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 Parents
are distressed when they get a note from school saying their child "won't
listen to teacher" or "causes trouble in class." One possible
reason for this kind of behavior is ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity
Disorder).
SYMPTOMS
The
most common behaviors of children with ADHD fall into three categories:
- INATTENTION
or short attention span. A child may give effortless, automatic attention
to activities and things he enjoys, but finds it hard to focus deliberate,
conscious attention on organizing and completing tasks or learning new
things. Inattention can be manifested by the child:
- HYPERACTIVITY
always seems to be in motion; dashes around or talks incessantly. Sitting
through a lesson can be an impossible task. Hyperactive children squirm
in their seats or roam around the room, wiggle their feet, or touch
everything where sitting or quiet behavior is expected. They may feel
intensely restless or they may do several things at once, bouncing from
one activity to the next.
 IMPULSIVENESS
unable to curb immediate reactions or to think before they act. They
may blurt out inappropriate comments, run into the street without
looking, or have a difficult time waiting. They may hit or grab things
from people when upset.
Some of the
above symptoms may be caused by conditions other than ADHD:
- physical health problems (e.g., an illness that causes physical pain,
intermittent hearing problems, seizures)
- emotional health problems (dealing with a death in the family, chronic
fear, anxiety, etc.)
- lack of developmental readiness for the work at hand (either work
is too hard or too easy, leaving the child frustrated or bored)
DIAGNOSIS
To
accurately diagnose ADHD in children, specialists must check if these
behaviors are:
- excessive (occurring more often than in other people of the
same age, especially before age seven);
- long term (continuous for at least six months)
- pervasive (occurring in several settings like school, home,
or work instead of just one specific place)
 The
health professional can rule out other possible causes for the child's
behavior by evaluating his school and medical records. He must analyze
the conditions of home and classroom environments of the child and how
his parents and teachers deal with him. He should also consult a specialist
for other possible factors such as emotional disorders, undetectable (petit
mal) seizures, poor vision or hearing, nutrition problems, etc. to ensure
an accurate diagnosis.
CAUSES
Since
no one really knows what causes ADHD, it does not help parents to look
backwards and blame themselves. It is far more important for the family
to move forward in finding ways to get the right help.
Research
is directed towards finding the relationship of ADHD to drug use during
pregnancy, toxins in the environment (found in dust, soil, flaking paint,
leaded gasoline), and genetics (showing that attention disorders tend
to run in families).
GETTING
HELP
Within
each specialty, individual doctors and mental health professionals differ
in their experience with ADHD. It is important to find someone with specific
training and experience in diagnosing and treating the disorder.
LIVING
WITH ADHD
Life
can be hard for children with ADHD. They often get into trouble at school
or become ostracized by classmates. They struggle each night to keep their
minds on doing homework, only to forget to bring it to school the next
day. As a result, scolding compromises most of the attention they get.
Siblings
and classmates of a child with ADHD are adversely affected too. They may
feel neglected as their parents or teachers try to cope with the hyperactive
child. They may resent their brother/sister who never finishes a chore
or a classmate who pushes them around.
It's
especially hard for parents of a child with ADHD. They feel powerless
and frustrated as the usual methods of discipline, such as reasoning,
don't work.
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