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If you see your child run around the house at odd times and without any prompting, you may well be concerned. Why is my son so active? And studies show that boys are far more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than are girls.
When your child’s teacher tells you the young student can’t concentrate and is easily distracted, again as the parent you may well have cause to worry. Hyperactivity and the failure to concentrate are classic symptoms of what is known as Attention-Deficit Hyper-Activity Disorder.
One important point to remember is that every child at some stage has the symptoms of ADHD but this doesn’t mean they definitely have this condition. All children are distracted at some times or are hyper active as well. But to be diagnosed as having ADHD, the child must have shown the symptoms for quite some time such as six months.
We can divide ADHD broadly into two areas such as inattention and hyper activity. Each area has its own set of symptoms as set out below. It is not a complete list but covers most of the areas you would expect to see in a child with ADHD.
- Inattention
- Is easily distracted
- Refuses difficult tasks
- Seems forgetful
- Is not well organized
- Makes silly mistakes
- Finds it hard to concentrate
- Hyper Activity
- Is busy with running or climbing at inappropriate times
- Never seems to switch off
- Is not a good student in class
- Rarely if ever plays quietly
- Often interrupts other children even adults
- Is often seen to fidget or squirm
- Non-stop talker
- Gives the answer before the question has been finished
Some children have ADHD is one area and some have aspects of both areas. Most children find that one area may dominate at first but then aspects of the other area start to be part of their life. It is pretty rare for ADHD symptoms to emerge fully-grown over night. One or two symptoms may appear in small episodes and the spread of the characteristics is gradual and can take place over several months.
One of the best results a parent can hear is that their child has been diagnosed with ADHD. I say ‘best results’ because many parents worry there could be something seriously wrong with their child such as an overactive thyroid or a hearing loss. Why are they behind their peers in the classroom? Is there a serious mental or physical problem with their child? If the diagnosis is ADHD then there are clear and generally effective treatments for the condition. In the vast majority of cases the treatment is successful and the ADHD child grows into a healthy and successful adult.
Summary
If the symptoms persist consult your family doctor. He or she will probably refer you to a specialist and then, with consultation between parents and teachers, a diagnosis will be made. And remember ADHD is highly treatable.
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