Signs and symptoms of ADHD (attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder) often appear before age seven and sometimes as early as age two or three. A diagnosis of either of these pervasive disorders can be scary, and symptoms can challenge children and parents alike.
Treatment can control the symptoms and enable most children with ADHD to grow up to be well-adjusted adults.
Do you see any of these common indicators?
- Difficulty sustaining attention, trouble organizing, finishing tasks
- Hyperactivity: Impulsive behavior, fidgeting, squirming, always on the go
- Troubled relationships, can’t play quietly, talks excessively
- Poor performance, carelessness, forgetfulness in school or other activities
- Low self-esteem, doesn’t listen or wait well, dislikes sustained mental effort
Most children with ADHD exhibit a combination of inattention and hyperactive-impulsive behavior and symptoms become more apparent during activities that require focused mental effort.
The key challenge: proper diagnosis
But diagnosing ADHD isn’t always easy. Other factors often masquerade as ADHD, including:
- Learning disabilities
- Cognitive, perceptual, sensory motor development delay
- Depression, anxiety
- Family, peer and culture based stressors that cause vulnerabilities
New Oakland’s expert team of physicians and therapists can help ensure the right assessment . . . and establish a care path that is not a “cookie-cutter” approach but instead tailored to the unique needs of each child, teen or adult.