Health & Fitness
Understanding Options for Children with ADHD
ADHD can have a profound effect on children at school, home, and with friends.
ADHD
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, commonly known as ADHD, is often characterized in children who have poor attention spans and a difficult time in school. As parents, it may be difficult to hear your child may be suffering from ADHD, but there are options out there. One of the common options is medication to help treat these symptoms. It is important to know this option has advantages and disadvantages and it is important for parents to explore these before they make a quick decision to put their child on medications. Dr. Nona Owens, a psychologist in Mississippi administers ADHD testing to children and adults. Dr. Owens has a wealth of knowledge in this area. For more information on Dr. Owens, visit www.drnonaowens.com
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Advantages
One of the common classes of medications to treat ADHD is Stimulants. Stimulants are designed to increase dopamine levels in the brain to increase pleasure, attention, and motivation. Many children go from performing poorly at school to increasing their ability to focus and stay on task with their assignments. This can have a ripple effect to help their mood and social skills, as they will begin to feel more confident they can succeed in school.
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Disadvantages
Although there can be marked improvement in your child’s behavior, there may be some risks attached to taking these medications. One of the most common side effects of stimulants is poor appetite. This can lead to weight loss for your child so your doctor will need to monitor this closely. Children can also experience poor sleep, irritability, upset stomach, and headaches to name some of the other common side effects. These side effects and risks should be talked about with your doctor and from there you can make a decision that is right for your child.
Along with ADHD, many of these children have symptoms of depression, anxiety, poor social skills, and poor self-esteem. It is important to teach out to a therapist/counselor for help with these symptoms. Children can benefit from the added support of talking about these issues with someone who can be objective.
To learn more about helping your child with ADHD, Depression, Self-Esteem, Anxiety, Social Skills, and other issues affecting them, please visit www.stokescounseling.com or call 203-572-2962 to make an appointment with one of our trained child and family therapists today!
