| Attention deficit disorder in children, also referred to as | | | | So if your child can't stay on track, it doesn't mean that |
| attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, refers to children | | | | she automatically has an attentional disorder. In today's |
| who often have difficulty focusing their attention. They | | | | busy world, a certain amount of distractibility is normal, |
| have trouble listening, remembering things, staying still, | | | | if not common. |
| and/or waiting their turn. Their school success, | | | | However, if your child is continually distracted, by even |
| education, and learning are affected. | | | | the smallest stimuli, he may have ADHD. Discuss this |
| Psychologists and psychiatrists use the DSM-IV | | | | with your pediatrician and ask for a referral to a |
| (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, | | | | psychiatrist if your pediatrician suggest stimulant drugs. |
| Fourth Addition, DSM-IV) to diagnose ADHD. According | | | | (Pediatricians are not specialists in these drugs; |
| to the DSM-IV, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder | | | | psychiatrists are.) |
| is a "persistent pattern of inattention and/or | | | | And don't be alarmed if your child is diagnosed with |
| hyperactivity-impulsivity that is more frequent and | | | | ADHD or with some form of an attention deficit |
| severe than is typically observed in individuals at a | | | | disorder. There are many famous people diagnosed |
| comparable level of development." | | | | with ADHD who have became quite successful in life |
| Some of the symptoms must have been present in | | | | despite (or maybe because of) their attentional |
| the child prior to age seven, and some must be | | | | difficulties. |
| present in at least two settings (e.g. at home and at | | | | ADHD Symptoms: |
| school). Because several conditions mimic ADHD | | | | - Has difficulty paying close attention to details or |
| behavior, parents need to consult a qualified | | | | makes careless mistakes on homework or tests. |
| professional to determine just what's going on. | | | | - Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play |
| When a child isn't hyperactive but still can't focus and | | | | activities. |
| may act impulsively, the precise term is "ADD." | | | | - Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly. |
| However, "ADD" and "ADHD" are often used | | | | - Does not follow through on instructions and fails to |
| interchangeably. "ADHD" is most commonly used | | | | finish schoolwork. |
| today to refer loosely to all "ADHD" and "ADD" | | | | - Has difficulty organizing tasks. |
| symptoms. For that reason, this article uses "ADHD" to | | | | - Avoids schoolwork for long periods of time. |
| refer to both "ADD" and "ADHD." | | | | - Often misplaces or loses assignments or books. |
| Many parents feel that their child has ADHD, when in | | | | - Becomes distracted easily. |
| fact they do not. And teachers sometimes feel that all | | | | - Seems to be fidgeting all the time. |
| the kids in their class have ADHD. But having an | | | | - Has difficulty remaining seated. |
| attentional issue doesn't mean that your child has | | | | In order to make a diagnosis of ADHD, the DSM-IV |
| ADHD. In fact, most people have trouble staying | | | | lists even more symptoms and requires a "yes" |
| focused on what they are doing if the phone rings, if | | | | answer for at least six behaviors in a list of nine. |
| people are talking nearby, if traffic is rushing past the | | | | Obviously it's a complex diagnosis. Because your child |
| window, or if music is playing. Many sounds or events | | | | doesn't pay attention to his homework, or she can't |
| can distract all of us from our work. | | | | seem to organize her desk probably doesn't indicate |
| And it's even harder to focus if we didn't get enough | | | | ADHD. |
| sleep, are stressed out, or skipped breakfast. Worse | | | | Good parenting suggests helping your child with |
| yet, if we replaced breakfast with a donut and a can | | | | homework and organizing skills before assuming he's |
| of pop. | | | | abnormal or has a disorder. |