Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a mental health condition that can cause unusual levels of hyperactivity and impulsive behaviors. People with ADHD may also have trouble focusing their attention on a single task or sitting still for long periods of time. The primary features of ADHD include inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive behavior. ADHD symptoms start before age 12, and in some children, they're noticeable as early as 3 years of age.
You can be rest assured that at Skooc, you and your family are in good hands.
Keep a look out for some of the following signs in your child.
Inattention
inability to focus on one activity
trouble completing tasks before getting bored
difficulty listening as a result of distraction
problems following instructions and processing information
Hyperactivity
being overly fidgety and squirmy
having an inability to sit still for calm activities like eating and having books read to them
talking and making noise excessively
running from toy to toy, or constantly being in motion
Impulsivity
displaying extreme impatience with others
refusing to wait their turn when playing with other children
interrupting when others are talking
blurting out comments at inappropriate times
having difficulty controlling their emotions
being prone to outbursts
intruding when others are playing, rather than asking first to join in
If you notice recurring instances of a few of these symptoms in your child, we, at Skooc, recommend a formal evaluation.
At Skooc, we use the following guidelines are used to confirm a diagnosis of ADHD:
Symptoms occur in 2 or more settings, such as home, school, and social situations, and cause some impairment.
In a child 4 to 17 years of age, 6 or more symptoms must be identified.
Symptoms significantly impair your child's ability to function in some of the activities of daily life, such as schoolwork, relationships with you and siblings, relationships with friends, or the ability to function in groups such as sports teams.
Symptoms start before the child reaches 12 years of age. However, these may not be recognized as ADHD symptoms until a child is older.
Symptoms have continued for more than 6 months.
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Next Steps and Intervention
Our team of professional psychologists at Skooc can help you and your child by providing the necessary interventions. The treatment done at Skooc for children with ADHD can include a combination of behavior therapy, including training for parents; and medications.
For children younger than 6 years of age, behavior therapy is an important first step before trying medication because young children have more side effects from ADHD medications than older children. Parent training in behavior management has been shown to work as well as medication for ADHD in young children.
For school-age children and adolescents, it is recommended to combine medication with behavior therapy. Several types of behavioral therapies are effective, including:
Parent training in behavior management;
Behavioral interventions in the classroom;
Peer interventions that focus on behavior; and
Organizational skills training.