Children With ADHD 

Signs of ADHD can appear as early as 3 years old.

Signs of ADHD can appear as early as 3 years old.

Google “ADHD” and you will come up with all sorts of websites that will gear you up for information overload, with everything from online tests, articles, current research, parenting, tips for school, alternative education programs, and so on.  That’s enough to make your head spin as a parent, as if raising children wasn’t already one of the hardest things in life.

Mental Health Stigmas

Research shows that most children who need mental health support actually don’t get treatment.  That’s astounding to us, and we believe, that the biggest barrier we face as a society, in this regard, is appropriate mental health education.  That means getting the word out that mental illness is real, it’s not about some “crazy people,” and it’s something towards which we should exercise more compassion and awareness.

Important Things To Know About ADHD

Signs and symptoms usually spring up around the time the child reaches age seven.  If your child has trouble only in certain situations, then they may not have ADHD.  However, if your child is displaying signs of ADHD in nearly every circumstance and environment, then you may want to consider getting a professional assessment sooner rather than later.

Signs And Symptoms Of ADD / ADHD

  • Difficulty concentrating 
  • Spacing out and overly quiet
  • Hard to sit still, stay quiet, or focus when the task is boring or repetitive. 
  • Quick temper
  • Unmotivated
  • Trouble organizing or planning ahead
  • Loses or misplaces things often
  • Careless mistakes 
  • Doesn’t seem to listen 
  • Forgetfulness
  • Inattentive
  • Impulsive / acts without thinking first
  • Blurts out answers before someone is finished asking the question
  • Emotional outbursts and tantrums

This is not an exhaustive list.  Some of those signs and symptoms seem to contradict each other don’t they?   Each case is unique and there’s no cookie cutter model.  That’s why it’s important to consult a professional who can quickly assess and determine what’s going on with your child.  It could be that your child doesn’t have ADD/ ADHD at all, but they need mental health support for anxiety or depression.  Other possibilities include learning disabilities, trauma, behavioral disorders, or a variety of medical disorders.  This is where things get complicated quickly and wondering what’s going on just adds more stress.

Finding The Right Support

Children with ADD/ ADHD, anxiety, depression, or behavioral disorders do not have “something wrong with them” and it doesn’t reflect poorly on their parents.  We believe that all children, whether they have ADHD or not, are brilliant individuals, with amazing potential, who happen to need specialized support.  We all need some type of support sooner or later, and the main thing is to be able to link the appropriate type of support for each situation.  After all, where would we be in life if we didn’t have any type of support whatsoever?

When dealing with our very own children, the most important thing is to ask hard questions because they deserve our best: Are we doing the right thing?  How do we know this is the right thing?  Are we in the “driver’s seat” and are we proactive in pursuing the health and wellbeing of our child?

We know that sweeping problems under the rug only draws things out.  It’s better, if our children need treatment of some kind, to start earlier rather than later.  If you would like to explore other options than starting with “the pill,” we’re able to help with that.  There are certainly lots of options for treatment and we’re interested in the one that puts you in the driver’s seat and that meets your needs.  The sooner we start treatment, the more effective and efficient the treatment process.  Here at PTI, we’re all about results and seeing people lead healthy, productive lives.

Wouldn’t you want personalized mental health care and support that cares for you and your family?  That’s where we stand to make a difference and want to make things happen.  We don’t want to add noise and clutter, but we do want you to know, first and foremost, that we’re here and that we care about you and your child.  If you are interested in learning more about psychological testing for children and the type of support we can offer, please don’t hesitate to give us a call today.

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