Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a
diagnosis that seems to be everywhere in the media and on the minds of parents
who struggle with their kids’ behavior and/or academic functioning. So how do we know when to get a child in for
assessment by a psychologist or appropriate professional?
First, know that all children experience lapses in attention
and concentration. Kids with ADHD,
however, have significantly more difficulty than their peers in getting organized, attending to details, sustaining attention
and effort during tasks, ignoring distractions, keeping track of things, remembering what they
are doing, and with task completion.
Note that not all kids diagnosed with ADHD struggle with
impulsivity and hyperactivity. Kids with
ADHD who do not have these behavioral issues may ‘skate by’ in the lower grades
when organization is less important or their parents are more involved in
supervising homework. As organizational
demands increase in middle and high school however, kids with ADD (without
hyperactivity/impulsivity) tend to suffer academically and may lose their motivation
in school.
If these patterns sound familiar to you as a parent, you may
want to consider having your child assessed by a psychologist or mental health
professional who specializes in the diagnosis of ADHD. Should your child be diagnosed with ADHD,
treatment options will be recommended to improve functioning and he or she may
be eligible for school support. Getting
treatment early on may lessen the impact of academic problems on your child’s
self-esteem and improve motivation in school.
