ADHD in Children
Start your ADHD journey today!
ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a condition that can affect children of all ages. It is commonly characterised by problems with focus, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
ADHD can make it hard for children to succeed in school and in social situations. But with the right support, children with ADHD can thrive.
If you think your child may have ADHD, the first step is to speak to an ADHD specialist. The first step in the ADHD patient journey is to undertake a Child ADHD diagnosis assessment.
If the diagnosis confirms a positive result of ADHD, treatment is the recommended course of action to help your child towards fulfilling their full potential in life.
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How we help with ADHD in Children
ADHD 360 is the largest specialist ADHD clinic in the UK, working with private patients and the NHS to provide diagnosis, treatment and support to children and adults with ADHD.
We have a team of clinicians who specifically specialise in ADHD diagnosis, medical treatment, non-medical treatment and coaching.
Our process is modern and efficient, making our patient’s experience easier.
We have heavily invested and developed our internal systems to create seamless, patient-friendly, industry-leading processes.
Instead of worrying about heading down to a clinic, going out of your way to reach an appointment in time – we instead perform all of our patient consultations, diagnosis, treatment and support through value-added virtual video calls.
This means that you and your child can easily attend your virtual appointment from the comfort of your own home, without any major disruption to the day.
During your treatment and support, you’ll have regular contact with your dedicated clinician, counsellor and/or coach through these same virtual video appointments.
The effectiveness of our modern approach to medicine provides our patients with time that is better quality and longer-lasting with their ADHD specialist clinician.
Choosing to go private
In the UK, typically, a first port-of-call for this would have been to book an appointment with your local ADHD NHS Specialist via your own GP. However, The NHS is currently facing unprecedented demand for mental health services.
The increase in demand
is putting a strain on already stretched resources and staff. As a result, the mental health services are experiencing extremely long waiting times.
As a private specialist ADHD Clinic operating throughout the UK
We’re proud to offer one of the UK’s best, if not the UK’s best, ADHD diagnosis and treatment solutions to patients.
Starting with you
We understand that you want the best for your child, and to get the best, you have decided to pay for it. It isn’t always an easy decision.
We provide our patients with:
ADHD Treatment that is excellent, to the highest medical standards.
ADHD Treatment that is focused on getting your ADHD as controlled as we can, as quickly as we can.
Access to a ADHD programme of care that goes beyond your ADHD diagnosis, making sure that your ADHD treatment plan is designed for you, individually.
We offer you a choice of ADHD treatment package so you can balance what you can afford against what you need.
We offer you payment structures that recognise this is an investment in healthcare that you may not have budgeted for
we work with you to make sure this is an experience you recognise as supportive and value for money.
Understanding ADHD in children
ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders. It’s also the most commonly misunderstood.
Though the understanding of ADHD has come a long way, there is still the common misconception that ADHD is just a “naughty boy syndrome”.
In actuality ADHD is a disorder that can affect girls, boys and adults.
While there is a negative stigma around ADHD, when treated correctly those with ADHD achieve great things.
While the exact cause of ADHD is unknown, current research shows it is largely linked to genetics.
Further studies are investigating further possible causes including: Brain injury, environmental factors, substance use during pregnancy, premature delivery and low birth weight.
Spotting the signs in children and acting on it is extremely important for that child’s life and future prospects.
Another misconception of ADHD is that a child will eventually grow out of it.
Unfortunately, this is not the case. Undiagnosed ADHD in children will cause problems in later life.
For a child, ADHD can lead to difficulties in school, both academically and socially. The result makes it more difficult for kids to stay on track and succeed as they progress into later life.
Symptoms of ADHD also cause issues with impulsivity and self-control. While this might be easy to dismiss as typical child behaviour, it’s shown that this can lead to problems with relationships, work, and other areas of life.
When left undiagnosed and untreated over a long period of time, emotional difficulties such as anxiety and depression are often then found in people who had overlooked ADHD as a child. These problems persist into adulthood and make it difficult for people with ADHD to live happy and successful lives.
The different types of ADHD in children
There are three types of ADHD:
- Inattentive
- Hyperactive-impulsive
- Combined
Children with the inattentive type ADHD may have problems focusing on tasks, be easily distracted, and have difficulty completing tasks.
Children with the hyperactive-impulsive type ADHD may have problems sitting still, be very active, and have trouble waiting for their turn.
Children with the combined type ADHD have symptoms of both the inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive types.
Child ADHD Symptoms
Symptoms of ADHD in children can be difficult to diagnose because they often overlap with normal behaviours for children at different stages of development.
ADHD symptoms also vary between children.
