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ADHD Specialist

Complete Pediatrics And Specialty Care -  - Pediatrics

Complete Pediatrics And Specialty Care

Pediatrics & Private Medical Practices located in New Albany, IN

Have you noticed that your child is easily distracted or unable to stay focused on homework? In general, kids can have trouble staying organized, but if their inability to stay on task is interfering with their life, they may have attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). At Complete Pediatrics and Specialty Care in New Albany, Indiana, Laleh Rezaei, MD, and Terri Renfrow, APRN offer ADHD assessment services to better understand your child’s needs. Dr. Rezaei, and Terri have years of experience diagnosing and treating ADHD to help your child get back on track. Schedule an evaluation online, or by calling the office, to learn more about ADHD.

ADHD Q & A

What is ADHD?

Attention deficit disorder is a common developmental disability that affects your child’s ability to pay attention. This can apply if your child has a short attention span or becomes easily distracted, especially during school.

Other signs of ADHD include:

  • Frequently forgetful
  • Makes careless mistakes
  • Doesn’t follow directions
  • Can’t stay organized
  • Avoids tasks that require mental focus

An ADHD diagnosis often occurs in childhood and the condition can remain throughout adulthood. While many of the signs of ADHD are a part of normal child behavior, it is important that the team evaluates your child when behaviors cause you concern.

How is ADHD diagnosed?

The team has extensive experience in diagnosing ADHD in children of all ages. While there is no specific medical test to diagnose ADHD, the team can determine if your child has this disorder by reviewing their medical history and your list of concerns about their behavior. They may even request additional information from your child's teachers.

The team also performs a physical exam to rule out other possible medical conditions.

What treatment options are available for ADHD?

If the team suspects your child has ADHD, they create a comprehensive treatment plan to help manage your child’s focusing issues at home, during school, and with other important activities.

Complete Pediatrics And Specialty Care works closely with you, your child, teachers, coaches, and other important people in your child’s life. They may recommend initial treatment options like behavioral therapies, and sports and school interventions to help your child manage their activities.

If additional treatment is necessary, the team may recommend prescription medications.

What medications are used to treat ADHD?

ADHD medications can help your child manage their attention difficulties and improve their quality of life. Medications may also be effective in controlling behavioral issues caused by ADHD.

Medications may include:

Stimulants

Stimulants are medications, like Ritalin® and Adderall®, that reduce ADHD symptoms. They work quickly but typically have a short lifespan.

Non-stimulants

Non-stimulants may help children that don’t respond well to stimulants. These medications, like Strattera and Intuniv®, offer long-lasting results for controlling ADHD symptoms.

ADHD medications may cause side effects, including drowsiness, appetite loss, and nausea that should resolve on their own. The team carefully monitors your child’s symptoms and may make changes to their prescription throughout treatment.

Not all children respond to medications the same way and your child may need to try different medications before finding one that works best. 

Schedule an evaluation with Complete Pediatrics And Specialty Care online or by phone today.