"You're not paying attention." "Don't you
know where you put your lunch money?" "Stop
fidgeting!" "Don't interrupt."
Can you imagine what it would be like to hear people talk to you
this way every single day? If you can imagine it, or if it sounds
just like what you're used to hearing, then you know what
it's like to have ADHD. Those letters stand for a condition
called attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Kids who have ADHD are not bad, lazy, or stupid. They have a
disorder that means they may have problems paying attention or
sitting still in their seats. They can also act on impulse - this
means doing things without thinking about them first. Kids with
ADHD may spend a lot of time in the principal's office.
Sometimes they do things that cause them to get hurt. They might
change their friends a lot.
Who Gets ADHD?
About 9% of kids have ADHD. That means out of 100 kids, about 9
of them may have ADHD. So if your school has 300 kids, 24 to 30 of
them may have ADHD. Kids who have ADHD usually start having
problems in preschool. Boys have ADHD more often than girls. In
fact, three times as many boys have ADHD, but no one knows why.
A kid might have a greater chance of developing ADHD if one of
his or her relatives already has ADHD or another type of behavior
problem. But no one is sure why anyone has ADHD, although
scientists and doctors think that it probably has to do with
differences in the way people's brains work. No one gets ADHD
on purpose, so it isn't ever anyone's fault. And ADHD
isn't contagious - you can't catch it from someone like the
flu.
What Are the Signs of ADHD?
ADHD can cause kids to act in different ways, depending on who
has it. Most kids with ADHD have problems concentrating and paying
attention. Some kids with ADHD might also have trouble sitting
still in class and waiting for their turn. They might yell out the
answers before other kids have a chance to raise their hands.
Sometimes they can be disorganized, distracted, or forgetful.
They might lose things and have trouble finishing assignments. They
may wiggle around in their seats, move around a lot, talk too much,
or interrupt other people's conversations.
It's important to remember that everybody does these things
once in a while. It doesn't mean you have ADHD. Checking It Out
When parents and teachers suspect that a child has ADHD, the first
step is to visit the doctor. He or she may then refer the kid to a
specialist like a psychologist, psychiatrist, or neurologist who
knows about kids who have ADHD and other kinds of behavior
problems. Part of the doctor's job is to check for other
illnesses that look like ADHD but need different kinds of
treatment.
If the Doctor Says It's ADHD
Once the doctor determines that a kid has ADHD, then the doctor,
parents, and teachers begin to work together to find out the best
way to help. Often this means starting one of the
medicines
used to treat ADHD, deciding how much medicine is needed, and when
to give it. Children with ADHD usually only have to take their
medicine once before school, but some may have to go to the nurse
in the middle of the school day for medicine.
But children who have ADHD need more than just medicine. They
also need help learning how to change the way they act. Some kids
with ADHD can learn to do this by using relaxation therapy or
behavioral therapy. In relaxation therapy, counselors teach kids
how to relax and stay calm by doing deep-breathing exercises and
relaxing different muscle groups.
Behavioral therapy
helps kids with ADHD by teaching them to set goals for themselves
and by using rewards to help them reach those goals. Teachers can
give a kid with ADHD a reward for sitting still in class, for
example. And parents can do the same thing at home, by rewarding
their children for paying attention, completing their chores, or
keeping track of their things. Kids with ADHD may need extra help
learning how to do things other kids find easy.
Kids who have ADHD can become depressed or anxious. So for many
kids with ADHD, the key to success is not only following the
treatment plan from the doctor, but working to build good
friendships with other kids, too. Many kids with ADHD find that
their symptoms get better as they get older. Adults with ADHD can
have happy lives, and they can be very successful in whatever they
decide to do.
Reviewed by:
Steven Dowshen, MD
Date reviewed: May 2006
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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