What is Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)?
As a parent, do you see your child struggling in school to maintain focus? Does it seem to take your child longer than others to complete homework? Are there frequent arguments about completing homework? And even if homework is complete, does your child often forget to turn it in? Do you see your child struggling with impulse control, interrupting others, or having a hard time sitting still for any length of time?
Does your child struggle academically or are their grades falling below the rest of the class?
Does your child’s teacher voice concerns about how your child is behaving in the classroom or about their academic performance?
When thinking about ADHD in children, it is important to keep in mind that children with ADHD try their best to perform, but ADHD symptoms get in the way of them being able to focus and settle their bodies.
What Are The Symptoms?
Some symptoms of ADHD that are often seen in children with ADHD:
- Difficulty maintaining attention
- Challenges with attentive listening
- Difficulty following instructions
- Being easily distracted
- Struggles with organizing thoughts, work, or physical space
- Difficulty in accomplishing tasks that demand significant mental effort, such as homework
- Restlessness or trouble settling down
- Impatience when waiting for their turn
- Tendency to interrupt others
- Trouble staying seated or maintaining stillness
Assessments include several components. They start with an hour interview with parents to learn more about the difficulties the child is experiencing. After the interview, I ask parents to complete questionnaires about the child’s emotions and behaviors. I often ask that teachers complete questionnaires as well. It is helpful to gather documents from you at this time, such as report cards or other feedback from teachers. I ask children, adolescents, and teens to complete questionnaires about their thoughts and emotions as well. Then, we work together doing a variety of activities that help me learn about the strengths and weaknesses of how your child’s brain functions. This information helps me develop a comprehensive report that will include an accurate diagnosis and a treatment plan. The treatment plan includes several recommendations for the next steps. We meet again for a follow-up visit, at which time we review the report, diagnosis, and recommendations.
What Do The Results Mean?
Receiving an ADHD diagnosis for your child can be enlightening and will answer questions about how they process information. Testing for ADHD can help you and your child understand what makes them unique while still being confident in the abilities that they already have. While there are common symptoms, no child is going to experience their ADHD diagnosis the same as another.
Help Your Child Today
If you believe that your child is living with ADHD and want to know where to start, please reach out to me. I can provide more information on how assessments work and how to get started.