ADHD - does your child have it?

ADHD, or attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, is characterized by signs of inappropriate inattention and impulsivity. The three main categories recognized by the American Psychiatric Association are: 1)predominantly inattentive type, 2)predominantly hyperactive/impulsive type, and 3)combined type, which is the most common. With the inattentive type, the problem may not be evident, as the child may be fairly calm and not overactive. But he or she may still have the typical symptoms of short attention span, distractibility and inability to focus on tasks. Thus the child may have the same challenges at school and be unable to function well in that environment. Since children with this problem often go untreated, they may experience failure all through school, even though they may be trying their best. They may simply conclude that they are stupid and unable to learn. A warning sign to the parent is that the child may often seem to be ignoring you, or, to have forgotten what you told them to do only a few minutes before. When you ask them "what did I just tell you to do?" they may sincerely respond "what do you mean?", or, "I guess I didn't hear you".

The second two types are typically quite evident due to the children's tendency to get into trouble on a daily basis. This type of child often acts before thinking, calls out or is often out of his seat, runs around as if "running like a motor", fidgets excessively, and may need nearly constant supervision. These children often are referred for special attention by their teachers as soon as they begin school. The onset of their behavioral symptoms may be much earlier, though (often by 3 years of age). Parents are often uncertain if their child has ADHD. The child may simply be displaying a tendency to be overactive. A good hint here is that the child without ADHD will not have the haphazard and poorly organized quality typical of the child with ADHD.

It is important that we, as parents, take the time to carefully observe our children and see if their behavior falls within the normal range of overactivity, or, may fall into the range of ADHD. If treatment is sought out at an early age, many of the resulting problems of low self-esteem, frequent failure in school, ostracism by the other kids at school, and difficulty making or keeping friends can be minimized. It is thus a good idea to err on the side of caution and speak to your pediatrician about the behavior you have observed. It is often helpful to speak to your child's pre-school teacher, or those working with your child in a daycare setting. Their observations can help you decide if it is time to look into the issue further.

If you desire to get additional information, or, if your child has been diagnosed with ADHD: CLICK HERE