Could ADHD Be Causing Your Child’s Lack of Focus, Disorganization Or Disruptive Behavior?

• Is your child frequently “in trouble” at school for forgetting assignments, struggling to pay attention in class and often breaking rules?
• Are you constantly giving your child reminders, helping him or her stay organized or correcting disruptive, hyperactive behaviors?
• Are you wondering if your child’s rule-breaking behavior or academic challenges may be an indication of an underlying difficulty?
• Do you wish you had information, tools and resources to help your child succeed?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been described as a “kaleidoscope of the senses.” If you’ve ever looked through a kaleidoscope, you know that the constantly changing colors and shapes can be beautiful, but potentially overwhelming if viewed for too long. Similarly, children with child ADHD struggle to manage and filter the frequently changing stimuli that saturate today’s modern world. As a result, they may have trouble focusing on tasks, remembering assignments and staying still for prolonged periods of time.

The symptoms of child ADHD are generally not conducive to the quiet and contained learning environments common in our school systems and consequently, children with ADHD often suffer academically. Difficulty listening and following the directions of parents, teachers and other caregivers may also be disruptive and lead to behavior problems at home and at school.

The inherent challenges of child ADHD can be demoralizing and difficult not only for the affected child, but parents as well. It is normal to feel frustrated, confused and exhausted by your child’s behavior. You may wonder if your child’s symptoms are circumstantial or if they are indeed indicative of ADHD. While the causes of child ADHD can be complex, there are classic signs to look for in making a determination of ADHD.

Determining If Your Child Has ADHD

It can be confusing trying to determine if your child has ADHD or if there is another cause for his or her disorganized, unfocused or disruptive behaviors. Generally, if your child is struggling to function across multiple settings, such as home, school and within peer relationships, there may be cause for concern. A trained child psychologist can provide a professional ADHD evaluation to help you determine if your child has ADHD or if something else may be triggering his or her struggles, such as a learning disability, anxiety, depression, or adjustment difficulties. Our experienced child psychologists are able to make a thoughtful diagnosis, providing you with clarity and a treatment plan to help get your child on track.

If your child is struggling in school due to ADHD, a professional evaluation is a key component in the development of an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Once an evaluation demonstrates that your child has ADHD, an IEP is coordinated between parents and educators to provide classroom accommodations that support students and give them the most effective environment for learning.

Child ADHD Treatment Provides Tools, Strategies And Relief

The child therapists at Orenstein Solutions can help you identify, understand and address the underlying causes of your child’s difficulties. There are simple, straightforward strategies that can be used to best address your child’s specific needs and create a supportive, structured environment, which is vital to children with ADHD. Our child specialists believe in the importance of collaborating with parents and teachers. They can help create and implement a behavioral plan to foster your child’s success at both home and at school.

Your child can learn techniques to help him or her understand and manage strong emotions (such as disappointment, frustration, anger and even excitement) while developing impulse control. Your therapist can offer ongoing support to you and your child as you implement new strategies, as well as monitor progress. Your therapist can offer guidance and advice as you develop a structured environment for your child, a positive reward system and fine-tune techniques.

With the appropriate treatment method and support of our experienced child therapists, treating child ADHD is entirely possible. Both research and experience show that child ADHD treatment is extremely effective, and early intervention can yield both immediate and long-term, positive results.

But, you still may have questions or concerns about child ADHD treatment…

Will medication be required if my child is diagnosed with ADHD?

While medication has been proven to effectively help mitigate and manage child ADHD symptoms, it is not the only option. While medication does work and may be recommended, if you feel that medication is too invasive – at least to start – there are many highly effective tools, techniques and strategies that do not include medication. The licensed therapists at Orenstein Solutions can provide you with education, resources and treatment options so you can make the best, most informed decision for your child. You can begin by setting realistic goals and revisit the medication option in the future if non-medication treatment strategies are not working. It’s important to note, however, that many ADHD children experience the best results when medication is used in combination with therapy.

I can’t tell if my child is going through a phase or if something deeper, such as ADHD, is occurring.

If you are confused and concerned, the best course of action may be to schedule a consultation with one of our child psychologists. There is a common idea that someone must be really suffering before intervention is considered. However, if your child is demonstrating ADHD symptoms or struggling in other ways, getting an ADHD evaluation and meeting with an expert can provide you with information, insight and relief. A proactive consultation is a good opportunity for you to discuss symptoms, your child’s strengths and weakness, and his or her specific needs. A trained psychologist can help you determine if your child is experiencing ADHD and if ongoing intervention is needed. By the same token, it may be determined that your child does not need further professional help, in which case other strategies will be suggested.

I think that my child has ADHD and could benefit from therapy. I’ve heard, however, that ADHD treatment for children is expensive and can take a long time.

It can be helpful to think about ADHD treatment for children as an investment in your child’s immediate and long-term wellbeing, as well as an investment in yourself and your family. Children with ADHD can be challenging to understand and relate to, which can create conflict at home and at school. Potential behavior and performance issues, resulting from your child’s struggles, may also increase stress for your child, his or her teachers and your family. Investing in your child now can create the opportunity for him or her to develop tools to better manage ADHD symptoms. Both you and your child can learn behavioral modification techniques and strategies that promote structure and consistency, which can provide a great sense of relief. Early intervention has also been proven to be highly effective. Getting help now can not only help your child feel and function better immediately, but also set him or her up for long-term success.