If your child doesn’t seem to be out of the “I want it now” stage and doesn’t seem to have as much self-control as they should, they may have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This can cause them to behave very compulsively, get into trouble at school and at home, and even with their peers. In order to help a child with ADHD, it is necessary to understand what this disorder is all about.
What is ADHD?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), also known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD), is a disorder that usually appears in early childhood, more commonly in boys. ADHD makes it difficult for children to inhibit their automatic reactions, including sitting still, talking, and paying attention. This can lead to them interrupting conversations, blurting out inappropriate comments, not following instructions, and generally being disruptive. Instead, they may become very quiet and just sit, staring into space.
There are three types of ADHD in children:
1. Inattentive type – This was formerly known as ADD because children with this disorder are not hyperactive or disruptive, which often causes their symptoms to go unnoticed. They are disorganized, make careless mistakes, miss homework, cannot stay focused for any length of time, and have difficulty following instructions.
2. Hyperactive/Impulsive – Children with this type of ADHD display impulsive and hyperactive behaviors but usually don’t have much trouble paying attention. They seem forced to move around constantly, interrupt others, be aggressive in line, and blurt out whatever comes to mind.
3. Combined (inattentive/hyperactive/impulsive) – This is the most common type of ADHD, and children often exhibit hyperactivity, impulsivity, and inattention.
Some children with ADHD sit quietly and dream; others are too focused on one task and have difficulty shifting their attention to another; some have erratic movements that bounce off the walls and are destructive, while Some are overly impulsive but only slightly inattentive.
Signs and symptoms of ADD/ADHD
Sometimes it’s difficult to differentiate between “normal” child behavior and attention deficit disorder. Just because your child is a little irritable, sometimes hyperactive, sometimes impulsive, or occasionally doesn’t do their homework, doesn’t mean they have ADHD.
However, if your child exhibits a lot of ADHD behaviors at school and at home over a period of time, it may be time to seek professional advice.
Some symptoms to watch out for are:
Symptoms of inattention in children
- make careless mistakes
- lack of attention to detail
- Trouble concentrating and easily distracted
- Acting like you don’t listen when you speak
- Difficulty remembering facts and following instructions
- Getting bored of a task before it’s complete
- Difficulty organizing, planning anything in advance, completing projects
- Frequently misplacing or losing toys, books, homework, or other items
ADHD symptoms in children
- grumpy or ill-tempered
- Always on the go, as if driven by a constant engine or motor
- Persistent squirming or restlessness
- Talk too much
- Unable to relax or play quietly
- Continuous exercise, running, or dangerous climbing
- Inability to sit quietly in a seat where the environment demands it, such as a classroom or church
Symptoms of impulsivity in children
- act without thinking
- Saying inappropriate things at inappropriate times
- Frequently interrupts others
- Unable to wait his or her turn in a queue or game
- In class, I keep blurting out the answers before I have finished answering the questions, or before being called on.
- Constantly interrupting and intruding into other people’s games or conversations
- Inability to control emotions, which may lead to tantrums, neediness, moodiness, disrespect, or angry outbursts
- Often guessing at answers instead of taking the time to solve problems
How is ADHD diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose ADHD only if a child regularly exhibits 6 or more specific symptoms in more than one environment over a period of 6 months or longer. Doctors will use a specific set of guidelines or criteria established by the American Academy of Pediatrics to make a diagnosis, since there is no test for ADHD.
Diagnosing ADHD in children is difficult because preschoolers display behaviors that often change as they age. The process of diagnosing ADHD involves gathering information from the child, parents, caregivers, and teachers, and comparing the child’s behavior to that of peers.
before being accurate ADHD diagnosis It can be made that a mental health professional will need to do some research and testing to make sure that some other possibility is not the cause of your child’s behavior, such as:
- Traumatic or major life events such as divorce, death of a family member, being bullied, or moving to another area.
- Psychological disorders such as anxiety, depression, or bipolar disorder.
- Medical conditions such as neurological disorders, undetected seizures or epilepsy, thyroid problems, or sleep disorders.
