As many of us know, it’s sometimes hard to get our kids to sit still and concentrate. With all their energy, and general preference for having fun over everything else, being on the go is a normal part of childhood. But if it seems like your child is constantly distracted or hyperactive to the point of disrupting their daily lives, you may wonder if these are signs of attention deficit hyperactive disorder (ADHD) – a neurological condition that can affect one’s attention span, ability to sit still and self-control.

“It doesn't mean that you've been a bad parent if your child is diagnosed with ADHD,” says pediatrician Jessica Najarian-Bell. “It's just that your child is going to have to have a bigger toolbox to help them with different tasks in life.”

Dr. Jessica (as her patients call her) joins us on the For Health’s Sake podcast to discuss what to do if you think your child might have ADHD, as well as what to do if they’re diagnosed with it. Our conversation covers a range of topics, including:

• How ADHD is diagnosed
• Anxiety and other conditions that can look like ADHD
• Medications and other treatments for ADHD
• How parents can help kids with ADHD

Help your child succeed

As Dr. Jessica points out, all kids are unique, and you know your child best. Once you have a diagnosis and an expert’s recommendations, you’ll play a large part in determining which treatments and strategies are most effective for your child. But it all starts with that first visit to their pediatrician.