Q: My daughter’s teacher has noticed a pattern of inattentiveness and has mentioned ADHD. What should I do?
A: There are four things to consider when you first notice inattentive behavior — vision, hearing, sleep and nutrition. Kids who can’t hear or see well will be distracted by the things that they’re able to hear or see better.
A hearing check and vision check are the first priorities. Additionally, parents should pay close attention to their child’s sleep patterns. Both the quantity and quality matter.
A clinician will often begin by asking about your child’s sleep. If you hear your child snoring frequently at night, that may be an indicator that he or she isn’t sleeping well. Kids who don’t sleep well might be hyperactive in an attempt to keep their bodies more focused, or they may present with lethargy. Your clinician will recommend next steps which may include a more thorough sleep study or a visit to an otolaryngologist (ENT).
There may also be a possibility that your child needs her tonsils or adenoids removed. Other ailments can sometimes also mimic attention deficiency. Anemia is one possible culprit. Low iron levels are correlated with restless leg syndrome as well as low energy levels, both of which could look like ADHD or ADD, respectively. So, your clinician may consider a hemoglobin or iron test.
After your child’s vision, hearing, sleep and nutrition are considered and/or assessed with your pediatrician, your provider may then do an evaluation to see if your child meets the criteria for ADD/ADHD.
If your child receives a diagnosis, medication can also help in the process, but isn’t a sufficient solution alone for most patients.
Behavioral therapy to teach kids how to focus is critical. The latest guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics emphasize the importance of combined therapy and medication, and even parent training. You can also work with your child’s school to create an individualized plan to help reduce distractions.
Just know that there are many paths to success for kids with ADD or ADHD.
Dr. Gigi Chawla is a board-certified pediatrician and the chief of general pediatrics at Children’s Minnesota.
