Treatments for Kids with ADHD Near Phoenix, AZ

ADHD is short for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It was formerly known as ADD, short for attention deficit disorder. The terms are generally interchangeable, but most doctors will use ADHD. This condition usually displays itself with symptoms of impulsivity, inattentiveness, and hyperactivity. Children and adults can both have ADHD, but symptoms always present themselves in childhood. Adults with undiagnosed and untreated ADHD may have trouble being organized, maintaining a job, setting goals, or evening managing their time.

ADHD can be diagnosed by a variety of people, including:

• Pediatrician
• Family Doctor
• Nurse Practitioner
• Social Worker
• Master Level Counselor
• Psychologist
• Psychiatrist
• Neurologist

Our doctors are ideal for treating your child for ADHD. While some pediatricians may only have a cursory knowledge of this condition, our board-certified doctors have years of experience in treating children with ADHD. Not only are we less expensive compared to an ADHD specialist, but it is also usually easier to get an appointment at our clinic. Also, our doctors will be very familiar with your child’s medical history.

There are generally some areas of symptoms we look for when diagnosing ADHD. We look at each area as a whole, as some of these symptoms are just a natural behavior found in toddlers.

The first area we look at is to see if your child has trouble paying attention. This can include their inability to stay focused on one activity, being easily distracted when listening, getting bored before completing a task, or being able to follow instructions. Another area we examine is how much your child may fidget or squirm. While this is pretty normal in most children, we see if this is interfering with their ability to sit still when eating or during story time. They also may run from toy to toy or talk excessively. Impulsiveness is another trait we see with those with ADHD. Children often will display impatience with others, prone to outbursts, or even insert themselves with a group of playing children without asking to join first. They will often also refuse to wait their turn and interrupt others while talking.

Many of these symptoms can be found in toddlers, so it takes a skilled medical professional to take all of these symptoms into consideration before making diagnoses.

Your child needs a full physical exam to be diagnosed with ADHD. This exam includes hearing and vision screenings. Depending on your child’s age and on the advice of our doctor, your child may also need a Neuropsychiatric EEG-Based Assessment Aid (NEBA) System. This FDA approved device measures theta and beta brain waves, which research has shown these waves are elevated in children with ADHD.

Our doctor will also look at your child’s complete medical history to look for any conditions that could also affect a child’s behavior. These could be mimicking ADHD, but instead could be related to something else. Some of the things our doctor will look for are:

• Anxiety
• Lead toxicity
• Undetected seizures
• Thyroid problems
• Sleep problems
• Depression
• Recent major life changes
• Divorce
• Death in the family
• Recent move

The guidelines for diagnosing ADHD are regularly updated to help doctors assess children for this condition. Our doctor will initiate the evaluation for your child if they are showing signs of academic challenges, difficulty in school, behavioral issues, or trouble forming relationships with others. We will rely on the guidelines established by the American Psychiatric Association in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM–V). Socially and academically, your child must be impaired for at least six months, and symptoms of ADHD must show themselves in at least two environments.

Yes, our doctors can help treat your child’s ADHD in most cases. We’ll work with you one on one to establish a treatment that works for your child so they can succeed in school and life.

We have 2 pediatric clinics in Scottsdale, and Glendale, AZ. We can see your child and evaluate them for ADHD at KidsHealth Pediatrics. Do you have questions, or would you like to make an appointment? Call our friendly staff today. We serve patients from Glendale AZ, Peoria AZ, Sun City AZ, Scottsdale AZ, North Scottsdale AZ, Grayhawk AZ, and surrounding areas of Phoenix AZ.