- Educational Problems: poor academic performance due to lack of attention, suspension from school due to behavioral problems, leaving school early, etc.
- Relationship Problems: Fights with parents, siblings, and partners, difficulties with peers, poor social skills, domestic violence, divorce/separation, etc.
- Employment Problems: loss of job due to misbehavior or impulsive behavior, inadequate performance, etc.
The problems would be endless in any settings including home or social environment if an early intervention is not made. The individual might cause cost burden to other individuals and society in the form of accidents, insurance claims, etc. which might lead to social exclusion, causing further psychological damage to the individual. It is important to know who the right professional to be contacted if you suspect ADHD with your young person. The following table might give you an idea about the health professionals who are trained in this area:
| Specialty |
Diagnose |
Prescribe |
Therapy |
| Psychiatrist |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Social Worker |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Psychologist |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Paediatrician |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
| Neurologist |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
As the symptoms vary so much across settings, assessment of ADHD is not straight forward, especially when inattentiveness is the primary concern. Hence, even if a parent or teacher notices only one of the three characteristics of ADHD namely, inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity, it is highly recommended to make appropriate referrals to the healthcare professionals without delay. It is not necessary to have all the three characteristics to be present for an ADHD/ADD diagnosis. Different assessment methods are employed by health professionals to diagnose ADHD/ADD. A clinician would look at the following aspects to make sure that none of these are raising the ADHD/ADD concerns:
- A sudden change in the child's life - the death of a parent or grandparent; parents' divorce; a parent's job loss
- Undetected seizures
- A middle ear infection that causes intermittent hearing problems
- Medical disorders that may affect brain functioning
- Underachievement caused by learning disability like dyslexia
- Anxiety or depression.
The clinician might ask you to fill in a few forms like Conners', Child Behavior Check List, and also would seek reports from the school. Careful and comprehensive assessment of an individual's history, behavior and symptoms would help a healthcare professional to make a proper ADHD diagnosis. Hence it is very important to give clear and accurate information as much as possible to avoid misdiagnosis. The clinician might link in with your GP and/or school teachers in order to get clear and up to date information of the case.
Effective treatment for ADHD/ADD includes the following:
- Medication
- Behavioral therapy and
- Psycho-education
No single treatment method is the answer for every child. In most cases a combination approach that involves medication, behavioral therapy and psycho-education show good result. When a child is prescribed with medication the parent needs to be fully informed of the side effects of that particular medication. Each child's needs and personal history must be carefully considered while planning a treatment package. In any case, it should be the parent who makes the final decision regarding medication for the child under his/her care.
Download ADHD Handout pdf Version
© Copy Right: 2007, M.G. Lazarus Ph.D.