Does my child have ADHD ?

One way to distinguish between child who is excited, passionate,energetic or creative for the structure in place at a school or and a person with diagnosable ADHD is to discover whether the attention problems and impulsivity occur only in one or two situations, or happen in every aspect of the child’s life. If your child or teen can sit and play video games for two hours and watch tv without displaying impulsive and hyper behaviors than he or she may not have ADHD however he or she may need to work on changing unproductive or inappropriate behaviors at school or in other areas of their life.

ADHD symptoms differ in children depending on which of the types of ADHD an individual has. Many people automatically think of hyperactive behaviors when they hear the term ADHD, but there are actually three different types of ADHD -- one of which does not include the hyperactive component.

ADD: predominately inattentive type and is commonly referred to as ADD ( Attention Deficit Disorder). Children and adolescents with the inattentive type of ADHD are not hyperactive, but actually present as sluggish or lacking in energy. These children and teenagers may seem unmotivated and lethargic compared to people with the other types of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder, or even to non-ADHD children. These children appear less defiant and display less energy at home and in a school environment. It may seem they are unfocused or daydreaming in class.

Children with ADD symptoms through counseling can learn skills to : focus, stay on task, turn in homework, improve listening skills, improve organization, increase motivation, learn life skills, improve communication and social skills, build self- esteem, and create success at home and at school Children will learn skills to manage mood that is connected to frustration and stress from ADD symptoms. Goal setting, emotional regulation, behavior modification, organization, healthy choices are all a big part of counseling and psychotherapy.

A child or teen therapist can discover if attention deficit is the root of the problem or as in many situations it is: learning disabilities, anxiety, depression, anger, grief and loss, emotional problems, family challenges that cause the child or adolescent to act out.
Children and teens can excel academically, socially, and emotionally if they receive support from an expert that has experience in helping children and adolescents with ADHD symptoms.