ADHD in Children
Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is characterised by difficulties with concentration, attention and impulse control, which negatively impact on a person’s day-to-day life.
ADHD begins in childhood and around 5% of children are diagnosed with this disorder. The actual number of children with ADHD may be higher however as it can go unrecognised and undiagnosed, especially in girls and older children. Many children continue to have symptoms of ADHD as adults.
Children with ADHD often have difficulty sitting still, following directions, and settling into quiet tasks, and often act before thinking things through. Even when they try to focus on their work, children with ADHD are often easily distracted by things going on around them. Because of these difficulties, they can have problems keeping up in class, and making and keeping friends.
The key signs and symptoms of ADHD cover two main areas of difficulty: inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity.
For a diagnosis of ADHD the child must have several symptoms of either inattention or hyperactivity/impulsivity, or both, across two or more settings such as at home and at school. Symptoms must also have been present before 12 years of age.
There are three types of ADHD, depending on the main difficulties the child is experiencing. These are:
Predominantly inattentive:
The child mostly has symptoms of inattention, rather than hyperactivity or impulsivity.
Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive:
The child mostly has symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity, rather than inattention.
Combined:
The child has symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity.
Children with the combined type are more frequently referred to services, possibly because the range of behavioural and social difficulties might be more noticeable.
For very young children, it is important to remember that skills of attention, concentration and impulse control are still developing. A short attention span, being easily distracted or acting impulsively is quite common at this age and not necessarily a sign of ADHD.
A careful assessment is therefore needed to figure out what is typical and not typical for a child at each age and stage of development.
As with assessment, treatment is often provided by a team of professionals, usually our psychologists and a paediatrician, working together. We often work with parents and the child as well as provide support and advice to the child’s educators.
Treatment varies according to the needs of the child and their family. Children with mild ADHD without other developmental or behavioural issues generally do well with family support around behavioural management strategies. Children with more difficult to manage symptoms or a variety of different concerns often benefit from a combination of medication and psychological strategies, particularly behavioural management.
Our Psychologists are trained and qualified to diagnose and treat children with ADHD using a range of methods based on best available research.