ADD

Nearly 10% of American children have an attention deficit disorder, or ADD diagnosis. Of those diagnosed as children, close to half retain symptoms into adulthood. If the inability to concentrate is causing your child difficulties at home, school, or work, don't wait months for an appointment. Call or make an appointment online today to be seen in days, not months at THINK Neurology for Kids, with offices in The Woodlands, Katy, Sugar Land, and Austin, Texas.

What is ADD?

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) causes an inability to focus and maintain attention to the point where it interferes with daily activities.

This inattention tends to result in:

• Careless mistakes
• Inability to follow instructions and finish tasks
• Disorganization
• Forgetfulness

Another symptom that the doctors at THINK Neurology for Kids look for when diagnosing ADD is impulsivity. This impetuousness often shows itself as:

• Fidgeting
• Restlessness
• Excessive talking, especially without thinking
• Impatience

While these behaviors affect everyone at one time or another, those seeking an ADD diagnosis at THINK Neurology for Kids consistently have these traits for more than six months.

Though still commonly used in conversation, medical professionals changed the status for diagnosis and stopped using the term ADD in 2013. The new name for this disorder is inattentive ADHD.

How is ADD diagnosed?

ADD is a clinical diagnosis, but the team at THINK Neurology for Kids uses available tools to support their evaluation and identify the areas your child needs addressed, including:

• Planning, synthesizing and organizing 
• Intellectual functioning
• Academic achievement 
• Language processing 
• Visuospatial processing 
• Attention/concentration
• Verbal learning and memory
• Executive functions 
• Speed of processing 
• Sensory-perceptual functions 
• Motor speed and strength 
• Motivation/symptom validity 
• Personality assessment

How is ADD treated?

There is no cure for ADD. The doctors at THINK Neurology for Kids work to relieve a patient’s symptoms. 

The most common treatments include a combination of medications, behavior therapy, counseling, and education services. It often takes time, as well as trial and error, to determine what works best for your child.

The medications prescribed by the doctors at THINK Neurology for Kids for ADD improve the levels of brain chemicals called neurotransmitters. By boosting and balancing neurotransmitters, the signs and symptoms of inattention significantly decline.

Along with medication, children with ADD benefit from therapy, including:

Social skills training

Social skills training helps your child learn appropriate social behaviors.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy gives children with ADD an outlet to discuss issues and deal with their symptoms.

Family therapy

Family therapy helps families cope with the stress of living with someone with ADD and helps parents understand and guide their child's behavior.

If you think your child has ADD or need excellent care of their condition, call THINK Neurology for Kids or make an appointment online today.