ADHD, or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is most commonly found in children — more than six million in the United States according to recent statistics — yet 60% of these kids go on to become adults with ADHD. At Neighborhood Medical Center, Dr. Martin G. McElya specializes in treating patients of all ages with ADHD in the Dallas area. If ADHD is causing a disruption in your family, call or book an appointment online to find out about effective treatment options.
ADD, or attention deficit disorder, and ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, are often used interchangeably, but medical experts now only refer to the disorder as ADHD. ADHD is divided into three categories:
Inattentive ADHD: This type is what people used to refer to as ADD and describes the inability of a person to pay attention, or someone who’s easily distracted, without displaying any symptoms of hyperactivity
Hyperactive ADHD: In this category, the ADHD presents as an uncontrollable restlessness or impulsivity
Combination ADHD: People with this type of ADHD experience both inattention and hyperactivity, making it especially difficult for them to function at school or work
ADHD can be difficult to diagnose since there are many symptoms, as well as a wide range in severity of these symptoms. In order to understand the basics, here are the most common symptoms of the hallmarks of ADHD — attention deficit and hyperactivity.
Attention deficit
ADHD may be at play if you or your loved one is:
Hyperactivity
The most common signs of hyperactivity are:
Diagnosing ADHD is difficult because there’s no definitive test to determine the existence of the disorder. If any of the symptoms described above are present for six months or more, you should see Dr. McElya so he can get to the bottom of the behavior and determine whether ADHD is at play.
Once Dr. McElya diagnoses ADHD, he turns to a number of medications that provide relief from the symptoms, including:
In combination with behavioral therapy, these drugs have been very successful in treating ADHD, allowing kids and adults to lead normal, productive lives. To ensure that the therapies are working, Dr. McElya monitors the patient every three months to make any necessary tweaks to improve the treatment’s outcome.
If you suspect someone in your family might have ADHD, call Neighborhood Medical Center, or schedule an appointment using the online booking tool.
