FAQs About ADHD

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a growing problem. And it, unfortunately, affects children's abilities to learn and socialize. We get a lot of parents wondering if their children have it, and we get a great deal of questions from our parents of children with it. At Pediatric Place of Tampa, serving Tampa, FL, and the nearby region, Dr. Michele Johnson-Towson would like to take a moment to address some of these.

What Age Can a Pediatrician Diagnose ADHD?

Children are naturally full of energy and inattentive when they're younger. However, most of those children begin to calm down once they're in school. A child with ADHD will struggle to follow suit. Usually, we wait until the child is around seven or eight to diagnose. However, we can detect the symptoms in children as young as four. 

What Are the Signs of ADHD?

The signs of ADHD vary from child to child, but some of the more common ones include the following:

• Forgetfulness
• Inattentiveness
• Disorganization 
• Difficulty multitasking
• Trouble staying still 
• Lack of attention to detail
• Reluctance to complete mental tasks, like school work
• Easily distracted

Is Medication the Only Way to Treat ADHD?

No, while medications are useful tools to help curve the symptoms so the child may focus in school, these aren't the only options. In fact, they're usually a last resort. The first course of action is trying to help you as a parent better control your child's symptoms. Medication may be used along with this approach to optimize the results in children who aren't responding to behavioral therapy. 

Any medication prescribed to your child has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is deemed safe for children of that age. Keep in mind that we'll continuously monitor your child's condition and alter the treatment as necessary. 

Why Does My Child Have ADHD?

Various issues can contribute to a child having ADHD, such as lead exposure, genetics, or environmental factors. A head injury, prenatal alcohol or nicotine exposure, or prematurity can increase a kid's chances of developing this condition, too. 

How Does a Pediatrician Diagnose ADHD?

Since our Tampa, FL, pediatrician only sees your child for a short time, we depend on you to relay your kid's symptoms. Based on the symptoms you notice, our practitioner can determine if your child has ADHD and will provide an appropriate treatment.

At Pediatric Place of Tampa, serving Tampa, FL, and the neighboring communities, we understand how frustrating this condition can be for a child and the family. We feel it necessary to help kids with this condition as much as possible live normal lives and function.

Contact us today by calling (813) 264-2288.