ADHD
“If you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live it’s whole life believing that it is stupid”- Einstein
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Children with Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) find it unusually difficult to concentrate on tasks, to pay attention, to sit still, and to control impulsive behavior.
At Pineapples Therapy, we offer parents the information you need to understand the behaviors associated with the disorder and make effective decisions for your child about symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment.
What Is ADHD?
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD, is a condition that makes it unusually difficult for children to concentrate, to pay attention, to sit still, to follow directions, and to control impulsive behavior. While all young children are at times distractible, restless, and oblivious to parents’ and teachers’ instructions, kids with ADHD behave this way much more often than other children their age. And their inability to settle down, focus, and follow through on tasks in age-appropriate ways makes it very hard for them to do what’s expected of them at school. It can also lead to conflict at home and difficulty getting along with peers.
ADHD Symptoms
Symptoms of ADHD are divided into two groups: inattentive behaviors and hyperactive and impulsive behaviors.
Inattentive symptoms of ADHD:
Makes careless mistakes
Is easily distracted
Doesn’t seem to be listening when spoken to directly
Has difficulty following instructions
Has trouble organizing
Avoids or dislikes sustained effort
Is forgetful, always losing things (See our blog post about helping minimize forgetfulness)
Hyperactive or impulsive symptoms of ADHD:
Fidgeting or squirming, trouble staying in one place or waiting his turn
Excessive running and climbing
Trouble playing quietly
Extreme impatience
Always seems to be “on the go” or “driven by a motor”
Excessive talking or interrupting, blurting out answers
Some children exhibit only the first group ADHD of symptoms, and some exhibit only the latter. But the majority of those with an ADHD diagnosis have a combination of both, which can make it very difficult for them to function in school, and in other activities, and can create a lot of conflict at home.
Can a Child Who’s Not Hyperactive Have ADHD?
Yes. Kids who have trouble focusing but are not unusually restless or impulsive have a more inattentive type ADHD. They tend to be diagnosed later because they are less prone to disruptive or problematic behavior that comes to the attention of teachers and parents. But kids who have inattentive symptoms may start to struggle in the middle of elementary school, when it becomes increasingly difficult for them to keep up.
Why Can Kids With ADHD Concentrate on Some Things? What Is ADHD Hyper-focus?
While ADHD is called an attention deficit disorder, experts say what’s really disordered is the child’s ability to control and direct what he’s paying attention to. So many kids with ADHD are perfectly capable of intense focus on things that are very exciting to them, like video games, but they can’t maintain that kind of focus on things that aren’t immediately rewarding, like schoolwork or putting on their shoes or going to bed.
That intense concentration, sometimes called hyper-focus, is also the reason kids with ADHD often get upset when asked to stop doing something they are engaged in, like a favorite activity at school or playing a video game. They have what experts call an inability to “attention switch,” which can cause a lot of conflicts with adults.
And speaking of video games: Because they are constantly stimulating and rewarding, experts say they can induce a kind of trance state in a child who has trouble regulating her attention. In that case, it’s less a matter of hyper-focus than what one calls “screen suck.”
Does ADHD Affect Kids Outside of School?
Yes. Their inattention and impulsivity also affects their friendships, extra-curricular activities, and family life. They may have trouble making and keeping friends because they interrupt constantly, and are prone to blowing up when they don’t get their way. It’s not uncommon for children with severe ADHD to be blackballed from play-dates because they can’t be counted on to behave. Kids with ADHD may have trouble playing on teams because they find it hard to focus and follow the rules.
At home, they may find themselves on a collision course with parents and siblings because they don’t follow instruction, are impulsive, and melt down when they are asked to transition from some activity they enjoy to mealtime, homework time, or bedtime.
By the time kids with ADHD reach adolescence, their impulsivity can be dangerous, making them prone to car accidents, unsafe sex, and other risky behaviors.
Why Are Kids With ADHD Often Defiant or Demonstrate Disruptive Behavior?
Defiance and emotional outbursts are very common in kids with ADHD, though they are not, themselves, symptoms of ADHD.
Kids who have ADHD tend to become defiant when they are expected to do things that are hard for them, especially when it means stopping something that’s pleasurable—like playing a video game. So things like homework, going to bed, getting dressed, and coming to dinner can become battlegrounds. These situations are difficult for them to tolerate because of inherit deficits in paying attention, tolerating a boring situation, reining in impulses, transitioning from a fun activity, and controlling their activity level. Since these situations are really challenging for them, they may try to avoid them. Unfortunately when it comes to ADHD parenting, the avoidance strategies that these kids typically use are disruptive behavior, tantrums, arguing, defiance, and power struggles.
