How Can You Identify ADHD in Your Child? 

According to the American Psychiatric Association, attention-deficit /hyperactivity disorder, ADHD is the most common mental disorder affecting children. With an estimated 8.4% of all American kids being diagnosed with the disorder, it is clearly a challenge facing society. 

It would be best if you had a physician analyze your child’s behavior to help with the diagnosis of ADHD. But before that, you could conduct an ADHD online test in the aim of understanding the kid better. 

What Is ADHD? 

ADHD is a medical condition that affects the development and activity of the brain. This disorder affects attention and the ability of the patient to sit still. And although most kids can barely settle when they are young, children with ADHD tend to carry on the disruptive behavior as they grow. 

And before you dive in, trying to identify whether your child has ADHD or not, take note of the following essential points: 

1. Major symptoms include inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity 
2. There are different types of ADHD, inattentive type, hyperactive type and a combination 
3. ADHD is a brain-based disorder, and according to Harvard Health Publishing, children whose parents have ADHD have a 40-60% chance of developing ADHD 
4. ADHD could make school and personal life difficult 
5. You can get excellent and effective treatments for your child with ADHD 

How do you identify ADHD in kids? 

The symptoms include: 

1. Inattentive type 

Look out for the following signs to determine whether your kid has ADHD: 

• Failure to pay close attention to details, which results in careless mistakes in schoolwork and tasks 
• Easy distraction 
• Losing things that are necessary to complete a task 
• Forgetfulness- the kid forgets daily task such as doing chores 
• The kids face a challenge staying focused on tasks that are attention-intensive 
• Daydreaming-they seem to be thinking of something else when you talk to them 
• Failure to follow through a task, despite a promising start 
• Organizational problems- they are messy, disorganized and have a hard time managing time 

2. The Impulsive Type 

The following symptoms are frequent among children dealing with ADHD 

• Inability to sit still in the class or at home 
• The kid appears to be ‘on the move’ constantly 
• Fidgeting and squirming in the seat 
• The kids also have a hard time waiting for their turn in a game 
• Failure to participate in games quietly 
• Running about and climbing inappropriate places 
• Blurting out answers in class, even if it’s not their turn 
• Constant interruptions on others 

What Causes ADHD? 

Children diagnosed with ADHD have learning problems, mood and anxiety concerns. You can also mistake their actions as being defiant. These children also have conduct disorder.  And even with that, there is no definite cause of ADHD. 

According to a piece published by the University of Rochester Medical Center, research associated ADHD to low levels of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical involved in the reward, motivation, attention, memory and body movement regulation. 

Children with ADHD have lower brain metabolism in the sections responsible for social judgment, attention and movement. 

And although underlying genetics play an essential role in the development of ADHD, conflict, and stressful environment worsens the condition. 

How Do You Diagnose ADHD? 

There is no clinical method used to diagnose ADHD. To identify any behavioral disorder, the physicians gather information from parents, teachers and other caregivers to try and identify a pattern. After conducting a visual and hearing medical evaluation, the physicians then fill out a checklist which rules out other medical issues. 

Well, the same applies at home through ADHD online tests. Once you visit the website of a licensed and registered mental health professional, you can find the test. 

However, before giving the diagnosis, make sure: 

1. The behavior is not an act of rebellion.  
2. The symptoms are not as a result of other medical conditions 
3. The child’s inattentiveness, impulsivity and hyperactivity goes beyond the usual age 
4. The condition affects your child’s performance at home and school 
5. The behavior portrayed has been going on since childhood 

How Can You Treat ADHD? 

Although there is no cure for ADHD, you can implore various techniques to ease the symptoms. Some of the practical approaches include: 

1. Medication 

The most common prescription includes stimulant medication. Since the parts related to thinking and attention are often under-stimulated, this medication stimulates the brain and reduce hyperactivity and inattention. 

2. ADHD Coaching 

This coaching technique aims to help kids with ADHD focus on their tasks and see change as a positive thing. This way, they improve productivity and become accountable 

3. Behavior therapy 

This form of treatment creates awareness in kids. They can then monitor their actions and modify them to avoid disruptive behavior. 

Conclusion 

ADHD is a common mental development disorder among kids. And it develops with time, making it hard to concentrate and focus on tasks. As a parent, you want to know what is going on with your kid. Even before going to the doctor, you can check whether your kid has ADHD. And an ADHD online test is one way to know.