Attention Deficit In Children

Not every restless or distracted child has ADD/ADHD, but persistent patterns of inattention and/or hyperactivity‑impulsivity across different settings are a warning sign

Symptoms of Inattentive ADD

You may notice your child:

• Has difficulty paying attention
• Is easily distracted
• Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
• Has trouble organizing schoolwork and activities
• Fails to finish tasks or homework
• Loses books, school materials, or other important items
• Avoids or dislikes tasks that require sustained effort (like homework or reading)
• Is forgetful in daily activities
• Makes careless mistakes in schoolwork or chores

These children are often quiet and daydreamy rather than disruptive, so their attention deficit can be overlooked for years.

Symptoms of Hyperactive‑Impulsive ADHD

If your child has hyperactivity and impulsivity along with attention problems (ADHD), you may notice that they:

• Fidget or squirm and have trouble staying seated
• Run around or climb at inappropriate times
• Have difficulty playing or doing quiet activities calmly
• Seems “on the go” as if driven by a motor
• Talk excessively
• Blurt out answers before questions are finished
• Have difficulty waiting for their turn
• Interrupt or intrude on others’ games, conversations, or activities

These behaviors can be very frustrating for parents and teachers, but they are often symptoms of a treatable attention disorder—not a sign that your child is “lazy” or “bad.”

If your child has several of these symptoms in more than one setting (home, school, activities), it is time to schedule an evaluation at our Sterling Heights attention and sleep clinic.

Sleep disorders are common in children with attention problems and can mimic or worsen ADD/ADHD symptoms. Conditions such as sleep apnea, delayed sleep phase, insomnia, restless legs syndrome, and periodic limb movements in sleep can all cause daytime inattention, hyperactivity, and mood issues.

Because we are both a sleep clinic and an attention disorders clinic, we are uniquely positioned in Michigan to:

• Determine whether your child’s attention problems are due to true ADHD, a sleep disorder, or both
• Avoid misdiagnosis when sleep problems are the primary cause of inattention and hyperactivity.
• Treat sleep disorders and attention deficit together for better school, behavior, and family outcomes

This ADHD‑plus‑sleep focus is a key niche advantage that most large health system clinics in Michigan do not offer.

Not all children who have trouble paying attention or sitting still have primary attention deficit. At the Sleep & Attention Disorders Institute, we look carefully for other conditions that can cause ADD/ADHD‑like symptoms, including:

• Sleep apnea (snoring, breathing pauses, poor‑quality sleep)
• Mood disorders (such as depression or anxiety)
• Learning disabilities
• Certain seizure disorders (especially generalized non‑convulsive or petit mal seizures)
• Head injuries

If another condition is causing your child’s attention problems, we will recommend appropriate treatment or referral, because treating the true cause is critical before starting ADHD medication.

At the Sleep & Attention Disorders Institute in Sterling Heights, Michigan, we use a combination of clinical evaluation and EEG‑based attention testing to diagnose ADD/ADHD.

Comprehensive Clinical Assessment

We start with:

• A detailed history of your child’s symptoms at home, school, and in social situations
• Standardized rating scales from parents and teachers, when available
• Review of school performance, behavior reports, and any prior evaluations

This helps us determine whether your child’s difficulties meet the criteria for attention‑deficit/hyperactivity disorder and whether additional testing is needed.

EEG‑Based Attention Testing (FDA‑Approved)

The FDA has approved the use of a brain‑wave (EEG‑based) test to help confirm attention deficit. At our clinic:

• The EEG test is painless and takes less than two hours.
• Small sensors are placed on the scalp but do not go through the skin.
• Your child performs simple attention tasks while we record brain activity.

During these tasks, the brain produces a specific wave shortly after rare or important sounds or letters, the P300 response. We create auditory and visual P300 brain maps, and research published by our team shows that these P300 patterns can help predict which medicine is most likely to work best for which patient.

The EEG (especially while breathing deeply and rapidly) also allows us to check for certain seizure disorders that can cause attention problems. After this thorough testing, we can:

• Confirm whether your child truly has primary attention deficit (ADD/ADHD)
• Identify or rule out other causes of attention problems
• Predict which medication is most likely to help your child

We do not automatically put every child on stimulant medication; we focus on accurate diagnosis and personalized treatment.

Once we confirm primary attention deficit, we design a treatment plan tailored to your child’s needs, medical history, and family preferences. Medicines can be very effective, but not all medicines work for every child, and not every child needs the same approach.

Stimulant Medications

Stimulant medicines work mainly by affecting dopamine and norepinephrine, key brain chemicals involved in attention and impulse control. Common stimulants include:

• Methylphenidate (Ritalin® and related medicines).
• Amphetamine‑based medicines (Adderall® and others).

Stimulants:

• Often work quickly.
• Can be very effective for about 50% of patients, help partially for about 20%, and do not work well for about 30%
• Can be habit‑forming, especially short‑acting amphetamines, and may be misused if not carefully monitored.

Because of these factors, we do not give the same stimulant to every child. We use EEG‑based brain mapping to help choose the right medicine and dose for your child and monitor closely for benefit and side effects.

Non‑Stimulant Medications

Some children do better—or more safely—with non‑stimulant options that also act on the same or related brain systems. These may include:

• Atomoxetine (Strattera®)
• Guanfacine (Intuniv®)
• Imipramine (used off‑label)
• Bupropion (used off‑label)

Atomoxetine and imipramine, for example, can work very well for roughly half of patients. We consider non‑stimulants, especially when stimulants are not tolerated, not effective, or not appropriate for a particular child.

Behavioral and Educational Support

Medication often improves attention first and may be enough for some children. When needed, we also recommend:

• Behavioral therapy and parent training
• Classroom accommodations and school‑based supports
• Structured routines and strategies to help with organization and homework completion

Combining medical treatment with behavioral and educational support often leads to the best long-term results at school, at home, and in social settings. Our clinical team is committed to helping families find safe, personalized treatment approaches that support children with attention deficit disorders.

The Sleep & Attention Disorders Institute in Sterling Heights, Michigan, is uniquely focused on both sleep disorders and attention disorders, a niche no large health system in Michigan currently owns. This allows us to see the full picture when attention problems and sleep problems overlap.

Families from Sterling Heights, Clinton Township, Warren, Macomb Township, Bloomfield Township, Royal Oak, Pontiac, Troy, Rochester Hills, and communities across Southeast Michigan choose us because:

• We offer comprehensive testing for ADD/ADHD, including an FDA‑approved EEG‑based assessment.
• We can identify when sleep disorders are causing or worsening attention problems.
• We use brain mapping to help select the most appropriate medication for each child.
• We do not automatically prescribe stimulants to every child.
• We have over 25 years of experience and are part of an accredited sleep clinic recognized in the Detroit area.

Our office is inviting and child‑friendly, and our staff is committed to diagnosing your child’s attention disorder and finding the treatment that works best for them.