Without the White Coat
By Florentino Alerta II, M.D.

ADHD… 'ain't misbehavin'

As parents we may have perceived we may have perceived a hyperactivity as a normal stage in our child's growth pattern. It is in this time when our kids will have a good contact with other kids their age in a nursery school or preschool; when their teachers will notice a supercharged kid and start to be unmindful of others, thus will be stuck in one corner of the room to the point of ignoring others who might be calling their attention.

The slightest doubt of suspicion will be upon kids or children if the above situation keeps happening most of the time. For some parents they might have viewed and perceived this situations as normal, but not until other individuals like teachers or friends will notice a change in the kid's behavior. Like viewing a mirror we cannot actually see the finer details in one's self if we only view our own reflection since our perception may be totally different from other people's eyes.

Like ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) the loving parent may have perceived a hyperactive child as someone that is normal driven about by some playful stage in the child's developing years not knowing that their kid starts to have encounters with his school teacher. Their teacher may notice a child who has difficulty learning on how to read and listen. The child may be a smart kid, but there will be times and periods of distraction and they tend to play with themselves and pay no attention to others. At some instance teachers may call the attention of parents that there are problems in their child's learning behavior or attention span. Inattention with or without hyperactivity or impulsiveness will be the primary and early signs of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). It may be a combination of three signs and symptoms that will alert the parents or teacher on the child's behavior. Once this signs are noted it is well recommended that the child should be seen by “a” physician and refer to a child psychologist.

A complete and accurate diagnosis of ADHD should be made after a child undergoes a thorough (detailed medical and family history of the child and a complete physical and neurological examination) evaluation from a child psychologist to rule out any medical conditions especially neurological conditions. Observations coming from the child's parents and teachers should also play a great role in the diagnosis. A diagnostic criteria should be made before the diagnosis of ADHD is made.

Treatment options are always available starting with parent's education that includes behavioral strategies and behavior changing techniques, and a child psychologist-geared therapy on improving the child's self-esteem and improving his/her skills in problem solving. For the compulsive child, an aggression control therapy to address the child's impulsiveness. In the advancing field of medical therapeutics we always have the class of stimulant medications like amphetamines, or antidepressants and some non stimulant medications whose actions is to increase a particular level of chemical in the human brain that regulates impulsiveness, attention and activity.

The treatment of ADHD involves not just the pediatrician, but also the family doctor, his/her teachers, child psychologist and most important is the patient's family. Awareness in teachers, parents and caregivers will make the encounter of ADHD less traumatic, it is a fact that the care of an ADHD patient is stressful and draining, but the challenge still remains that as parents we can manage our child's misbehavior after the right and accurate diagnosis is made. Addressing the stressful situation of having a child with ADHD and learning to work with our child's teacher and therapist will make our roads and path tolerable and being able to help and guide the growing and development of a normal and healthy child that will be better able to face challenges of tomorrow.