- Behavioral disorders, such as oppositional defiant disorder or conduct disorder.
- Learning disabilities or problems with language, reading, writing or motor skills.
Positive effects of ADHD on children
Although ADHD can be very challenging, it is not all doom and gloom as the disorder also has many positive characteristics:
- Energy and drives – Children with ADHD work and play hard when they are motivated, and they strive to succeed, especially in interactive or hands-on activities.
- flexibility – Rather than choosing just one option, children with ADHD consider multiple options, which means they are more open to different ideas.
- creativity – Children with ADHD can be very imaginative and creative. They may be easily distracted, but on the other hand, they often see things that others miss, so a child who loves to daydream may well become the next creative artist or master problem solver. Because they have ten different thoughts at the same time, they can be a source of ideas.
- spontaneity and enthusiasm – Children with ADHD don’t get bored. They tend to have lively personalities and are interested in many different things, which means they can be fun to be around when they’re not annoying you.
ADHD Treatments and Remedies
any type of foundation ADHD treatment Children and families are being educated about ADHD. Treatment may include medication, psychological intervention, and/or special education programs.
Treating ADHD with Medication
Treating ADHD with medication often proves to be very effective:
- Treatment often includes a class of drugs called stimulants or psychostimulants, including drugs such as Quillvant XR, Ritalin, Daytrana, Concerta and Adderall. According to a study conducted by an Austin outpatient rehab center, these medications can help children focus and eliminate distractions.
- Non-stimulant medications such as Kapvay, Strattera and Intuniv are also used to treat ADHD in children.
- These medications are available in short-acting or immediate-release, intermediate-acting, and long-acting forms, and it can take a while for your doctor to find the right medication, dose, and schedule for an individual.
- Some ADHD medications do have side effects, but these usually occur early in treatment and are short-lived and mild. There are supplements available, such as microdoses of mushrooms, that will help kids with ADHD stay calm and relaxed.
- As an alternative medicine, more and more parents are using the best CBD oil to treat the symptoms of ADHD.
Treating ADHD through behavioral therapy
Behavioral treatments for ADHD that may prove very beneficial include:
- Modifying the environment by clearly communicating expectations for children with ADHD, creating structure, and introducing routines will promote more successful social interactions.
- Social skills training helps children with ADHD learn behaviors that allow them to develop and maintain social relationships.
- Counseling is a relatively new area of ADHD treatment, but as long as a child is old enough, mature enough, and motivated, counseling can help them do better in all areas of life. Speech therapy is also recommended when your child needs help with pronunciation, fluency, or overall communication skills. If you are interested in pediatric speech and language therapy, you can visit this website.
Parenting skills training and support groups are also an integral part of treating a child with ADHD, as is working with your family doctor to determine the right treatment or combination of treatments for your child.
Alternative treatments for ADHD
Today, many people prefer alternative therapies to the prescription drugs and standard behavioral therapies commonly used to treat ADHD, including interactive metronome training, dietary interventions, kinesiology or neurotissue techniques, and neurofeedback, to name a few.
dietary intervention – Although some people believe that sugar causes ADHD, there is no medical evidence that a diet high in sugar causes ADHD. Dietary interventions include adding more fiber to children’s diets through oatmeal, whole grains, berries and other fruits to help control blood sugar levels and keep them balanced. Some parents try elimination diets to find any factors that may be increasing ADHD, but this can be difficult and stressful for both the child and the parent, and most studies refute this theory.
Interactive Metronome Training – Interactive metronome training involves children listening to a computerized rhythmic beat that they must imitate by tapping with their hands or feet. Proponents of this approach believe that interactive metronome training can teach children with ADHD to filter out distractions and focus for longer periods of time.
Chiropractic, kinesiology, neurotissue technology – Chiropractors have been using various techniques to treat ADHD for years, and despite the skepticism of many ADHD doctors who do not support the use of chiropractic, many people have been helped.
There are many other treatments for ADHD, including vitamin and supplement therapy; it will be up to you and your child’s doctor to decide which form to use ADHD treatment What’s best for your child.