ADHD Diagnosis
When is ADHD diagnosed?
Because the symptoms of ADHD can also be the result of other issues, such as anxiety, depression, or trauma, a professional diagnosing your child should carefully rule out other possible reasons for his behavior.
A child should receive an ADHD diagnosis only if he exhibits a variety of inattentive or impulsive behaviors
At a level that is abnormal for children his age
Over an extended period
In more than one setting—both at home and at school, for instance.
These behaviors must also be interfering significantly with schoolwork or social interaction.
How is an ADHD diagnosis done?
To make an accurate diagnosis, a clinician should collect information from several people who have observed your child, including you, other caregivers, and teachers.
Parents and teachers should be asked to fill out a rating scale, such as the SNAP, the Child Behavior Checklist, or Connor’s Checklist, to capture an accurate assessment of the frequency of symptoms over a period of time. A child may be given a test called a Continuous Performance Test, which rates her ability to complete a repetitive task over a period of time and can give a more complex picture of her ADHD symptoms.
A child should not be diagnosed with ADHD just based on a parent’s or teacher’s report that she is overly active or distracted.
Who can diagnose ADHD?
ADHD can be diagnosed by any doctor or mental health professional, including:
Pediatricians
Psychiatrists
Clinical psychologists
Social workers
School psychologists
But in the majority of cases, only medical doctors like psychiatrists can prescribe medication to treat it. (Some states allow psychologists to prescribe, and nurse practitioners and physician’s assistants often can, as well.) The overwhelming majority of ADHD diagnoses are made by pediatricians, though parents should be aware that many pediatricians don’t have advanced training in psychiatric disorders, and an ADHD diagnosis should not be made in a quick office visit, based solely on a report that a child is having trouble concentrating in school. Inattention can be caused by other things, and giving a child ADHD medication won’t address his problems if he doesn’t have ADHD.
Call Today to speak with one of our therapists about counseling services to address ADHD.
727-509-3960
ADHD Self-Test
Use this test to help determine if you need to see a mental health professional for diagnosis and treatment of attention deficit disorder (ADD) or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). ADHD symptoms include difficulty concentrating, keeping organized, impulsivity, and for some, hyperactivity.
This is only a screening test. A diagnosis can only be made by a mental health professional or psychiatrist.
Parent and Teacher assessment.
These forms will provide information on how your child functions in different areas of life and must be reviewed by a trained medical professional as part of an overall ADHD assessment. ADHD is not identified just through questionnaires. Diagnosing ADHD is not a matter of simply recognizing certain symptoms; a thorough medical evaluation is necessary to rule out other possible causes for your child’s symptoms.
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
― Martin Luther King Jr.
ADHD Treatment
What is the most effective ADHD treatment?
Research shows that a combined approach of medication and behavioral therapy is the most effective treatment. For moderate to severe cases of ADHD the first line of treatment is usually medication. ADHD medications, called psychostimulants, which increase the amount of certain chemicals in the brain, help children focus and curb impulsivity and hyperactivity. Behavioral therapy helps kids control impulsive behavior and become better organized.
What are the kinds of stimulant medications for ADHD?
If a child has ADHD, studies show there’s an over 80% chance that he will respond to stimulant medication with a significant reduction in symptoms.
There are two main classes of stimulant medications:
Methylphenidate-based medications
Ritalin, Methylin, Concerta, Metadate, Daytrana Patch
And,
Dextroamphetamine-based medications
Adderall, Vyvanse, Dexedrine.
Of the children who respond to stimulants, half will respond equally well to both groups of medications, and the other half will respond better to one or the other. There are many different release formulas for stimulant medications, which make them effective for different periods of time.
Immediate-release formulas are effective for about 4 hours
Extended-release formulas last as long as 14 hours.Within the extended-release group, medications vary in the doses they deliver morning and afternoon. Some deliver 50 percent in the first half of the day and 50 percent in the second; others deliver just 30 percent in the first half and 70 percent in the second.
