ADHD and your Toddler: Facts and Treatment

Dr Molokashe Molokomme, a psychiatrist at Akeso Crescent Clinic in Johannesburg explains ADHD and the various treatment options available.

ADHD quick facts

ADHD is the same disorder that used to be referred to as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).
ADHD is one of the most common childhood disorders in the US, affecting nine percent of American children age 13 to 18 years.
Boys are four times more likely to suffer from ADHD than girls.
Symptoms usually appear early in life, often between the ages of three and six.
Studies show that the number of children being diagnosed with ADHD is increasing, but it is unclear why.
Certain situations, events, or health conditions may cause temporary behaviours in a child that seem like ADHD, which is why it is crucially important that a licensed health professional makes the diagnosis.
To be diagnosed with Adult ADHD, an adult must have ADHD symptoms that began in childhood and continued throughout adulthood.

Treatment options

Once diagnosed, a suitable treatment programme can be put in place.

Depending on the severity of the disorder, this could include the use of stimulant medications such as Methylphenidate (commonly known as Ritalin), or non-stimulant medications where there are contraindications to stimulants such as cardiac conditions, or where there is concern the stimulant may be abused.

Occupational therapy and psychological interventions also play a major role in rehabilitation and treatment. And it is crucial to treat the secondary, comorbid conditions that may have arisen as a result of the disorder.

“ADHD is a treatable and manageable disorder, provided it is correctly diagnosed. As with far too many psychiatric conditions, it is often the stigma of the condition that presents more difficulties than the condition itself. If more parents sought treatment for their children at an early age, less adults would suffer later on in life,” Molokomme concludes.

Will my toddler outgrow ADHD?

“Not all children who are diagnosed with ADHD will continue to suffer from the disorder into adulthood, but all adults with ADHD certainly had the condition as children – but it likely was never diagnosed or treated,” Dr Molokomme asserts.

About the Author: Visit www.akeso.co.za for more information.