ADHD

What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a pattern of inattention and/or hyperactivity/impulsivity that impairs a person's life with family, friends, school, and/or work.

Symptoms of ADHD include:

Careless mistakes on school or work activities
Difficulty sustaining attention in work or play
Appears not to listen when spoken to
Fails to follow through on instructions
Disorganized
Avoid tasks requiring sustained attention
Often loses personal items
Easily distracted by outside sights or sounds
Often forgetful
Often fidgets
Has trouble sitting still
Runs or climbs in situations where it is not appropriate to do so
Difficulty playing quietly
Often "on the go"
Talks excessively
Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
Difficulty waiting turn
Interrupts others

A person with ADHD may not have all of these symptoms, but they will have several and experience them more severely than is expected for individuals at their developmental level.

How common is ADHD?

About 1 in 12 children have ADHD, although less than half of those ever receive treatment for this condition

What are the common treatments for ADHD?

Medication: stimulant medications like methylphenidate are an FDA approved treatment for ADHD.
Parent Training: teaching parents on how they can manage their child's environment to reduce symptoms.
Education: educating families about how to anticipate developmental challenges that are difficult for ADHD children, and about ways to improve the child’s academic and behavioral functioning.
Individual Psychotherapy: the clinician helps the child understand his/her emotions and actions, and how to deal with both.
Family Therapy: foster mutual support, positive reinforcement, direct communication, and more effective problem solving and conflict resolution.

What are some things families can do at home to increase the success of children with ADHD?

Talk about what is happening right now.
Use short explanation (10 words or less)
Say exactly what you want/mean.
Focus on solutions, not problems.
Ask questions and get feedback.
Keep a routine and communicate that routine to the child so he/she knows what to expect.
Keep the house organized, keep everything in its place.
Be consistent in how you enforce rules of the household.
Look for opportunities to provide praise or small rewards for good behavior.
See the child as a whole person with strengths and weaknesses.

In addition to your child's doctor, where can you go for help?

In San Antonio, TX

UT Health Science Center at San Antonio Department of Psychiatry - 210-567-5555
Clarity Child Guidance Center - outpatient services 210-614-7070; inpatient services 210-616-0300
Nix Behavioral Health Services - 210-579-3800
Center for Health Care Services - children 210-261-3350; crisis (all ages) 210-223-7233

Videos on ADHD

ADHD in the classroom - Clarity Child Guidance Center on-demand video
Clarity Child Guidance Center on-demand video