TREATMENT AND DIAGNOSES

Diagnosis of ADHD

       History of symptoms

-          Precise the nature of the difficulties

-          When they were first noticed, in what situation they occur, factors that exacerbate or relieve them

       Medical history

-          Risks in pregnancy and during birth

-          Mother was in poor health, very young, drank alcohol or smoked

       Family history

-          The mental and physical health of the child’s parents and other family member can be relevant.

       Learning disability

-          Difficulty understanding certain sounds or words

-          Have problems expressing himself/ herself in words

-          May struggle with reading, spelling, writing and math

       Conduct disorder

-          Include behaviours in which that child may lie, steal, fight or bully others

-          They are at a higher risk of using illegal substances

-          At risk of getting into trouble at school

       Bipolar disorder

-          extreme mood swings go from mania (an extremely high elevated mood) to depression in short periods of time

       Tourette syndrome

-          Very few children have this brain disorder

-          Some people with Tourette syndrome have nervous tics and repetitive mannerisms, such as eye blinks, facial twitches, or grimacing.

-          These behaviours can be controlled with medication.

Treatment of ADHD

1)      Medication

-          Methylphenidate hydrochloride (Ritalin) stimulates help suppress and regulate impulsive behaviour

-          They squelch hyperactivity, improve social interactions and help people with ADHD concentrate, enabling them to perform better in school and at work.

-          Help children with co-existing disorders control destructive behaviours.

-          When used with proper medical supervision, they are considered generally safe and free of major unwanted side effects. (Some children may experience insomnia, stomach-ache or headache.

-          However, in combination with other techniques such as behaviour modification or counselling, symptoms may improve even more. Researchers are currently evaluating the effectiveness of medications in combination with these other approaches to determine the best route to take.

-          Example:

·         buproprion hydrochloride (Wellbutrin) — an antidepressant that has been shown to decrease hyperactivity, aggression and conduct problems.

·         imipramine (Tofranil) or nortriptyline (Pamelor) — these antidepressants can improve hyperactivity and inattentiveness. They can be especially helpful in children experiencing depression or anxiety.

·         clonidine hydrochloride (Catapress) — used to treat high blood pressure, clonidine also can help manage ADHD and treat conduct disorder, sleep disturbances or a tic disorder. Research has shown it decreases hyperactivity, impulsivity and distractibility, and improves interactions with peers and adults.

·         guanfacine (Tenex, Inuniv) — this antihypertensive decreases fidgeting  and restlessness and increases attention and a child’s ability to tolerate frustration. Tenex is the short-term preparation, while Inuniv is the long-term preparation.

2)      Psychotherapy

- A key goal is to teach parents and educators methods that equip them to better handle problems when they arise.

- This therapy also seeks to teach child techniques that can be used to control inattention and impulsive behaviors.

- Some people with ADHD benefit from emotional counselling or psychotherapy. In this approach, counsellors help patients deal with their emotions and learn ways to cope with their thoughts and feelings in a more general sense.

- Group therapy and parenting education can help many children and their families master valuable skills or new behaviors. The goal is to help parents learn about the particular problems their children with ADHD have, and give them ways to handle those problems when they arise. Likewise, children can be taught social skills and gain exposure to the same techniques the parents are learning, easing the way for those methods to be incorporated at home.

- social skills training involves child taking part in role play situations, and aims to teach them how to behave in social situations by learning how their behaviour affects others.