Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHA) is thought, to be caused by the physical inability to regulate levels of neurotransmitters, such as dopamine. Some symptoms involved are being unable to concentrate, squirms, gets easily excited, commonly referred by doctors as "distractibility," "impulsivity," and "hyperactivity." It is also thought, that this disorder has a genetic basis. .
There is still a lot of controversy among diagnosing all ages of children. .
ADHA is however the hardest to diagnosis in small children under the age of six. One problem being that the disorder is a fairly recent discovery, and doctors are still researching the best ways to test and treat ADHD. Another problem is that small children, especially toddlers, are usually very energetic, have a short attention span, but are still perfectly normal. Today, many cases have been treated by therapy alone, but medication was once the all around cure. Many doctors are starting to worry about the side effects of some medications. None have been declared safe in children under the age of six. Ritalin was once the most common, but medications such as Adderall, an amphetamine, are now becoming more common, because of the fewer side effects.
If someone is worried about his or her child having ADHA, start by talking to the child's doctor. He would probably start by collecting information about family background, pregnancy with the child, and the child's daily life. He would probably ask to receive information from the child's school and/or daycare provider, as well as the information from home. He will then follow close and help you figure out the best options for your child.