As Hinshaw points out, improvements in neonatal intensive care in the past couple decades means that more children born at extremely low birth weights are surviving.
Other studies have suggested that exposure to toxins like lead or smoking during pregnancy and traumatic brain injuries may play a role. In light of data like this newest report, a clear understanding of ADHD may be more important than ever. In addition to better diagnostic tools and more treatment options, learning more about the role of environmental factors could lead to possible preventions—especially for children who may be genetically predisposed to the condition.
SELF does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Any information published on this website or by this brand is not intended as a substitute for medical advice, and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. So why are so many children reportedly diagnosed with ADHD today? Increased awareness of the disorder and access to medical care could be a factor. If more kids are actually experiencing ADHD today than they were before, then the question becomes why that is.
There are several environmental risk factors that research has associated with an increased risk of developing ADHD, though nothing has been shown to be a definitive cause. Carolyn covers all things health and nutrition at SELF. Her definition of wellness includes lots of yoga, coffee, cats, meditation, self help books, and kitchen experiments with mixed results. Topics adhd news mental health neurological health.
The doctor will ask things like if you have trouble doing homework, sitting still, slowing down, or listening — and how long that's been going on. The doctor will check to make sure another health or learning issue is not the cause. The doctor will probably ask your parents and teachers to fill out checklists about signs they may have noticed. If a doctor finds out you have ADHD, you will get treatment to help.
This can be a big relief. It can be hard to feel like you're always struggling with things that others seem to have no trouble doing. Prescribe medicine. Medicine can boost the brain's ability to pay attention, slow down, and be more patient. Provide therapy. Therapists can help people learn attention skills, cope with feelings, and gain self-control.
They can help people with ADHD see the best in themselves and figure out how to use their strengths. Help parents learn what to do. Parents play a big part in ADHD care. They can help teens do things like listen better or be more organized. Parents can also give encouragement, love, and support. It's not just doctors and parents who help teens with ADHD. Sometimes schools give students a learning plan called an IEP that's designed just for them. Doses of stimulant medications need to be timed to match the child's school schedule to help the child pay attention for a longer period of time and improve classroom performance.
The common side effects of stimulants may include, but are not limited to, the following:. Rebound activation when the effect of the stimulant wears off, hyperactive and impulsive behaviors may increase for a short period of time.
Most side effects of stimulant use are mild, decrease with regular use, and respond to dose changes. Always discuss potential side effects with your child's doctor. Psychosocial treatments. Parenting children with ADHD may be difficult and can present challenges that create stress within the family.
Classes in behavior management skills for parents can help reduce stress for all family members. Training in behavior management skills for parents usually occurs in a group setting which encourages parent-to-parent support.
Behavior management skills may include the following:. Contingent attention responding to the child with positive attention when desired behaviors occur; withholding attention when undesired behaviors occur.
Teachers may also be taught behavior management skills to use in the classroom setting. Training for teachers usually includes use of daily behavior reports that communicate in-school behaviors to parents. Behavior management techniques tend to improve targeted behaviors such as completing school work or keeping the child's hands to himself or herself , but are not usually helpful in reducing overall inattention, hyperactivity, or impulsivity.
Preventive measures to reduce the incidence of ADHD in children are not known at this time. However, early detection and intervention can reduce the severity of symptoms, decrease the interference of behavioral symptoms on school functioning, enhance the child's normal growth and development, and improve the quality of life experienced by children or adolescents with ADHD.
Join psychiatrist and former public school teacher Hal Kronsberg, M. EDT, as he discusses the signs of anxiety that children may be feeling about returning to school after a tumultuous year of virtual learning. Health Home Conditions and Diseases.
What are the different types of ADHD? Treatment may include: Psychostimulant medications. Lisdexamfetamine Vyvanse Psychostimulants have been used to treat childhood behavior disorders since the s and have been widely studied. The common side effects of stimulants may include, but are not limited to, the following: Insomnia Decreased appetite Stomach aches Headaches Jitteriness Rebound activation when the effect of the stimulant wears off, hyperactive and impulsive behaviors may increase for a short period of time Most side effects of stimulant use are mild, decrease with regular use, and respond to dose changes.
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