ADD is one of the most common childhood neurodevelopmental disorders and often lasts into adulthood. Children may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviors (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or behave overly active.
There are three different types of ADD, depending on which types of symptoms are strongest in the individual.
- Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: It is hard to organize or finish a task, to pay attention to details, or to follow instructions or conversations. The person is easily distracted or forgets details.
- Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: The person fidgets and talks a lot. It is hard to sit still for long, smaller children may run, jump or climb constantly. The individual may interrupt others, grab things from people, or speak at inappropriate times.
- Combined Presentation: Symptoms of two types are equally present.
Because symptoms can change over time, the presentation may change over time as well.
The causes and risk factors for ADD are unknown, but research shows that genetics plays an important role. Other possible causes and risk factors include brain injury, alcohol and tobacco use during pregnancy, or premature delivery. Research does not support the popular beliefs that ADD is caused by eating too much sugar, watching too much television, parenting, or social and environmental factors. Of course these might make symptoms worse, but there is no evidence that they are the main causes of ADD.
There is no single test to diagnose ADD, and many other problems, like anxiety, depression and certain types of learning disabilities, can have similar symptoms. The first step is having a medical exam to rule out other problems with symptoms like ADD. The second step may include a checklist for rating ADD symptoms and taking a history of the child from parents, teachers, and sometimes, the child.
In most cases, ADD is best treated with a combination of behavior therapy and medication. For preschoolers (4-5 years) with ADD, behavior therapy is recommended as the first line of treatment. No single treatment is the answer for every child and good treatment plans include close monitoring, follow-ups and changes along the way.
In addition to treatments, having a healthy lifestyle can make it easier for your child to deal with ADD. Some that may help:
- Having a healthy diet
- Participating in physical activity each day
- Limiting the amount of daily screen time
- Getting the recommended amount of sleep each night based on age
In order to make sure your children reach their full potential, it is very important to get help for ADD as early as possible.
If you have concerns about ADD, you can take your child to a child psychologist or developmental pediatrician. You can also contact your local early intervention agency (for children under 3) or public school (for children 3 and older).