ADHD in Children: Signs Parents in Greensboro Should Look For

As the school year gets ready to kicks off in Greensboro, many parents are paying close attention to how their kids adjusts to the new school year routines, classroom demands, and social expectations. I’d like for you to take a moment and consider if your child is ready for the upcoming school year.

For some parents, these transitions bring up questions about their child’s ability to pay attention in the classroom, behave with friends, and emotionally regulate during challenges points. One common concern that many parents raise about ADHD is: “Could my child have ADHD?”

At Santos Counseling, we work with parents across the Triad area to help identify and support children with ADHD. In this article, we’ll discuss the common signs of ADHD, how it typically shows up differently in kids, and what next steps you can take if you want to help your child.

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What is ADHD?

Let’s start by first discussing exactly what ADHD is. The term ADDH, stands for (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a neurodevelopmental condition that affects a persons in the following key areas:

• Attention.
• Impulse control.
• Activity levels.

The American Psychiatry Association has a helpful read on understanding ADHD. Click here to read it. Another supportive read, that speaks more to parents on ADHD is found at Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (CHADD).

What are the types of ADHD?

There are three types of ADHD:

1. Inattentive Type – This is distinguished by noticing a difficulty focusing, finishing tasks or following instructions.

2. Hyperactive-Impulsive Type – This is distinguished restlessness, excessive movement, difficulty sitting still, or acting without thinking.

3. Combined Type – a mix of both inattentive and hyperactive-Impulsive type. Click here to read more on ADHD and kids.

What to Do If You’re Concerned About Your Child

If you notice any of the signs mentioned on this page or have other concerns focused around your child’s mental health please consider the next steps:

1. Schedule a Counseling Session

Call our counseling office today or complete the form on this page to get started. Our goal is to be present to support you as you move forward in life. At Santos Counseling, our counselors specialize in ADHD, behavioral support, and academic success.

How Executive Functioning Relates to ADHD

One of the core challenges that our counseling practice sees in children with ADHD is executive functioning difficulties. As a licensed counselor and person with ADHD, I like to think of it through the lens of executive functioning. In essence they are a set of mental health skills that help us set and meet specific goals or tasks. Such as being able to effectively manage information or plan ahead for a specific project.

Children with ADHD often struggle in multiple executive functioning domains. You can see this by taking a look at the types of ADHD listed in this reading. A difficulty with a skill specific to executive functioning can affect both learning and everyday life.

Here are some of the key domains of executive functioning and how they may show up in a child with ADHD:

Working Memory.

You may notice that your child has a hard time completing multi-step tasks. This is because working memory has to do with holding and manipulating information in the mind.

Inhibitory Control.

This is the control central that has to do with being able to think before acting. For me, this was a key sign that I had during my adolescent years. You may see this in your child if they show difficulty in waiting their turn, acting before thinking, or shouting out things in class versus waiting to be called on.

Emotional Control.

This is a common one that we see in the counseling session. Your child may show this if they are quick to anger or display mood swings. Emotional control has a lot to do with emotional regulation.

Task Initiation.

The key word to help people understand this area of executive functioning is “procrastination”. You may see this in your child in their school work, chores at home, or even in statements.

Organization

This is often an overlooked area as its common to find that many kids and even adults struggle with organization. Here you may notice that your child takes in instruction and then struggles to remain organized. Such as losing their homework or noticing that there clothing drawer is not very organized.

Planning & Prioritization

This skill has to do with your child’s ability to break a task down into steps. You may notice that your child has a hard time doing a project that has four key parts to it.

Why Executive Functioning Matters

Understanding executive functioning plays a key part in helping parents further learn how to help their child with ADHD. For instance, what a parent may see as defiance or laziness is often a sign that their brain simply works a little different.

Remember, executive functioning are skills, not character flaws. As such, the way to improve skills is to strengthened each one of them overtime.

At Santos Counseling, our child counselors work with kids and parents to improve executive functioning through:

• Clinical activities that build attention, memory, and flexibility

• Real-life techniques for organizing, planning, and managing time

• Parent coaching to support these skills at home