Some common symptoms of ADHD in children include:
- Fidgeting
- Excessive talking
- Risky behaviour
- Daydreaming
- Trouble focusing
- Difficulty making friends
- Emotional dysregulation
It’s worth remembering, children are incredibly clever and incredibly perceptive to their surroundings.
Once they notice they are different to those around them, they quickly develop coping mechanisms and begin to mask their symptoms instinctively.
This is why speaking to an ADHD specialist is so important.
If you believe your child may have ADHD, take the first step, sign up to our patient portal and use our online screening tool.
Private Child ADHD Diagnosis
If you suspect that your child may have ADHD, and are considering a private diagnosis for your child, it is important to seek help from a qualified and experienced specialist.
Diagnosis of ADHD can be tricky, so making sure you receive a diagnosis from a specialist is a necessity.
We have a team of clinicians who are qualified and experienced specialists in diagnosing and treating ADHD in children across the UK.
We understand pursuing a private child ADHD diagnosis is an investment that you may not have anticipated, but here are some of the benefits of a private diagnosis at ADHD 360:
- No waiting lists. Remember, early intervention is key for ADHD. Your child’s treatment can start in as little as 2 weeks.
- We collect all the information ahead of your appointment so that your assessment is just real, productive time with your clinician
- We are the largest single specialist clinic in the UK
- All of our support staff are trained to deal with and understand the challenges parents may have with their child with ADHD
If you’d like to speak to someone about a private diagnosis first, you can contact us.
ADHD Treatment For Children
There is no one size fits all treatment for ADHD.
Our clinicians tailor their treatment plans based on the unique needs of your child and family.
Our approach ensures you walk away with a treatment plan that:
- Is made for your child’s symptoms and challenges
- Considers your family and it’s circumstances
- As a parent, you’re comfortable with and understand
- And most importantly, will improve your child’s life
To do this we provide a range of treatment options, medical treatment, non-medical treatment (counselling), coaching and family support.
ADHD Medication
There are a variety of different medications that can be prescribed to treat ADHD in children.
These medications fall into two main categories, Stimulants and Non-stimulants.
Stimulant medications work by increasing chemical levels in the brain. This can help to improve focus and attention, as well as reduce impulsiveness and hyperactivity.
Non-stimulant medications work by affecting neurotransmitters in the brain.
When medicating ADHD, It is important to work with an experienced clinician to find the best medication options for your child.
There is no one “right” medication for everyone, and what works for one child may not work for another.
When it comes to finding the right medication and titration, our clinicians have it down to a fine art.
Non-medical ADHD treatment (Counselling)
Non-medical ADHD treatment like counselling or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can help children with ADHD manage their symptoms.
Counselling can help children learn how to deal with their feelings and emotions. They can also teach them better ways to behave and how to get along better with others.
CBT helps children to change the way they think and behave. It can help them learn new behaviours, and improve executive functioning.
You can read more about counselling, CBT and our non-medical diagnosis and treatment packages on our non-medical treatment page.
Coaching and Family Support
Coaching and family support can be an extremely effective way to help manage ADHD symptoms.
An ADHD coach can teach your child how to improve emotionally, academically, and socially, setting them up with the tools they need to navigate life with ADHD.
Through family support sessions with an ADHD coach you can learn how to:
- Better support your child and their unique needs
- Encourage a strong family and child relationship
- Cope with and understand your child diagnosis
Whether your child is taking medication, or undergoing counselling or CBT, adding ADHD coaching to your treatment plan is a great way to support their treatment.
Is it normal child behaviour or is it ADHD?
We mentioned earlier that it can be tricky to determine if the symptoms your child may have are normal child behaviour or if it is ADHD.
There is a common misconception that symptoms must be consistent at home, at school and in social situations. But, we know for one reason or another, it is possible that your child can have ADHD even if the symptoms aren’t necessarily consistent.
In fact, this is one of the leading causes for misdiagnosis or non-diagnosis of ADHD in children.
Children who display symptoms at school but not at home, or at home and not at school are not uncommon in the patients we see each and every day.
Some of the common myths for ADHD:
- Children have to be physically hyperactive to have ADHD
- ADHD is a naughty boy syndrome
- ADHD is just bad parenting
- Children can’t concentrate if they have ADHD
Here are the
facts:
- Hyperactivity isn’t just a physical symptom. Children can have ADHD without being physically hyperactive, their mind may be their hyperactive symptom.
- ADHD can affect boys and girls
- Anyone with ADHD will display some behaviours that aren’t popular regardless of how well they are parented
- Children with ADHD will concentrate when it’s something they enjoy, when they don’t enjoy it they need a bit of extra support
You might also like to read our 3T’s papers on myths about ADHD and why would I get my child diagnosed and treated for ADHD.