Attention Deficiency/Hyperactivity Disorder (also known as ADHD) is easy to identify in children because, unlike most adults, children react toward different circumstances with genuine emotions. 

However, it would help the parent understand the signs and symptoms that possibly indicate the manifestation of ADHD before taking the child in for professional evaluation.

Pediatric ADHD is treatable through various methods, as discussed in this article.

Common Early Signs and Symptoms of Pediatric ADHD

Most of these signs and symptoms of pediatric ADHD are characterized by changes in behaviors, such as;

Inattentiveness

An inattentive child finds it hard to concentrate on a task for significant amounts of time. This condition gets worse as the condition progresses, and eventually the child loses total focus. 

Hyperactivity

Bursts of adrenaline create a high-energy flow inside the child's body, which in turns make the child extremely active in his activities.

Impatience

A child might display an erratic behavior especially if they have to wait for something, such as a favorite program on TV. The child will look restless and extremely anxious, and at times, start screaming out of anticipation.

Too Much or Little Talk

ADHD induces excitement when there are bursts of high energy, making the child extremely talkative. On the contrary, low energy levels will make the same child very conservative, which is usually mistaken for boredom.

Once you identify a few of these signs and symptoms in your child, it is time to contact your pediatrician in Bloomfield Hills and schedule a psychiatric evaluation to determine whether your child has ADHD.

There are many ways in which your pediatric psychiatrist will ascertain whether your child has ADHD. Additionally, the psychiatrist will be able to determine the severity of the condition in your child.

Pediatric ADHD Evaluation Procedure

It turns out that the pediatric ADHD evaluation is not only performed on the child, but also to the parent. In some instances, the evaluation is extended to the child's teacher. 

To begin with, the pediatric psychiatrist listens to your description of the signs and symptoms that you have identified in the child. Your description will be followed up with a detailed interview by the evaluator. 

The psychiatrist will then try to simulate your typical environment and observe how you and your child interact. Additionally, the psychiatrist will prompt you to keep the child engaged to see the frequency and characteristics of the behavioral changes in you and the child.

The psychiatrist will further require to fill a detailed questionnaire to help create a vivid picture of your child's situation. At this point, the teacher will be included, where they will be required to fill a questionnaire detailing the child's behavioral characteristics in school.

A questionnaire is very important because it gives the scale to which the condition has developed. As such, the queries will have quantifying words (such as often and hardly) that best describe the extent of the behavior in question.

What are the Treatment Methods Available for Pediatric ADHD?

After the pediatric psychiatrist asserts (from all the tests and questionnaires) that your child indeed has ADHD, they will prescribe the appropriate treatment method depending on the nature of the child's condition.

However, pediatric ADHD treatments are progressive. The child will remain under different treatment methods until one of them works for the them.

Here are some of the treatment methods for pediatric ADHD:

Medication

The most common method for treating pediatric ADHD is medication with drugs such as Adderall and Amphetamine, which help regulate the emotional bursts.

Psychotherapy

Therapeutic counseling for you and the child is essential in managing the effects of the child's irregular mood swings and hyperactivity. Psychotherapy also makes the child more conscious of the various changes he experiences.

Parental Training

You require emotional management when you are handling a pediatric ADHD patient. Parental training program teaches you how to address different behaviors portrayed by your child in an accommodating manner.

Conclusion

Pediatric ADHD is a common condition experienced by many children globally. As such, pediatric psychiatrists have developed innovative ways of diagnosing and treating pediatric ADHD.  Evaluate the situation of child and go for the treatment that best suits them.