Suspicions

Do you remember when you first suspected that your child had ADHD? How old was he or she? What did you notice? Did both parents agree on the suspicion? Comment below and let me learn from you!

ADHD Facts

I suppose the first post on an ADHD page should provide some basic information about this disorder. While many people think that any child who is fidgety and inattentive can be classified as having ADHD, the reality is that there are specific criteria to meet this diagnosis. Per the CDC guidelines, a child with inattentive-type ADHD have SIX of the following features:

• Often fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, at work, or with other activities.

• Often has trouble holding attention on tasks or play activities.

• Often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly.

• Often does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores, or duties in the workplace (e.g., loses focus, side-tracked).

• Often has trouble organizing tasks and activities.

• Often avoids, dislikes, or is reluctant to do tasks that require mental effort over a long period of time (such as schoolwork or homework).

• Often loses things necessary for tasks and activities (e.g. school materials, pencils, books, tools, wallets, keys, paperwork, eyeglasses, mobile telephones).

• Is often easily distracted

• Is often forgetful in daily activities.

A child with hyperactive-predominant ADHD have five or six (depending on age) of the following:

• Often fidgets with or taps hands or feet, or squirms in seat.
• Often leaves seat in situations when remaining seated is expected.
• Often runs about or climbs in situations where it is not appropriate (adolescents or adults may be limited to feeling restless).
• Often unable to play or take part in leisure activities quietly.
• Is often "on the go" acting as if "driven by a motor".
• Often talks excessively.
• Often blurts out an answer before a question has been completed.
• Often has trouble waiting his/her turn.
• Often interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games)

There are other criteria that must be met, and a diagnosis should not be made based simply on a checklist.

Firas Rabi, MD

About Me

My name is Firas Rabi. I've been a pediatrician since I completed training in New York City in 2005. Since then, I've completed a fellowship in pediatric critical care and have served on regional as well as national committees to advance the field of pediatrics. My forte is teaching and for a long time I enjoyed teaching medical students, residents, and fellows how to recognize severe illnesses and the various approaches of treatment based on the underlying physiology. My interaction with patients was intense was relatively short-term and I soon longed to return to the roots of pediatrics - the care of children and being a part of their life as they grow up.

That's why I have recently turned my attention to practicing pediatrics and teaching parents and children how to maintain their health. The satisfaction of being a long-term part of a child's health, growth, and development is incomparable.

I've taken a particular interest in helping children with learning difficulties, particularly those with attention deficit [and hyperactivity] disorder (ADD and ADHD). The goal of this blog is to chronicle the new developments in the diagnosis and treatment of ADD and ADHD. It is not my intent to provide medical advice, because only your (or your child's doctor) should do so. However, I would like to hear the stories of parents who have raised a child with ADHD, and it would be great to hear stories from people with ADHD themselves.