ADD symptoms and treatment
Kids are known for their high energy and short attention spans, but sometimes, problems concentrating or sitting still go beyond simple childhood exuberance. Attention deficit disorder (ADD) interferes with a child’s ability to pay attention. It can affect all areas of a child’s life, including family relationships and recreational activities (particularly team sports), but it is most often noticed at school, where it inhibits a child’s ability to learn. It is important to note, however, that ADD is not actually a learning disability.
ADD Symptoms
Children with ADD may exhibit the following symptoms:
- Trouble concentrating
- Inability to sit still
- Poor organization
- Distractibility
- Lack of follow-through (don’t finish projects)
- Difficulty staying on topic
- Poor judgment, impulsivity
- Problems listening or following instructions
If your child shows several of these symptoms or displays one consistently over a period of months, talk to your doctor or health care professional. There is no single ADD test, but medical professionals have access to a variety of diagnostic tools and can refer you to specialists if necessary. More importantly, the doctor can conduct a medical exam to ensure the symptoms aren’t the result of an underlying physical condition.
ADD Treatment
Once a diagnosis of ADD has been made, there are several treatment options to help the child function better in daily life. Medication is one such option, but with the controversy surrounding over-prescription and the general move toward natural, alternative methods of care, it may not be the most popular choice.
Lifestyle changes have been shown to have a huge impact on ADD symptoms. Regular exercise releases chemicals in the brain that help boost attention. In fact, these chemicals are the same ones most ADD medications stimulate, so why not try increasing them naturally before resorting to a pill? You don’t need a prescription for exercise, it’s side effect–free and it has benefits for your physical health as well. Other lifestyle-based treatments include eating a healthy diet and regulating sleep patterns for a full, quality night’s sleep each night.
Therapy, especially through techniques focused on behavior and social skills, can also be a powerful treatment for ADD.
Your doctor or health professional will help find the best, most effective solution for your child, which may include a combination of lifestyle changes, therapy and medication.
ADHD
ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. While some people have considered it a subtype of—or simply another name for—attention deficit disorder, experts now classify it as a distinct disorder, complete with subtypes of its own. It does, however, share many symptoms, challenges and treatments with ADD.
