ADHD Treatment in Children

Your child’s behavior can be complicated. It can be difficult to tell normal behavior from a condition that can be treated. Excessive hyperactivity and/or inattention could be signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD. The providers Dr. Hasell, Dr. Pham, Dr. Hernandez, Chris Pope, ARNP, and Amanda Tortorice, ARNP at The Pediatric Specialists Medical Group in New Port Richey, FL, provide a wide range of medical services for children. These include the diagnosis and treatment of ADHD.

What You Need to Know about ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a behavioral disorder that can be difficult to recognize. Many of the signs can easily be confused with normal behaviors like boundary testing and independence. There are subsets of ADHD that include: ADHD predominantly Hyperactive, ADHD predominantly Inattentive (some people refer to this as ADD) and ADHD combined Hyperactive and inattentive. About half of all children diagnosed with ADHD will have another diagnosis such as: Anxiety disorder, Oppositional defiance disorder, a specific learning disorder, etc. A good pediatrician working along with you and your child’s teacher(s)will be about to evaluate your child and make the correct diagnosis.

So, what are the signs of ADHD? According to the Child Development Institute, common signs of ADHD in school aged children include:

• Difficulty staying still for long periods
• Frequent squirming or fidgeting
• Difficulty finishing tasks
• Difficulty getting and staying organized
• Frequent losing or forgetting things
• Difficulty being attentive or listening
• Excessive talking or blurting out comments
• Inappropriate running or climbing on things

If you notice any of the signs listed above and you are worried about your child you can bring your child in for an ADHD evaluation with your pediatrician. 

If your child is diagnosed with ADHD, treatment can include several steps:

Documentation of the diagnoses for school allowing them to give accommodations to help your child stay on task and to help with testing by providing a less distracting environment and possibly extra time. 

Medication is available which helps enhance brain function and the ability to focus. The most common and effective medications are long acting stimulants such as Methylphenidate or Adderall. These are very safe and usually very effective in helping your child focus and complete tasks in school.

Teaching behavioral techniques designed to limit aggressive, destructive, and inappropriate behaviors.

Introducing lifestyle modifications like increased exercise and dietary changes including reducing sugar intake.

ADHD treatment is important because untreated ADHD can cause problems when your child becomes an adult. These are just a few of the problems untreated ADHD can cause:

• Learning difficulties resulting in poor grades
• Aggression and defiance toward others
• Harmful behaviors including drug and alcohol use
• Difficulty having close relationships
• Difficulty making and keeping friendships
• Mood swings and depression
• Sleep disorders and insomnia

Call Our Pediatricians Today

To find out more about treatment options for children with ADHD, call The Pediatric Specialists Medical Group in New Port Richey, FL. (727) 375-5437.