Attention Deficit Disorder

Researchers say a new kind of brain scan may be helpful in detecting and diagnosing attention deficit disorder. Many parents have been waiting for some kind of breakthrough in diagnosis since ADD is one of the most difficult and subjective disorders to detect.

Experts at the National Institutes of Public Health confirm there is no standard way to diagnose the disorder, which many say is just an overused label for difficult kids. Still, experts at the National Institutes of Public Health say ADD is a serious health problem and many parents of ADD children know their kids, without medication or other help would be in trouble.

So how does a parent know if a kid is just hyperactive or suffering from attention deficit disorder? Experts advise an extensive evaluation that includes interviews with teachers and significant adults in a child’s life. That evaluation should include a complete physical, emotional and genetic history as well as a specific battery of tests. "It’s amazing. Sometimes you find a child has a hearing problem or a vision problem or there are a lot of things going on at home and it’s an emotional problem," says Dr. Marianne Garber, an educational consultant. "The main thing is to rule out other causes for the behavior before settling on the ADD diagnosis."

Teachers are often the first to confirm a parents suspicion but complete evaluation is crucial. Many times without evaluation misdiagnosis results and kids with learning disabilities or other problems are improperly treated failing to get the help they need.

 Information about Medication

The most common medications used to treat attention deficit disorder are stimulants which increase activity in areas of the brain that are underactive in children with the disorder. Some anti-depressants and tranquilizers have also been used effectively in the treatment of ADD

90% of children respond well to drug therapy when they are correctly diagnosed and treated.

Doctors should be alerted to heart rhythm problems and family history of sudden death before prescribing Ritalin.

Side effects of medications used to treat attention deficit disorder include weight loss, decreased appetite, slower growth, trouble falling asleep. Many doctors believe the benefits of the medication outweigh the side effects which can often be controlled by lowering the dosage.