New guidelines for treating ADHD - AmericaNowNews.com

New guidelines for treating ADHD

Attention deficit/hyper activity disorder (ADHD) is now the most common behavioral disorder that doctors see in children.

Kids that have been diagnosed ADHD have trouble staying focused or paying attention, along with difficulty controlling their behavior.

Now, the American Academy of Pediatrics has expanded the age range in which ADHD can be diagnosed.

"The age of diagnoses is now expanded from six to 12 and four to 18," says Dr. Mike Manos of the Cleveland Clinic. "We often did not acknowledge or recognize or formally diagnose ADHD in very young children; now we can."

The new guidelines will now allow doctors to try behavioral interventions such as group or individual parent training for pre-schoolers diagnosed with ADHD.

The Academy will also recommend FDA-approved medications.

"Now that the age is four, parents who have been struggling with their kid's behavior who have dysfunctional behavior -- they're getting kicked out of pre-schools, they're asked not to return to daycare center because their behavior is so disruptive -- now they have an avenue of treatment and of care," Manos explains.

Dr. Manos says it's clear to him that there was a need for the changes and now parents of pre-school age children who suspect ADHD will be able to get the help they need for their pre-schoolers.

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