Understanding ADHD: A Guide for Parents
Updated: 7 days ago
ADHD Awareness Month
Understanding ADHD: A Guide for Parents
For many parents, hearing that their child may have ADHD can bring a mix of emotions - questions, concerns, and sometimes relief at finally having an explanation for challenges their child has been experiencing. ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental conditions affecting children. According to the CDC, about 11% of children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with it. Understanding ADHD can help parents identify appropriate supports and strategies for their child.
What is ADHD?
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder (also called a brain-based disorder) that is usually diagnosed in childhood. It affects skills related to attention, impulse control, activity level, organization, and executive functioning. ADHD can look very different from one child to the next. Some children are primarily inattentive, whereas others are hyperactive and impulsive. Many children experience a combination of symptoms.
ADHD is not caused by laziness, poor parenting skills, or a lack of intelligence or motivation. A child may understand what they are expected to do but have difficulty getting it done. For example, a child may know that homework has to be completed but can't get started, stay on task, organize materials, manage time, or remember to turn the assignment in.
Common Signs to Look For
Children can get distracted, forget things, or have difficulty sitting still from time to time. What sets ADHD apart is that these difficulties are severe enough to impact daily functioning, and development. We now know that ADHD is not something that all children “grow out of.” It is estimated that about 60% of children diagnosed with ADHD continue to experience symptoms as adults.
Parents may notice signs such as:
Attention and Organization
Often losing school supplies, homework, or personal belongings
Difficulty following through on instructions
Seeming not to listen when spoken to directly
Becoming distracted easily
Making careless mistakes
Having difficulty organizing schoolwork or personal items
Struggling to start or finish tasks
Forgetting daily responsibilities
Having trouble managing time
Hyperactivity and Impulsivity
Frequently fidgeting or having difficulty remaining seated
Talking excessively
Interrupting conversations or activities
Having trouble waiting for a turn
Acting before thinking about the consequences
Frequently moving from one activity to another
Seeming to be “always on the go”
Emotional and Executive Functioning Challenges
Managing frustration
Having trouble shifting from one activity to another
Regulating strong emotions
Planning ahead
Breaking large tasks into smaller steps
Remembering information long enough to use it
Getting started on tasks
Monitoring their own work
You Are Not Alone
The good news is that ADHD is manageable, and children can learn strategies that help them succeed.
How is ADHD Diagnosed?
There is no single test that diagnoses ADHD. Instead, ADHD is diagnosed through a comprehensive evaluation that includes a child’s developmental history, behavior, functioning, and symptoms in different settings. A professional evaluating ADHD may gather information from several sources including:
Parents or caregivers
Teachers
The child or adolescent
School records
Developmental and medical history
Behavioral rating scales and questionnaires
Psychological and educational testing
How is ADHD Managed?
There is no one approach that works for every child with ADHD. Management is individualized based on the child’s age, symptoms, strengths, needs, and the way ADHD is affecting daily life. Supports may include a combination of:
School-Based Supports
Behavioral and Skills-Based Strategies
Counseling or Behavioral Intervention
Medication (Choices include: stimulants, non-stimulants, and antidepressants)
ADHD is more than simply being distracted or overactive. It can affect a child’s ability to manage attention, impulses, emotions, organization, and everyday responsibilities.
If you are noticing persistent difficulties, you do not have to figure it out yourself. Seeking an evaluation can provide valuable information about your child’s strengths and challenges and can help determine what supports may be appropriate.
Let’s Connect:
We welcome the opportunity to speak with you about your concerns regarding your child potentially having ADHD and about whether a private evaluation may be the right choice for you. Please contact us by phone or email, or schedule an appointment on our website: www.testingspecialistsnj.com.
Dawn Torpey, Ed.S. (201) 248 0147 dawn.torpey27@gmail.com
Expert Support for Your Family
At Psychological and Educational Testing Specialists, Debbi and Dawn bring over 25 years of experience each in helping families navigate ADHD and other challenges experienced by children and teens. We provide kind, caring, and expert evaluations and can help you understand the specific teaching strategies and accommodations your child needs to truly thrive in the classroom and at home.
References
American Academy of Pediatrics. “Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents.” Pediatrics, vol. 144, no. 4, 2019, e20192528, https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2019-2528.
American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders: DSM-5-TR. 5th ed., text rev., American Psychiatric Association Publishing, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Data and Statistics on ADHD.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/data/index.html.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Symptoms and Diagnosis of ADHD.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/signs-symptoms/index.html.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “Treatment of ADHD.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, https://www.cdc.gov/adhd/treatment/index.html.
Danielson, Melissa L., et al. “ADHD Prevalence Among U.S. Children and Adolescents in 2022: Diagnosis, Severity, Co-Occurring Disorders, and Treatment.” Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, vol. 53, no. 3, 2024, pp. 343–360. https://doi.org/10.1080/15374416.2024.2338174.
National Institute of Mental Health. “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: What You Need to Know.” National Institute of Mental Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder-adhd.
Reuben, Cynthia, and Nazik Elgaddal. “Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children Ages 5–17 Years: United States, 2020–2022.” NCHS Data Brief, no. 499, Mar. 2024, National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db499.htm.
Wolraich, Mark L., et al. “Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis, Evaluation, and Treatment of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in Children and Adolescents.”
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