Does My Child Have ADHD?

by Laura Edrington, PMHNP

First off… if your child is diagnosed with ADHD, you’re not alone… One in every ten children in the US are diagnosed with ADHD. At this point if you are researching “why my child,” I’d recommend to shift your focus to “how can my child live a normal, or greater than normal life with ADHD.” Some of the most successful people in the world, have ADHD. The key is to NOT ignore it, and seek professional help sooner rather than later so that you and your child can create solutions that will work as soon as possible.

Here are a few common questions you may be asking yourself as a parent…

What is ADHD?

The American Psychological Association defines ADHD as….. A problem of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. ADHD is a chronic condition with symptoms that begin in early childhood, but often persist into adult life. A key element of the definition is the impairment across two or more environments most often initially noticed at school and at home. As a result, ADHD untreated can limit interpersonal, educational, and occupational success. It can also lead to greater instances of risk taking behaviors and accidents.

How can ADHD be Treated?

There are a variety of therapies that can help relieve symptoms of ADHD, most often a combination of several therapies work best. These include medications, behavioral therapy, and educating the parents on ADHD and how its symptoms affect not just the child, but also the entire family.

My child’s teacher is recommending I seek ADHD testing…

Teachers can’t diagnose ADHD. Only licensed medical professionals can, but you shouldn’t ignore what the teacher is saying. Generally speaking, teachers are in contact with your child for several hours each day. Discounting their observations of symptoms of ADHD should not go ignored. As the definition above states, it’s an impairment across two or more environments. School is frequently known to be one of those environments. I recommend asking the teacher for examples of their observations and even better, have them document what they see so you can provide it to your health care professional.

I was treated in my childhood for ADHD and the meds didn’t work on me, will it work on my child?

Thanks to campaigns like “Mental Health Awareness Month,” documentaries on Netflix and YouTube about mental health, to Google providing many articles and blogs like this one… the advancements in the mental health industry are growing rapidly. Just 10 years ago, the strategies for testing and treating are much different than today. Simply put, we have many more options from different types of medications to more advanced and effective therapy strategies. It’s not like it “used to be.” Don’t hold your child back from treatment based on your fears or your own childhood experience. A poor situation you may have gone through yourself as a child is not the same experience your child will go through today. Times have changed, medical advancements have happened, and there will be  continued advancements with more research in mental health. I’d highly recommend being open with your child’s healthcare provider about your fears or concerns so that they can help explain and educate.

Can my child live a normal life and grow out of it?

Yes! A normal life is possible with the proper treatment. Will they grow out of it… not necessarily, but over time with maturity they can learn how to manage it to where it will be much less impairing. Document or diary your child’s days. Pay attention to sleep, eating habits, social changes, school grades, etc… and share all of these factors with the professional you are seeking help from. With this focus, measurement, and reporting, you will see a faster path to leading the life you desire for your child.