An Overview of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Children
Symptoms
Signs of inattention include:
- Becoming easily distracted, and jumping from activity to activity.
- Becoming bored with a task quickly.
- Difficulty focusing attention or completing a single task or activity.
- Trouble completing or turning in homework assignments.
- Losing things such as school supplies or toys.
- Not listening or paying attention when spoken to.
- Daydreaming or wandering with lack of motivation.
- Difficulty processing information quickly.
- Struggling to follow directions.
Signs of hyperactivity include:
- Fidgeting and squirming, having trouble sitting still.
- Non-stop talking.
- Touching or playing with everything.
- Difficulty doing quiet tasks or activities.
Signs of impulsivity include:
- Impatience.
- Acting without regard for consequences, blurting things out.
- Difficulty taking turns, waiting or sharing.
- Interrupting others.
Causes
There are several factors believed to contribute to ADHD:
- Genetics. Research shows that genes may be a large contributor to ADHD. ADHD often runs in families and some trends in specific brain areas that contribute to attention.
- Environmental factors. Studies show a link between cigarette smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy and children who have ADHD. Exposure to lead as a child has also been shown to increase the likelihood of ADHD in children.
Diagnosis
There is no one single test that can diagnose a child with ADHD, so meet with a doctor or mental health professional to gather all the necessary information to make a diagnosis. The goal is to rule out any outside causes for symptoms, such as environmental changes, difficulty in school, medical problems and ensure that a child is otherwise healthy.
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How to help Some one with ADHD?
*** Educate Yourself - The most important part of understanding someone with ADHD is educating yourself about what the condition means.
***Help Them Find Treatment - One of the hardest things about an ADHD diagnosis is not knowing where or how to find help.
***Listen to Your Loved One - When you're wondering how to support someone with ADHD, it's critical to understand how important simply listening and communicating is.
***Communicate with Your Loved One - While it's important to listen to your loved ones about their concerns, it's equally crucial to be comfortable learning to talk to them about your concerns, too.
***Focus on Strengths to Build Self - confidence - Most people with ADHD are acutely aware of their weaknesses because teachers, friends, and family members have shared their frustrations about them for years.
***Help Them with a Routine - People with ADHD can really thrive with a routine (and suffer without one!). It's also common for them to struggle with sudden changes.
***Take Care of Yourself - As any caregiver will tell you, you can't take care of anyone else if you aren't taking good care of yourself.
***ADHD Treatment- Medicine There are 2 main groups of medications for ADHD — stimulants and non-stimulants. Therapy - Therapy is a fantastic addition to medication for the treatment of ADHD for both an adult and a young person.
Signs of inattention include:
** Becoming easily distracted, and jumping from activity to activity.
** Becoming bored with a task quickly.
** Difficulty focusing attention or completing a single task or activity.
** Trouble completing or turning in homework assignments.
** Losing things such as school supplies or toys.
** Not listening or paying attention when spoken to.
** Daydreaming or wandering with lack of motivation.
** Difficulty processing information quickly.
** Struggling to follow directions.
