Recognizing and Treating Attention Deficit Disorder

by SAMHSA

Kevin twists and fidgets as he tries to work on his homework. Unable to find his assignment sheet in his messy binder, he leaps up and begins to bounce off the sofa and chairs. His mother demands that he stop before he breaks something. He doesn't look at his mother, or even seem to hear her. Both Kevin and his mother are frustrated by this familiar battle. But Mom has another worry. Is her son just a very active boy or does he have attention deficit disorder (ADD)?

ADD and Mental Health

When ADD (sometimes called attention deficit-hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD) is not diagnosed or treated, a child with ADD may suffer from her own worries. She may wonder "Why is everyone always angry with me?" or "Why am I always in trouble?" The common symptoms of ADD annoy most people. Parents, teachers, and even other children often get upset with the child's constant movement or talking, impulsiveness, or lack of focus. Their criticisms can make the child with ADD feel unloved and rejected.

Untreated, ADD can also hurt a child's success in school. A child with ADD can have trouble following instructions and may sometimes have trouble with motor control. These problems make it harder for the child to do well in school. As a result, he may begin to lose interest in schoolwork. He may have gaps in learning and have a growing sense of being dumb. He may feel like a failure. He may become depressed, withdraw from his "smarter" classmates, and act out his disappointment in himself through harmful or antisocial behaviors.

How can a parent or other caring adult tell when a child has ADD or when she is just an active child? After all, whose child does not sometimes have trouble playing quietly, staying seated, or not interrupting?

Symptoms of ADD

The American Psychiatric Association lists 14 symptoms for ADD. A child must have at least eight of the following symptoms to be officially classified as having ADD. In addition, the symptoms must have started before the child reached age 7 and have lasted more than 6 months. They must be causing problems in at least two areas of the child's life, such as school, home, or social situations. The symptoms of ADD are:

• Often fidgeting with hands or feet, or squirming while seated
• Having difficulty remaining seated
• Being easily distracted
• Having difficulty taking turns in games or group activities
• Often blurting out answers before questions are completed
• Having difficulty following instructions
• Having difficulty in paying attention in tasks or play activities
• Often shifting from one uncompleted task to another
• Having difficulty playing quietly
• Often talking excessively (too much)
• Often interrupting or intruding on others
• Often not listening to what is being said
• Often forgetting things needed for tasks or activities
• Often trying activities that could be physically dangerous without considering possible consequences.

Treatment of ADD

It takes a doctor to accurately diagnose ADD. It will take the child's family and other caring adults to help treat it. The treatment of ADD is changing as research removes many of the myths that surround it.

Recent research shows that ADD can happen to girls as well as to boys and that most children do not "outgrow" it as they become adults. It cannot be fixed through harsh discipline.

Many causes of ADD have been studied, but no one cause seems to apply to all young people with the disorder. ADD is not caused by poor parenting, family problems, poor teachers or schools, too much TV, or food allergies. ADD does appear to be directly related to the functioning of the brain. There is increasing evidence that ADD runs in families.

Treatment can include the use of medications, special programs that help the child keep up in school, and psychotherapy. Most children with ADD respond to medications when they are properly used. Medication gives a child a chance to improve his attention span, perform tasks better, and control his impulsive behavior. As a result, a child gets along better with his teachers, classmates, and parents, which improves his self-esteem. Counseling helps him cope with ADD and the reaction of others to it, and develop ways to better control his behavior.

A parent or caregiver whose child has been diagnosed with ADD should work closely with her teachers to help her do better in school. ADD is recognized as a disability under Federal law, such as the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. Your child may qualify for special education services. She also will benefit from having her teachers use the same ways to help her control her behaviors at school as you are using at home.

If your child has ADD, talk with him. Let him know that his behavior is not his "fault" (or your "fault"), but that you both must learn ways to cope with his ADD symptoms. The goal is a united effort to help your child do better in school, be able to make friends, and feel good about himself.

About the Author

www.samhsa.gov
SAMHSA works to improve the quality and availability of substance abuse prevention, alcohol and drug addiction treatment, and mental health services. Includes links to support groups, information resources, events and articles.