And trauma can be overlooked and left untreated when kids are misdiagnosed with ADHD.Ĭhildren with ADHD can be fidgety (always getting out of their seats), distracted (not paying attention to the teacher), and disruptive in class. When kids are struggling with behavior and attention issues, the first explanation that comes to mind is often ADHD (attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder).īut exposure to trauma can also cause symptoms that look like ADHD. If that happens, a clinician may want to switch them to a non-stimulant medication. If a child who has experienced trauma is treated with stimulant medication for ADHD, it can increase their trauma-related anxiety, making them more on edge. And they are often treated as behavior problems, disciplined with suspension, which makes their symptoms worse. When the effects of trauma aren’t recognized, kids don’t get the help they need to heal. And children with ADHD who experience trauma are more likely to develop PTSD than other kids, so should be monitored especially closely But kids can also have both ADHD and trauma. These behaviors can all look like symptoms of ADHD, and trauma may be overlooked by a clinician who’s in a hurry, or reluctant to ask parents whether a child has had a traumatic experience. They may also have intrusive thoughts about traumatic events they’ve experienced, and that can make kids look spacey and distracted. ![]() They may see people as out to get them, so are prone to lashing out. They are unusually sensitive to signs of danger or threat, which can cause them to be jumpy and unable to settle down. Kids who have had a traumatic experience – or repeated exposure to violence or abuse – do some of the same things. ![]() ![]() And trauma is often overlooked when kids are misdiagnosed with ADHD.Ĭhildren with ADHD can be fidgety (always getting out of their seats), distracted (not paying attention to the teacher), and disruptive in class. But exposure to trauma can also cause symptoms that look like ADHD. When kids have behavior and attention issues in school, the first explanation that comes to mind is often ADHD.
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