What is Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)?
What is ADHD? How can I help my child manage his or her symptoms? How can my child be supported in school?
These questions and more often arise when a child is suspected of having ADHD— and one powerful means of support can be found in occupational therapy. Read on to learn how your child can turn challenges into triumphs!
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What Is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a long-term condition impacting children’s focus, activity levels and impulsivity. It affects millions of children across the United States, and can manifest itself in a range of different ways.
Signs & Symptoms
While no one knows specifically what causes ADHD (it’s not screen time or too much sugar!) it can manifest in a number of distinct ways. Some of these patterns include:
- Predominately inattentive. In this type, most symptoms fall under inattention. This means having trouble focusing and staying on a task. It also includes trouble getting and staying organized.
- Predominately hyperactive and impulsive. In this type, most symptoms involve being hyperactive and impulsive. Hyperactive means being too active and having too much energy. It may include disruptive behavior. Being impulsive means acting without thinking ahead about the results or effects of behavior.
- Combined. This type is a mix of inattentive symptoms and hyperactive and impulsive symptoms. The person meets the criteria for both inattentive and hyperactive ADHD.
An occupational therapist can help a child with symptoms of, or diagnosed ADHD to regulate their emotions and practice executive functioning skills— like planning, organizing and completing tasks.
Wondering About Developmental Milestones?
Have questions about your child’s development, or wondering if a certain diagnosis may be a fit? Try out our developmental screening tool— it’s a fast, free way to get a snapshot of your child’s progress on his or her developmental milestones.