ADHD is an illness that starts in childhood. A child with ADHD has trouble sitting still, doesnt finish things that they begin and usually acts without first thinking things through. This is a real illness that can change the way your child acts, feels, or thinks at times. There are many different treatments for ADHD, drugs being just one of them. In fact, drugs should always be a last resort that is almost never used (when in fact quite the opposite is true today).
You will notice that a child with ADHD may fidget, or wiggle a lot more than usual when asked to sit still or even without thinking. Some seem to be daydreaming, all of which are signs that the child may be ADHD. When these behaviors interfere with the childs ability to concentrate in school or make public outings dangerous for the child or make making friends difficult then there is cause for alarm and the child should be tested for ADHD. Parents may have a difficult time figuring out what to do with the child or may not even have the slightest idea of what to do.
Parents may think that some of these behaviors are normal for any child and may be in denial about their childs condition. The good news is that it is an illness that can be treated effectively and can make the child feel much better about them. How the child feels about themselves is very important because increasing the childs self esteem will essential to treatment. The child may feel like a failure, when they definitely are not. A common childhood illness, ADHD can be controlled and the child may even grow out of it eventually, as he or she begins to mentally mature and the symptoms simply disappear.
The causes of the illness are not yet definitely known but it is known that it usually runs in families. Some doctors believe that there is not one single factor but combinations of factors that may contribute to the illness. So, if you are worried about your childs behavior, you should take your child for a simple evaluation. Your child will not be immediately diagnosed with ADHD but will be checked for all possible answers to the problem. The possibility does exist that the child may have other problems that cause them to behave the way that they have. Other conditions can be mistaken for ADHD easily. It may even just be a bad diet or a lack of sleep that is causing poor brain functioning.
If it is found that the child does not have any other problems then it may be diagnosed that the child does in fact have an attention deficit disorder that needs treatment. Behavior therapy may be recommended. This involves meeting with doctors to work with your child on skills to help improve the problem. Working on building relationships, rules, limits, land choices. Medication may be prescribed as an accompanying aid to behavior treatments. The very best results are possible when these things are worked on together. So, it is extremely important that you take action, not be in denial, and to realize that it is not your fault that your child has this problem. Treatments are necessary and help from a qualified physician should be sought as soon as possible.