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Learn More Service PaymentAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a common childhood disorder that we continue to learn more about every year. It sometimes continues through adolescence into adulthood, but when it is treated properly, it does not have to disrupt the normalcy of life.
Learning how to recognize the symptoms of ADHD and seeking professional help as soon as possible will lead to better outcomes for children and their families.
Sometimes, parents are afraid of getting an official ADHD diagnosis because they worry it is a brand their child will always carry. However, this is not the case. No matter what, your child will still show and struggle with signs of ADHD, regardless of an official diagnosis. So, the best thing parents can do is seek the professional help they need to help their child adjust, learn valuable coping skills, and not feel ashamed of their condition.
Does your child suffer from ADHD? At Behavioral Health Associates of Broward, we help you help your child every step of the way!
ADHD is classified as a mental health disorder that causes issues with memory, concentration, and other cognitive functions. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 11% of school-aged American children live with this condition, as well as 4.4% of adults. The number is likely higher, but every year, many cases go undiagnosed. It is essential that we continue to bring awareness and educate others on ADHD so individuals seek treatment.
Many people have a negative outlook on ADHD because of the way it is portrayed in today’s society. They also think it is a condition that just impacts children, but this isn’t the truth either. Some people will develop ADHD during childhood and never outgrow it, while others will outgrow it at some point in their lives. Some people won’t experience symptoms (or get diagnosed) until they are adults. Every case is unique.
ADHD does not just encompass one symptom or struggle. Like so many other disorders, there are a few different types and levels of ADHD. Therefore, the treatments that you seek will vary for each one.
There are three different types of ADHD:
Knowing and understanding these different types of ADHD can help you seek a proper diagnosis, get professional help, and create a treatment plan needed to support yourself or your child.
Those who have hyperactive-impulsive ADHD are the ones who tend to be the easiest to diagnose because their signs are external and highly visible. Someone with this form of ADHD:
Those with predominantly inattentive ADHD are a little harder to diagnose because so much of their struggle is internal. Someone living with this form of ADHD will:
Someone with this type of ADHD will exhibit symptoms from both hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive ADHD. Occasionally, they will fall more into one category than the other but will still exhibit a combination of both kinds of symptoms.
Only a qualified mental health professional, like the our expert team at BHAB, can give you a definite diagnosis of ADHD. There are many tests that you can find online or in parenting books, for example, that can lead you to make an educated assumption, but you cannot truly make a diagnosis without the help of a mental health professional.
Our mental health professionals will use different proven assessments to determine if a patient has ADHD. Often, we will test and retest just to confirm findings. Adult patients may fill out these surveys by themselves. Children will need a guardian to fill them out, but the BHAB mental health professionals may read accounts from parents and teachers as well as they observe the child themselves.
There are a few different treatment options for ADHD, depending on the type, severity, and age of the patient. Currently, the available treatments focus on behavior, reducing symptoms, and improving functioning skills. ADHD treatments combine medication, behavioral therapy, education, and training. Because each case is unique, every patient may have a slightly different treatment path.
For adults, treatment is focused more on examining self-image and examining behavior. A therapist will work with an adult who has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder to encourage them to think before they act, practice anger management, implement good organizational skills, resist the urges to take risks, and utilize time management strategies.
Sometimes, those living with ADHD will need other types of support. They may need to enroll in counseling, family therapy, couples counseling, and more. At BHAB, we will guide you and your loved one through the process and recommend what is best for you.
For children, behavior treatment is a bit different. At BHAB, we work to encourage children to make good decisions, practice social skills, and ask for help. Treatment also encourages parents to monitor behavior, rules, and chores while creating structured daily routines to help their child feel comfortable in their own skin and succeed.
Behavioral Health Associates of Broward offers ADHD testing in a safe, comfortable environment for your child. Our comprehensive evaluation will identify if you or your child have one of the three types of ADHD.
By discovering exceptional abilities or identifying potential learning disabilities early on, we can work together to ensure you and your child’s educational needs are being met and are helping to facilitate your child to live their full potential.
Need help for yourself or your child handling the struggles of ADHD? Call us at 954-909-0888 to schedule an appointment today!
Phone: 954-909-0888
Fax: 954-337-2932
Email: [email protected]
Coral Springs/Parkland:
11555 Heron Bay Boulevard
Coral Springs, FL 33076
Davie/Cooper City:
5890 South Pine Island Rd, Suite 201
Davie, FL 33328