Does my child have ADHD? Every parent has asked herself that question at one time or another!

Everyone, whether child or adult, has moments when they feel restless and wound up. We all act impulsively at times and say stuff we shouldn’t, and everyone zones out from time to time. But when do these behaviors become a problem?

There are three behavior patterns that point to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. Symptoms usually start before your child is seven, and appear on a regular basis for at least six months.

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Does my child have ADHD? Every parent has asked herself that question at one time or another!

Everyone, whether child or adult, has moments when they feel restless and wound up. We all act impulsively at times and say stuff we shouldn’t, and everyone zones out from time to time. But when do these behaviors become a problem?

There are three behavior patterns that point to Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or ADHD: inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsive behavior. Symptoms usually start before your child is seven, and appear on a regular basis for at least six months.

Read the rest of this entry »

When a child is diagnosed with ADHD, parents will often blame themselves. “What did I do to cause this?” is their first question.

The short answer is: nothing. Research shows that this condition has biological causes. Knowing this can help parents who think they caused their child to get this condition. Why do some kids get this? Nobody really knows. But there are certain risk factors that make it more likely that a child will develop this condition.

Genetics and heredity can play a big role, as ADHD does seem to run in families. If a child has this problem, there is a 25 percent chance that a close relative has it

too. About twice as many boys have symptoms of this condition as girls do. Some studies show that girls have different symptoms, so it’s possible that it’s being missed in girls.

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With the growing awareness and recognition of the Autism epidemic in our society, more and more people now know someone affected by this developmental disorder.

According to experts and recent research, Autism can be detected and diagnosed by a well-trained professional by the time a child reaches 18-months of age. It is very difficult to determine if a child younger than this age is showing signs of Autism.

There are, however, normal developmental milestones that parents can monitor to ensure their infants and toddlers are developing at a normal rate. It is important to note that just because an individual child does not meet one or more of these milestones it does not mean the child has autism or

any other disorder. All children will develop at different rates. If your child does not meet these milestones and you feel something may be wrong, your best bet is to consult your family physician and get your child tested further.

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Asperger’s Syndrome is understood by many professionals in the field of child development, to be a form of higher functioning Autism. It is described as a triad of impairments, namely problems with

a) social communication
b) social relating
c) imagination / imaginative play.

Problems with change, need for routines and extreme anxiety when they are compromised, are also common features of this syndrome. Further signs may be difficulties with reciprocal (two way) conversation and difficulties with empathic responses to others (i.e. lacking emotional understanding).

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