ADHD Specialist

Houston Specialty Clinic

Pediatric Neurology, Pediatric Pulmonary, and Sleep Medicine located in Houston, and Sugar Land, TX

If your child is consistently exhibiting problem behaviors, one possibility is that they have a condition like ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder). Board-certified pediatric neurologist Joshua Rotenberg, MD, specializes in helping children who have ADHD at the Houston and Sugar Land, Texas, offices of Houston Specialty Clinic. Dr. Rotenberg also provides support and education for parents of children with ADHD. If you think your child has a behavioral disorder, call the Houston Specialty Clinic closest to you today.

ADHD Q & A

What is ADHD?

A neurodevelopmental disorder, ADHD (attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder) affects around 11% of children over 5 years old. It typically causes behavior that isn’t appropriate for a child at their age. Common problems include inattention, impulsivity, and hyperactivity.

In most cases, childhood ADHD continues to affect children into adulthood. Without expert diagnosis and treatment, children with ADHD experience challenges in their school and home life that persist when they grow up.

While most children have problems with focusing, impatience, and impulse control at times, these issues are ongoing for a child with ADHD and interfere with their lives every day. ADHD can lead to:

Failure at school
Family disruption
Depression
Relationship problems
Substance abuse
Delinquency
Accidental injuries
Job failure

However, if your child receives a diagnosis of ADHD at an early age and has support from an expert in child development like Dr. Rotenberg, they can flourish.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

ADHD symptoms develop in early childhood and must be present by the age of 12 for that diagnosis. There are three variations of ADHD, and symptoms of predominantly inattentive ADHD include:

Lack of attention to detail
Making careless mistakes
Difficulty sustaining attention
Not appearing to listen
Struggling with instructions
Difficulty with organization
Disliking tasks requiring sustained mental effort
Losing things
Being easily distracted
Forgetfulness in daily activities

Symptoms of hyperactive-impulsive ADHD include:

Fidgeting with hands or feet
Squirming when seated
Difficulty remaining seated
Running about or climbing excessively
Difficulty doing activities quietly
Acting as if driven by a motor
Talking excessively
Blurting out answers too soon
Difficulty waiting or taking turns
Interrupting or intruding upon others

Children with a combined presentation have symptoms of both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive ADHD. Children can have mild, moderate, or severe ADHD. Symptoms and their severity can also change as your child gets older.

Some of these symptoms are present in children who have other behavioral disorders, such as oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder, so an accurate diagnosis is vital.

How is ADHD treated?

Treating a child who has ADHD typically requires a comprehensive or multifaceted approach that includes medical, educational, behavioral, and psychological therapies. Supporting your child with skills training, counseling, and education enables them to learn how to manage their ADHD.

Medication can often help children who have ADHD, so Dr. Rotenberg might recommend stimulants for your child. Stimulants can help children focus their thoughts and avoid distractions. These medications are effective in as many as 80% of cases.

If stimulants don’t work, or your child experiences disagreeable side effects, non-stimulants might help. These medications can help improve your child’s impulse control and concentration.

If your child has symptoms of a behavioral disorder like ADHD, call Houston Specialty Clinic today.