Understanding ADHD in Children
January 15th, 2010Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a sickness commonly referred to as ADHD. It is a pretty common condition among children. It has been found out that between 3% and 5% of children are suffering from this disorder. About 8% to 10% of all the reported cases are children going to school. There are some adults who also suffer from ADHD. It is therefore necessary diagnosing ADHD in children so that it could be handled properly.
Symptoms of ADHD in Children
The ADHD symptoms of this disorder can show in three main forms. These are inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.
Inattention
These are signs that show that the child is not paying attention to whatever is going on around her/him. They may not pay attention to details involved in whatever is being done. They will appear not to be listening when you are talking to them. They are distracted and cannot follow instructions given concerning simple task. They tend to forget where they left things they need for completing the tasks they are undertaking.
Hyperactivity symptoms
These are symptoms related to movement. Children with ADHD are always fidgeting and squirming. They cannot sit for a long time; they will get up several times in class. They are always running about and climbing dangerously.
Impulsivity symptoms
Children showing impulsivity will show it in many impulsive behaviors. They will start answering a question before it is finished; they will interrupt others unnecessarily, and are in a hurry to ask questions when an issue is already being explained. Such children find it difficult to wait for their turn to do what they want to do.
Gender and ADHD in children
Boys get more often diagnosed with ADHD than boys. This is because the main symptom that makes people think of the disorder is hyperactivity which is more common in boys than in girls. Girls show the other symptoms of the disorder rather than hyperactivity. But it is believed that the intensity of the symptoms is higher in girls than in boys.
Treatment of ADHD in children
There is no known cure of ADHD. However, there are many ways of treating or managing the disease. There are certain medications that could be prescribed to help manage the disorder. These are not over-the-counter medications. There are stimulants and non-stimulants.
In addition, there are various forms of therapies that can be used to manage the disorder. There are psychosocial therapies and psychotherapies.
Attention building activities like building with blocks, puzzles and various games could be used to help children to concentrate on what they are doing. Telling children stories and reading to them are other ways of managing the condition in children.
There are suggestions that diet could also help in reducing the symptoms of the disorder in children. Foods containing a lot of sugar are not recommended for children with ADHD. This is because sugar can cause them to become more active as it enters the blood stream fast and causes a boost in adrenaline production.