ADHD

About 8.4% of American children and 2.5% of adults have attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although common, the condition can make it challenging to excel at school and work without treatment. At KAVN Health in Columbia, Maryland, their team provides complete care for ADHD, including psychotherapy and prescription medication. Call the nearest KAVN Health office to schedule an ADHD consultation for yourself or your child, or book an appointment online today. Telemedicine appointments are also available for patients liivng in Maryland, Delaware, Virginia, and Washington, DC. 

What is attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

ADHD is a common neurodevelopmental disorder typically diagnosed in childhood or adolescence. It’s a chronic condition that affects your thoughts, feelings, and behavior.

Most people associate ADHD with kids and teens, but it often lasts into adulthood. Thankfully, treatment can manage symptoms and improve your quality of life. 

What are the symptoms of ADHD?

ADHD affects your ability to manage your thoughts, emotions, and behavior. Specifically, it makes it difficult to:

• Concentrate
• Stay organized
• Follow directions
• Pay attention
• Sit still
• Regulate your mood

ADHD used to be called attention-deficit disorder (ADD), but the American Psychiatric Association officially changed its name in 1994. 

How is ADHD diagnosed?

If you’re concerned that you or your child have ADHD, make an appointment at the nearest KAVN Health office. That’s especially true if you or your child are experiencing symptoms that affect your ability to excel at school or work. Without treatment, ADHD symptoms often worsen, increasing the risk of other problems like low self-esteem, depression, and anxiety.

There isn’t a specific test that diagnoses ADHD. Instead, the KAVN Health team has you complete a questionnaire about your or your child’s behavior. 

They also ask about your or your child’s symptoms and how they affect performance at school and work. Answer each question with as much detail as possible. The information you provide is crucial to developing a treatment plan.

After gathering the necessary information, your provider compares your or your child’s symptoms to the ADHD criteria in the American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5-TR). If your or your child’s symptoms align with those criteria, they confirm an ADHD diagnosis. 

How is ADHD treated?

At KAVN Health, the team treats ADHD using a conservative and patient-centered approach. Often, treatment includes psychotherapy (counseling) and prescription medication.

Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy teaches you or your child to learn healthy, positive behaviors while eliminating unwanted ones. It also incorporates executive function training, improving your organizational skills and self-monitoring ability.

Medication

Medications ease ADHD symptoms and make it easier to focus, sit still, and maintain a positive mindset. Depending on the severity of your symptoms, the team might prescribe stimulants, nonstimulants, or antidepressants. It may take some trial and error at first to find a medication that meets your needs. 

Call the nearest KAVN Health office to schedule an ADHD consultation for yourself or your child, or book your appointment online today.