ADHD/Learning Difficulties

Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a condition that often gets overlooked because of the way it presents itself in young children. The main characteristics as determined by professionals that make up ADHD are impulsivity, inattention, and hyperactivity. Difficulty focusing on certain tasks or an inability to pay attention may just seem like a normal part of raising normal/average little one, but understanding how and when the difficulties go from a normal part of development to a hindrance in the home or classroom can be essential to keeping your child on the right track.

Any child who is not working at their potential at school should be brought in for an evaluation. Treatment should include a multidimensional approach. Medication alone is not always the answer. If medication is used, titration of the dose and fine tuning throughout the day, on an ongoing basis, is the key for optimal results.

Most parents and teachers begin to notice specific issues related to ADHD as early as pre-school, with an estimated ten percent of all children becoming affected in some way. That’s nearly two million children in the United States alone suffering from problems in school, social environments, and at home because of a condition that can so easily and effectively be treated. These numbers indicate that there is at least one child in every classroom in America who struggles with ADHD or related learning difficulty.

Though ADHD is not technically considered a learning disability, and is labeled officially as “Other Health Impaired,” instead of “Specific Learning Disability,” it is possible to plead a case for special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This is due to research that indicates thirty to fifty percent of children who suffer ADHD also suffer from a separate learning disability, which can significantly impact a child’s ability to learn, focus, and retain important information imperative to his or her growth and development.

For a small, ill-fated percentage of patients who suffer ADHD, other conditions such as Tourette Syndrome, Oppositional Defiant Disorder (which can affect as many as half of all children with ADHD if they are not treated appropriately early in the course), Conduct Disorder, Anxiety, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, and more, can negatively impact a child’s life even further, discouraging progress and making life seem that much harder. If you feel like your child is struggling with ADHD or any other learning disability and you need assistance with finding a solution to the difficulties you now face through effective treatment, make an appointment at Oakland Child and Adolescent Neurology with Dr. Kheir M Al-Zouhayli, also know as “Dr. Al.”

Dr. Al is a healthcare specialist who has dedicated over twenty years of his life and career to studying and expanding his knowledge and experience in Pediatric Neurology, including ADHD and other learning difficulties. His passion is in helping families find effective treatment services that can make a difference in their lives, and this is what sets him apart from the rest. Any child who is not working at their potential at school should be brought in for an evaluation. Treatment should include a multidimensional approach. Medication alone is not always the answer. If medication is used, titration of the dose and fine tuning throughout the day, on an ongoing basis, is the key for optimal results. For exceptional treatment services provided by the leading specialist in Pediatric Neurology, make an appointment at Oakland Child and Adolescent Neurology with Dr. Kheir M Al-Zouhayli by calling 248.720.2470. Or for emergency after-hour services call 248.456.8507. We look past the diagnosis and explore treatments that allow patients understand their potential and manage their own progress and success, creating lasting results.