If you are enrolled in Medicare, please review this page regarding telehealth visits.
Approximately 7 million American children have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Could it be affecting your child? October is ADHD Awareness Month, the perfect time to find out.
“The most common misperception is that youth with ADHD are lazy and irresponsible, that they just want to have fun,” says Dr. Anne McBride, senior child and adolescent psychiatrist and professor of psychiatry at Weill Cornell Medicine. “That is why it’s important to help parents and guardians understand the nature of ADHD.”
One of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders diagnosed in childhood, ADHD can affect children and adults alike. In fact, a growing number of adults are learning they have ADHD late in life. Those adults who live with undiagnosed and untreated ADHD may experience anxiety, depression or other issues rooted in undiagnosed ADHD. Attempting to treat these other issues without addressing ADHD often fails.
Individuals at any age with ADHD may have a hard time sitting still or paying attention. They may also act before thinking, which can lead to trouble in the classroom and beyond.
Symptoms of ADHD start before age 12 and include doing the following excessively:
“What defines ADHD to my mind is the magnitude, the severity of challenges,” Dr. McBride says. “The person who warrants a diagnosis of ADHD should have a history of significantly more difficulty than their peers with managing age- and context-appropriate tasks.”
Currently, there is no single test to recognize and detect ADHD. Dr. McBride states that diagnosis is a multistep process, which includes:
This gives a comprehensive view of a child’s experience. Combined, this information helps determine if ADHD or another issue is present.
Once there is a diagnosis of ADHD, treatment can begin. Options for children and adults with ADHD include:
“Most children with ADHD will show improvement with adherence to a well-conceived, individualized treatment plan,” Dr. McBride says. “I’ve seen many children pass into adulthood with ADHD, and most are doing well, vocationally and socially.”
What should you remember during ADHD Awareness Month?
Suspect you or your child may have signs or symptoms of ADHD? Find a doctor at Weill Cornell Medicine to begin the diagnostic journey and learn more through our On the Mind podcast.
