What is ADHD?
Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a brain disorder. It’s one of the most common childhood disorders and can continue into adolescence and adulthood. Patients have difficulty maintaining attention, sitting still, or focusing on a single task.
ADHD can negatively affect school performance, work productivity, and social and family relationships.
What causes ADHD?
It’s not entirely clear what causes ADHD, but researchers believe it occurs due to a combination of genetic, environmental, and developmental factors.
Risk factors for ADHD include:
- Having a blood relative with the disorder
- Premature birth
- Exposure to environmental toxins
- Maternal drug use
Many children with ADHD have at least one other mental, behavioral, or emotional disorder, like anxiety or conduct problems. Boys and men are more likely to receive an ADHD diagnosis as compared to girls and women.
What are the symptoms of ADHD?
There is no single test to identify ADHD, so a diagnosis also depends on observing symptoms.
Well-known, identifiable symptoms of ADHD are inattention, impulsivity, and distractibility. Some patients also display noticeable hyperactivity.
Other symptoms of ADHD include:
- Forgetfulness
- Inability to follow instructions
- Avoidance of tasks that require attention
- Trouble with organization
- Fidgeting or squirming
- Interrupting people
People with ADHD may have just a few of these symptoms or several of them at once. Patients’ symptoms also vary widely in severity but usually persist until treated.
What are the treatments for ADHD?
Behavior modification combined with medication is effective in helping people manage their ADHD. Medication works on a neurological level to help regulate an ADHD patient’s brain waves and chemicals.
Behavioral therapy involves developing structured routines, predictability, and increasing positive attention.
At Fulshear Medical Associates, Dr. Abrar customizes each treatment plan to address a patient’s needs. Medication dosages and types may need tweaking until uncovering just the right effectiveness.
The effectiveness of behavior therapy can be hard to measure and has many ups and downs. Dr. Abrar works with you to set tangible, achievable goals so you can see improvement in ADHD symptoms and their effects on day-to-day life.
If you or a loved one demonstrates symptoms of ADHD, contact Fulshear Medical Associates. We are a primary care practice and offer annual physicals. Call us to book your appointment today.
