ADHD

What is ADHD?

ADHD is short for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, a mental health condition that develops in childhood but isn’t always diagnosed until later in life.

People who have ADHD often don’t realize that they have an identifiable condition. They may believe they lack the skills other people seem to have, without being aware that there’s an explanation for their difficulties.

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

ADHD causes behavioral and emotional issues, so typical symptoms include:

• Being easily distracted
• Having excessive energy
• Impulsiveness
• Disorganization
• Problems prioritizing tasks
• Poor time management
• Restlessness
• Irritability
• Frequent mood swings
• Difficulty completing tasks
• Being quick to anger
• Difficulty coping with stress

People who have ADHD find school, work, and home life challenging, and are likely to get into trouble at school or go through a series of jobs in adulthood because they have problems conforming to acceptable behaviors. You’re also more likely to have run-ins with the police, develop substance abuse issues, and injure yourself accidentally.

What causes ADHD?

It’s not known exactly why some people develop ADHD, but research shows that there are factors that increase your chances. These include:

• Having relatives with ADHD
• Exposure to toxins during childhood
• Developmental problems in the central nervous system

Although it’s not always the case, some people who have ADHD are born to mothers who smoked, took drugs, or abused alcohol during pregnancy.

What treatments are there for ADHD?

ADHD isn’t curable, but there are treatments available from Americas TMS Center that can help you or your child cope better with the symptoms. Medication combined with talking therapies is often effective, although it can take a while to find the best approach for each individual. Potential treatments include:

• Cognitive-behavioral therapy
• Stimulants that balance neurotransmitter levels in the brain
• Nonstimulant medication like atomoxetine
• Aminoketone antidepressants

Advocating for children through parent education, family therapy and skill-building with the child is most effective when managed with medication and psychotherapy. Americas TMS Center educates parents on the process of assessment and treating lagging skills to minimize challenging behavior and build cognitive flexibility, language and communication skills, attention and working memory skills, emotional regulation, and social thinking.

Another treatment option available at Americas TMS Center is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). This gentle, noninvasive therapy uses mild electrical currents to stimulate specific areas of your brain and is a safe and painless treatment that could help you or your child manage ADHD even when other methods haven’t been successful.

To find out more about ADHD and the benefits of TMS, call Americas TMS Center today, or book an appointment online.