ADHD

It is estimated that 9.4% of our children are diagnosed with a form of ADHD in the United States. ADHD is characterized by having at least 6 of the nine symptoms below. The symptoms need to be present for 6 months and present in two out of the three basic settings (home, school, recreation) in the child’s life. For example, a child has 6 of the above symptoms, it has been going on for 8 months, and it is present at school and recreational activities.

The severity of ADHD varies from mild to severe, every child, let alone adult is different. There are three types of ADHD.

Type one is hyperactivity, the nine symptoms of Type 1 are: fidgety, restlessness, frequently moving, talkative, always on the go, impulsive reactions, cannot wait for their turn, disruptive, frequently moving. This form is common in boys.

Type two is inattentive, the nine symptoms of Type 2 are: Careless mistakes, short attention span, poor listening skills, no following through, disorganization, laziness or apathy, “Bermuda Triangle Syndrome,” distractibility, and forgetfulness. These children can sit still but will be described by parents as “spacy.” This form of ADHD is more common in girls.

Type three is combine; these little boys or girls are characterized by having traits of both types 1 and 2. And to be diagnosed with such, has to be 6 out of the nine symptoms.

Regardless of the type of ADHD, our concerns are what areas of the brain are not working well, and can we activate them to increase function? We also address diet, and lifestyle changes at home, school and recreational activities. We run routine, advanced and cutting-edge lab work to further find areas to address and maximize results. As well, we help advise children’s team of people that care of him/her (including the teachers and care staff at school) on what we recommend can be done to further benefit the patient.