Tradional Winter/Spring 21-22
ADHD symptoms may make it difficult for
children to do well in school and cause poor
social interacon. These children may also
have persistent problems with discipline.
Some children grow out of their ADHD
symptoms, but some carry them through
teenage years and adulthood. About 15 percent
of people who were diagnosed with
ADHD as children experience all the symptoms,
while 65 percent sll have some
symptoms.
It’s much less likely an adult will be diagnosed
because their symptoms are harder to
idenfy. They’re more subtle, and adults
may not realize their symptoms are related
to ADHD.
Why it’s important to understand ADHD
ADHD can make life very difficult for the
children and adults in your life. It’s one of
the most common childhood disorders, with
over 10 million people in the U.S. diagnosed.
Even so, there is so much misinformaon
spread through the media and the internet.
Understanding ADHD will help correct misconcep
ons and dissolve sgmas around it.
One of the myths surrounding ADHD is that
it isn’t real. ADHD is real, and it affects the
individual’s brain on a neurological level.
Individuals can’t simply choose not to have
symptoms. However, it is their responsibility
to learn how to manage them.
Another misconcepon is that ADHD is a
result of bad parenng. There’s a strong
genec link in ADHD, meaning it may not be
related to parenng or the environment at
all. Good parenng can certainly help the
child manage symptoms beer, but it won’t
stop ADHD from occurring. On a similar
note, bad parenng may make symptoms
worse but won’t be the root cause of ADHD.
A popular misunderstanding about ADHD is
that almost anyone can be diagnosed with
ADHD since the list of behaviors is so expansive
that many people exhibit them at some
point. But having the symptoms is just part
of geng diagnosed with ADHD.
When diagnosed properly, these symptoms
must be long-term, usually lasng at least six
months, and the individual must experience
them every day. Symptoms must be severe
enough they significantly impact work,
school, family, or friend relaonships. All
other causes of the symptoms must be ruled
out. Only then should an ADHD diagnosis be
made.
Ways to manage ADHD
Those with ADHD may opt for treatment to
help relieve their symptoms and have fewer
problems in their day-to-day life. Treatment
for ADHD includes medicine or therapy, and
many people find a combinaon of both
works best.
Medicines are not a permanent cure for
ADHD, but they help those who suffer feel
beer, calmer, less impulsive, and they may
be able to learn and pracce new skills. The
specialist can create a treatment plan and
will schedule check-ups to ensure the treatment
is working.
The specialist may prescribe:
Methylphenidate
Lisdexamfetamine
Dexamfetamine
Atomoxene
Guanfacine
Many individuals seek therapy treatment to
learn how to manage their symptoms beer.
Some therapies recommended to treat
ADHD:
Psychoeducaon
Behavior therapy
Parent training
Social skills training
Cognive behavioral therapy
If you have a child dealing with ADHD, remember
they cannot control their symptoms.
It can be especially difficult for children
to behave when they have difficulty
suppressing impulses or paying aenon.
As a parent, it can be very difficult to parent
a child with ADHD. If this is your situaon,