Identifying Attention Deficit Disorder

As a military Servicemember, it can be difficult to spot ADHD at first.  Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can be something that you don’t spot until your son or daughter has grown older.  Sometimes a child can have a borderline case of ADHD, or have the disorder and you do not become aware of it until your child enters school.

Other times you realize that things are not quite right.  Sometimes your child is able to be distracted easy, or has a difficult time finishing simple tasks, or can’t seem to focus.  “I would ask my daughter June* (not actually her name) to put on her shoes, but she was distracted with three or four other things,” said Helen* (not her real name). Helen is married to a Captain in the U.S. Army, stationed in California.

“We would be sitting at the doctor, or in church, and she would be squirming, moving around constantly.  I thought it was just normal child restlessness, but I began to see that doing anything, coloring, playing a game, it doesn’t matter, my little girl just is not able to finish a task,” said Helen.  This behavior became even worse and more pronounced when June started school,” said Helen.

Helen finally got some help when the family pediatrician diagnosed June with ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.  A recent study that was done and published in November by the NIH National Mental Health Institute reveals that kids that are diagnosed with ADHS have brains that function differently.  The study showed that certain brain areas develop and respond more slowly than the brains with children who do not have ADHD.  The kids with ADHS appear to have regions in their brains that are more slow to develop, especially in the areas of the brain that control memory functions, attention, thoughts and actions, and inappropriate behaviors.  According to this research study about three to five percent of school children in the United States are believed to have ADHD.

If you know of a child, or your own children display any of the following activity or actions it is a good idea to have them evaluated by your Pediatrician:
-Inability to sit still.
-Excessive Talking without stopping.
-Do not seem to listen or be aware when you try to get their attention.
-Fidget or squirm constantly.
-Seem to be in Constant motion without ceasing.
-Do not finish tasks or get distracted constantly while trying to complete a task.