Neurodevelopmental
ADHD — Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADHD is a condition that affects people's behaviour. Dr Anandarajan provides the paediatric medical assessment and ongoing medication management for children with ADHD in Belfast.
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people's behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse.
Symptoms of ADHD tend to be noticed at an early age and may become more noticeable when a child's circumstances change, such as when they start school.
Most cases are diagnosed when children are under 12 years old, but sometimes it's diagnosed later in childhood.
What Causes ADHD?
The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, but the condition has been shown to run in families.
Other factors suggested as potentially having a role in ADHD include:
- Being born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy)
- Having a low birthweight
- Smoking or alcohol or drug use during pregnancy
ADHD can occur in people of any intellectual ability, although it's more common in people with learning difficulties.
Symptoms of ADHD
The symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) can be categorised into 2 types of behavioural problems:
- Inattentiveness (difficulty concentrating and focusing)
- Hyperactivity and impulsiveness
Many people with ADHD have problems that fall into both these categories, but this is not always the case.
Inattentiveness
(Difficulty concentrating and focusing)
The main signs of inattentiveness are:
- Having a short attention span and being easily distracted
- Making careless mistakes – for example, in schoolwork
- Appearing forgetful or losing things
- Being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious or time-consuming
- Appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out instructions
- Constantly changing activity or task
- Having difficulty organising tasks
Hyperactivity and Impulsiveness
The main signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness are:
- Being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings
- Constantly fidgeting
- Being unable to concentrate on tasks
- Excessive physical movement
- Excessive talking
- Being unable to wait their turn
- Acting without thinking
- Interrupting conversations
- Little or no sense of danger
Related Conditions in Children and Teenagers with ADHD
Children and teenagers with ADHD can also have other problems or conditions alongside ADHD, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD)
- Specific learning difficulties
- Sensory integration disorder
- Tourette's syndrome
- OCD
Diagnosis in Children and Teenagers
Diagnosing ADHD in children depends on a set of strict criteria. To be diagnosed with ADHD, your child must have 6 or more symptoms of inattentiveness, or 6 or more symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
To be diagnosed with ADHD, your child must also have:
- Been displaying symptoms continuously for at least 6 months
- Started to show symptoms before the age of 12
- Been showing symptoms in at least 2 different settings – for example, at home and at school, to rule out the possibility that the behaviour is just a reaction to certain teachers or to parental control
- Symptoms that make their lives considerably more difficult on a social, academic or occupational level
Dr Anandarajan's Role in ADHD Assessment & Management
Formal ADHD diagnostic assessment may involve psychologists, psychiatrists and paediatricians depending on the child's needs.
Dr Mugilan Anandarajan provides ADHD-related medical assessment and medication monitoring where clinically appropriate, working alongside clinical psychologists and psychiatrists who carry out the full diagnostic assessment.
How Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is Treated
For children with ADHD, although there's no cure, it can be managed with appropriate educational support, advice and support for parents and affected children, alongside medicine, if necessary.
Parent & child therapy
Behavioural strategies, parent training programmes, and psychological support.
School interventions
Educational support, classroom adjustments, and liaison with SENCo.
Medications
Dr Anandarajan initiates and manages ADHD medication, monitors response and side effects, and provides ongoing medication reviews.
About the assessment pathway: Formal ADHD diagnostic assessment may involve psychologists, psychiatrists and paediatricians depending on the child's needs.
Dr Mugilan Anandarajan provides ADHD-related medical assessment and medication monitoring where clinically appropriate, working alongside the wider multidisciplinary team.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
About ADHD in children
Concerned about your child's behaviour or attention?
Dr Anandarajan offers same-week appointments with no GP referral required. Both Kingsbridge Private Hospital and Ulster Independent Clinic locations available.