Children with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD have differences in their brains than those who don’t have ADHD. Certain areas of their brain may mature more slowly. Additionally, children with ADHD have imbalances in neural networks and neurotransmitters, the chemicals that nerves use to communicate.

Knowing that ADHD has a neurological basis is important because it helps parents understand that their child isn’t disobedient or oppositional on purpose. Instead, children with ADHD need help to learn to control their behavior.

The brain differences are also important because they occur in specific areas responsible for skills such as self-regulation, organization, working memory, problem-solving, reasoning, and time perception. The brain areas affected determine your child’s ADHD symptoms.

ADHD symptoms fall into three categories: inattentiveness, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. Some children may only struggle with one category, while others have trouble with two or three categories.

Each child has a different range and severity of symptoms. However, their symptoms may be severe enough to affect their performance at school, at home, and when socializing.

When children struggle with inattention, they:

• Can’t pay attention at school or while playing
• Have difficulty organizing tasks
• Avoid tasks requiring mental effort
• Lose important items
• Forget to do homework and chores

When children struggle with hyperactivity and impulsivity, they:

• Fidget, squirm, or get out of their seat during class
• Run or climb when it’s inappropriate
• Talk excessively and interrupt conversations
• Have a hard time waiting for their turn
• Act or speak without thinking

Children and adolescents with ADHD also have problems with working memory. Working memory allows them to hold several pieces of information in their head long enough to use them to plan, do calculations, or to coordinate one activity with another.

To evaluate and diagnose ADHD, our providers use tools such as checklist of symptoms, talking with parents and children about their challenges, and questionnaires completed by parents and teachers. Your child also has a thorough physical exam to be sure another problem is not the cause of their symptoms. A very useful diagnostic tool is called the Vanderbilt Assessment Scale. It is helpful for each parent to complete a Parent Vanderbilt Assessment Scale and to have at lease two teachers complete a Teacher Vanderbilt Assessment Scale prior to the visit.

Once your child has an ADHD diagnosis, their pediatrician will discuss treatment options and considerations with you in detail.  If medication is prescribed, we will discuss our general approach to treatment and routine follow-up appointments to monitor their progress.

If you or your child’s teacher are concerned about your child’s inattentive, hyperactive, or impulsive behaviors, call our office to schedule an ADHD evaluation.