the medications will actually last, how they affect sleep cycles, and a child’s inability to take pills.
How to Help a Child That Has ADHD
There are a lot of reasons why it might be a good idea for a family to try medications for their child with ADHD. And there may be some reasons why it might not make sense. Have in depth, frank conversations with your medical professionals both before deciding to try a medication and throughout the process. Monitor to see if the drug is effective. Stimulants tend to work almost immediately where non-stimulants may take time to build up before you’re going to see the expected results. So be sure you have this worked out with your doctors so that you know what to look for and how long it should take to take effect.
I’ve met many families who’ve chosen to avoid the medicine route for their children. Whether or not you choose to go the medicine route or not, you still will need to have some form of behavioral intervention and preferably training for you as a parent to help your child to have their best opportunity to overcome the effects that ADHD in kids can have on their learning, on their behavior, and on their social skills.
ADHD in Childhood Symptoms
It is important to discuss what the symptoms ADHD are and how they affect children. It is a common misconception that children with ADHD do not have the ability to maintain attention to things in their environment. But I found in my work that it is more related to motivation than actual ability. Although it is true that you might see a child with ADHD lose attention to a task frequently, this is only when the task itself is just not that strong of an interest or motivation. This leaves the child primed for distraction. However, when properly motivated, children with ADHD will pay attention for long periods of time. This is why you often see kids with ADHD draw or play video games for a while.
As motivation is such an important aspect in a child’s ability to maintain attention to a task, it becomes increasingly important to factor a child’s interests into their daily activities, and to use strong motivational tools when teaching them.
Now another symptom of the hyperactivity impulsivity type of ADHD is the need for almost constant movement. And children with this form of ADHD will find it very hard to sit still for longer periods of time. To help with this, allowing the child to have frequent movement breaks, letting them use a ball for a chair, or other accommodations to help them feel vestibular feedback on a regular basis can be very helpful for them.
Behavioral Interventions for ADHD
When applying behavioral interventions to help children with ADHD, it is important to do some basic work in identifying the ways that the child’s inattention, hyperactivity, and or impulsivity is negatively impacting their lives. You may need to make a list of the areas of concern and then prioritize which of these areas would make the most sense to address first. It may be helpful to include the child in these discussions as well as, of course, the parents and teachers working with that child daily.
Now, once you have a list of targets that you would like to address, find ways to consistently motivate and then reinforce better behavior related to those issues. This can create new skills and habits that allow a child to overcome some of the negative consequences of the disorder.
The bottom line is that however a child is affected by ADHD, it is incumbent on the team of adults supporting them to consider all forms of potential support. Take into consideration the child’s inability to currently control the behavior we are seeing. Use medical and/or behavioral supports to help them overcome the challenges that can come with either form of ADHD.
ADHD in Kids Conclusion
If you feel that a child in your life demonstrates symptoms of ADHD, go to your local pediatrician for an assessment. With or without a diagnosis, if a child is struggling with any of the symptoms, there are things that we can do to help.
Each child is unique and has a different behavior type. Take my free quiz to better connect with, understand, and guide your child!
Sensory processing disorders are often prevalent in children with ADHD too. If your child experiences sensory issues, check out this video. I talk about how to handle sensory issues and how it could also even be related to autism.
