Many parents fear hearing that their child has ADHD. Unlike other disorders and other problems, this one can be one that bears both psychological and social impacts on virtually everyone who has anything to do with the child. ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurological disorder. It is characterized by forgetfulness, hyperactivity, and mood shifts. Children and adults can be effected and as many as 5 to 8 percent of all children have this condition. Many go undiagnosed each year.

So, What Is It?

ADHD is a condition in which individuals find themselves distracted, unaware of what is happening around them, or very full of energy. Most cases in children are developed before the age of 7. The diagnosis comes when there are problems in their development. For example, they may show behavior that is inappropriate in attention or they may be so impulsive that the condition leads to other problems. Common places that this can be seen are in education, occupational, family and peer relations, and in social skills. When there is a lacking in these areas, it is necessary for a parent to seek out the help of a pediatrician.

ADHD Symptoms

There are three types of ADHD. These include predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive and a combined type. Here are some symptoms of ADHD.

• Destructiveness
• Impulsive behavior which includes excessive talking, blurting out answers before the question should be answered, and interrupting others. Also, individuals with the condition often feel the need to speak their mind and this often comes with making statements without thinking about what the consequences for them are. Children may feel the need to respond to a dare.
• Restlessness
• Inattentiveness which can be both a difficulty with sustaining attention or with persisting towards activities.
• Difficultness in reengaging a previous task is also evident.
• Hyperactivity happens mostly in early and middle school age children and often decreases as the child ages.
• In adulthood, restlessness, as well as a need to stay physically busy is evident.

• Daydreaming
• Sluggish behavior
• Confused behavior
• Staring frequently
• Hypo active.

For many parents, this comes as a wake up call. Yes, this can explain why your child is misbehaving and getting on your last nerve. And, it does mean that you are not a bad parent but that your child has a disorder that is causing them to behave as they are. But, what do you do? The first thing that you'll want to do is to talk to your health care provider. You should contact the doctor if you feel that your child is getting into a lot of trouble at school, if you feel that they can't pay attention to what you are saying or doing, or if any of the symptoms seem to be obvious to you. From there, your doctor will determine the next step.

In many cases, the doctor will refer the diagnosis of the condition to a psychiatric doctor. They can perform a series of tasks as simple as talking to the child, observing them while playing and socializing as well as other tests. From there, a diagnosis will be anything but the end of the world.

Knowing that your child has ADHD opens the door to them. They can be understood then. You can work on providing them with the help that they need. Many times, a child with ADHD can be labeled as a trouble maker when they are actually quite possibly just misunderstood and can't help it. There are several courses of action that you and your doctor can talk about to determine how to handle ADHD.

These can include a wide range of medications including methylphenidate, amphetamines, and others. While some of these medications can increase the levels of hyperactivity disorder in individuals without ADHD, in individuals that do have the disorder, it can help to focus and keep them in control more so than normal. In other words, it has the opposite effect on ADHD suffers. There are also a wide range of alternative medications for the condition as well. From the use of Vitamin B6, to specific diets, to the use of pycnogenol, and a wide range of other treatments, there are many alternative ways to go. But, it is important to consult your doctor about your child's condition before treating it.

ADHD doesn't have to be the end of the world, but an answer to why your child is behaving as they have. As children grow, they get more and more used to their condition and can adapt ways to work around it. ADHD can be outgrown, but in many cases it needs treatment.