Treating Disorders Early

Researchers believe that diagnosing and treating childhood disorders early plays a very important role in prevention down the road. Parents are encouraged to take their children to a doctor or have a disability screening if they see any signs of delays or other problems. They believe it's important that parents expose their children to books and reading, using and talking with appropriate words and playing games. Even simple things such as playing with cards or stacking dishes in the kitchen will help. Studies have shown that those who have trouble received little exposure to vocabulary. They also point out that preschool will help to develop language and social sills. Most problems seen today are learning disabilities, autism disorders, speech and language impairments and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. But even a lack of breakfast or not having a regular bedtime can cause a lack of concentration and may be misdiagnosed as ADHD. Many feel that this diagnosis is overused. For example, if a child is hyperactive, but is learning in school, then it's not ADHD. Some behaviors may be a normal response to such things as a chaotic home life, parents separating and so on. Parents and teachers should look for signs such as not being able to focus for long on an activity that interests them. Some other symptoms could include tantrums, problems sleeping, and not following directions. Many feel that ADHD is preventable by having a structured home where children will know what will happen next. But if your home is already structured and only one child is having problems, then there might be other problems, like learning disabilities, that are involved. Some feel that before you take a child to the doctor for hyperactivity, you should take a parenting class to see if the problem is a home issue and not a learning issue first.