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
-
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.
- 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.