Finding the right dose
Since different children metabolize medication in different ways, the goal is to find the formula that delivers an effective dose over a desirable period of time for your child. Getting the right dosage for a particular child takes several weeks of trial. The clinician normally increases the dosage gradually until it becomes effective. If your child experiences undesirable side effects, it may mean that the dosage is too high, or the medication isn’t right for her.It’s important to note that some children respond differently to the two different stimulants used in these medications—methylphenidate and dextroamphetamine. Changing from one to the other, or even to a different release formula of the same basic medicine, can help reduce or eliminate side effects.Once an effective dosage is established, your child should be monitored periodically to make sure it’s still meeting her needs as she grows.
Side effects of stimulant medications
Stimulant medications can be very effective in reducing symptoms of ADHD, but some kids do experience adverse side effects. They include:
Sleep issues
If medication is interfering with a child’s sleep, it’s because the medication is still active at bedtime.
If he’s taking a short-acting formula, it may mean that he is taking a second or third dose too late in the day. If he’s taking medication that lasts 12 or 14 hours, it may help to try one that’s not quite as long-acting. Sleep issues caused by the medication tend to get better over time, so it’s worth giving kids four to six weeks to see if they adjust. Trouble going to sleep may also be caused by kids being too stimulated at bedtime.
Eating issues
Extended-release medicines, which peak about four hours after they’re taken, cause some children to lose their appetite at lunchtime. Some kids can compensate for this by eating a good breakfast before the medication kicks in, and eating well at the end of the day when the medicine is wearing off, at dinner and again before bedtime. Another option is to switch to the immediate-release tablets, which will wear off by lunch.
Growth issues
Some kids, particularly boys, grow more slowly when they’re taking stimulant medication, especially in the first year. But studies show that by the second and third year they catch up. And kids who take weekend breaks and summer vacations from the medication don’t show the slow-down in growth.
Nausea and headaches
These problems tend to dissipate within a few weeks of beginning medication, and can be minimized by taking the medication with food, and in some cases by changing the dosage or schedule.
Rebound
In some cases, after the medication wears off a child becomes irritable and aggressive. We call this “rebound” and it means the medication is leaving the body too quickly. One way to avoid rebound, if it’s a problem, is by adding a smaller dose a half hour before it usually happens, to ease off the medication more gradually. Sometimes, rebound can be a sign that the clinician hasn’t got the right dose yet, or that a different medicine should be tried. Lastly, when a child rebounds, it’s important to consider whether there might be something else going on, like an underlying anxiety or mood issue that comes into play when she comes off her ADHD medicine.
Tics
Some children who take stimulant medication develop tics. When that happens, the first thing your doctor might want to do is try a different stimulant, to see if another medication will work without the tics. If that doesn’t work, the doctor may try a non-stimulant medication, which affects the brain in a different way.
Mood changes
When a stimulant dose is too high for a child he may begin to look sedated or zombie-like, or tearful and irritable. If this happens the dose needs to be reduced. But there is also a small subset of kids with ADHD who seem to get moody and sad or irritable when they take stimulant medications, even at the best possible dose. It usually happens right away, as soon as they start taking the medication, and goes away immediately when they stop taking it. If this happens, your doctor can try switching to a different stimulant, or a non-stimulant medication.
Are there non-stimulant medications for ADHD?
There are two types of medications that aren’t stimulants that can help alleviate symptoms of ADHD. They are useful for kids who don’t respond to stimulant medica-tions, or who experience adverse side effects from them.Atomoxetine (sold as Strattera) is in a class of drugs called norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
Norepinephrine is a natural substance in the brain that is needed to control behavior.
Clonidine (Catapres, Nexicon) and guanfacine (Tenex) are called alpha-adrenergic agonists.
These medications were developed to lower high blood pressure, but at the doses given to kids for ADHD they rarely affect blood pressure.Both clonidine and guanfacine come in a 24-hour-release version (Kapvay and Intuniv), and they are sometimes used to treat tics.Finally, omega fatty acids can also be helpful for ADHD, though not as helpful as stimulants or these other medications.
Should children stop taking ADHD medication during holidays and the summer?
Since children with ADHD don’t need to perform academically during the summer or on extended holidays, parents sometimes seize the opportunity to take kids off their regular medication regimen, especially if they are experiencing side effects. Other parents avoid an interruption, fearing that their children’s behavioral problems will rebound.One reason to stay with treatment year-round is that ADHD doesn’t only affect a child’s performance in school. During the summer, children still have to get along with family and friends and function effectively in group activities like sports and camp.However, if you are concerned that taking a stimulant medication may be slowing your child’s growth, a summer break can allow him to catch up. And if you are concerned that he is underweight due to suppressed appetite, a summer without medication can help him put on some pounds.