Page 102 - South Mississippi Living - April, 2016

HEALTHY LIVING proper diagnosis
story by Lisa Kröger
ADHD: Attention De cit
Hyperactivity Disorder
Diamondhead mom Heather Flowers knew her seven-year-old son was energetic. When he entered first
grade, she realized he might be more than just a hyper child. “One of his teachers watched him struggling to concentrate on school work,” Flowers said. She turned to a pediatrician, who diagnosed Flowers’s son with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
A diagnosis for ADHD will often come after a teacher notices a certain pattern of behavior, and the diagnosis must always be made by a medical professional. “Parents and doctors cannot be hasty in making the diagnosis,” warned Obaid Siddiqui, M.D., a pediatrician at Gulf Coast Children’s Clinic. “ADHD is a very serious diagnosis to make. We want to be as accurate as possible.”
Since there is no easy blood test or scan to diagnose ADHD, pediatricians will often work with psychologists,
using various scales and scoring systems to evaluate the child.
ADHD is a disorder that makes
it hard for a child to focus or pay attention. Symptoms can include getting distracted easily, forgetting things, having trouble controlling his or her emotions, and fidgeting or squirming. The diagnosis is usually made after a child enters school, but earlier intervention is sometimes necessary, especially if the child is
a danger to others or to himself or herself.
Current medical research supports a treatment plan that includes a combination of medication and behavioral therapy. Since ADHD involves a chemical imbalance, years of medication are often needed. Medication is a method of control, not a cure, but it is not always a life- long commitment. According to Dr. Siddiqui, counseling teaches patients
coping skills that allows patients to get off of the medications, usually around their mid-to-late teenage years.
Flowers was suspicious of medication at first, until a friend said, “You wouldn’t deny your child medicine
if he had strep throat. He just needs medication for a different problem.”
Flowers worked with her son’s doctor to find the right medication. She also makes sure that he gets plenty of exercise: “He jumps on a trampoline for 15 to 30 minutes every morning before school to get his energy out.”
ADHD is a serious diagnosis, but with proper treatment from a doctor, any child can thrive.
Gulf Coast Children’s Clinic
228.875.0780 www.gulfcoastchildrensclinic.net
www.chadd.org National Resource on ADHD
102 SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living • April 2016
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