Child ADHD Therapy in Los Angeles
ADHD is one of the most commonly diagnosed behavior disorders, yet it remains very misunderstood.
Children diagnosed with ADHD may struggle to succeed academically and socially. With the right treatment, symptoms of ADHD can be greatly reduced.
3-6
The age when children typically begin to exhibit ADHD traits.
1 in 100
The number of children that will be affected by ADHD in childhood.
High
Negative impact on quality of life for children and their families.
What is ADHD?
While most children will sometimes be easily distracted or have difficulty sitting still and paying attention to commands, kids with ADHD will have a much more difficult time than their peers.
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is normally associated with symptoms of restlessness, an inability to focus, and difficulty in controlling impulsive behavior. Because of these impulsive behaviors, ADHD can harm kids' ability to succeed in school and cause issues at home.
The good news is that ADHD is a treatable disorder, and with the right therapy your child can reduce the effects of their symptoms.
Signs and Symptoms
The signs of ADHD are normally separated into inattentive symptoms and hyperactive symptoms.
Inattentive symptoms include being easily distracted, difficulty following directions, and not listening when being spoken to directly.
Hyperactive symptoms include being very impatient, fidgeting or squirming, and constant talking.
The signs of ADHD usually start to appear when the child is between 3 and 6 years old, but can affect children into their teens.
Difficulty sitting still or waiting their turn
Makes careless mistakes and has trouble following directions
Very impatient
Cannot play quietly and is constantly talking
ADHD Treatment
Treatment starts with getting a diagnosis. Work with a psychologist or contact us to schedule an assessment for your child.
One of the strongest evidenced-based treatments for ADHD is parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT). With PCIT, you will work with a therapist to learn the skills needed to help your child manage their symptoms. For example, learning how to reinforce positive behaviors through praise, and limit bad behaviors through appropriate punishment methods.
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has also been proven to help children manage their symptoms by helping them to better control their emotions.
In certain cases, medication may also help children manage their ADHD symptoms.
How to Get Your Child Help
Treatment at WaveMind consists of a 4 step process.
Get Diagnosis
Get your child assessed by a trained psychologist to determine whether or not he/she has ADHD.
3. Learn the Skills
You learn the skills to train your child's behavior, from positive reinforcement to standing your ground on punishments.
2. Develop Treatment Plan.
Your clinician will work with you to create a treatment plan that helps your child without pushing them too far.
4. Follow Up
Your therapist will continue to hold optional sessions to make sure you and your child have all the skills needed to be successful.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it common for kids with ADHD to be angry?
Anger issues often go hand-in-hand with ADHD. Children with ADHD often build up a great deal of stress throughout the day and have difficulty not acting on it. Also because of the challenge of following directions, they often face discipline that they act out against.
How do I discipline a child with ADHD?
When disciplining a child with ADHD it's important to remain calm and level-headed. Discuss with them why their actions were wrong and help them to understand the issue. You can also utilize time-outs and taking away toys, but you need to enforce the punishment and not let your child slip by.
How can I calm down my child?
Try helping your child refocus their energy to a certain game or task - something that keeps them entertained. Then once they are focused, you can use CBT-based practices to help focus on the present.