| Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder also known as | | | | They are often distracted, miss important details forget |
| Attention deficit Disorder (ADD) or ADHD is a | | | | things and keep on switching between tasks and |
| common behavioural disorder that affects an | | | | activities. They cannot complete any single task and |
| estimated 8% to 10% of school-age children. ADHD is | | | | have difficulty in focussing on a task beyond few |
| a medical condition that affects how well someone | | | | minutes.o They also have organisational problems |
| can sit still, focus, and pay attention. ADHD is a | | | | (cannot organise themselves and their tasks), are |
| condition involving a broad array of behaviours - | | | | often confused and have difficulty in learning new |
| attention, activity, and impulsivity. It can affect how kids | | | | skills.o They often lose their things especially those that |
| interact and function socially, academically, and at | | | | are needed to complete their activities.o They do not |
| home and can cause children to be aggressive and | | | | listen and are constantly in their own world, |
| disruptive, making things uncomfortable and unpleasant | | | | daydreaming and moving slowly. Hence they cannot |
| for other children in the home. ADHD is a condition that | | | | follow instructions or process information easily and |
| becomes apparent in some children in the preschool | | | | accurately. |
| and early school years. However, it is a syndrome and | | | | Children with ADHD syndrome show a combination of |
| oppression, not a concrete medical condition and is | | | | above symptoms. As a result of these symptoms |
| more common in males than females. | | | | these children often lack confidence and show signs |
| ADHD causes children to have problems with | | | | of excessive worry, fear, or panic leading to physical |
| concentrating, reading and behaviour, leading to | | | | symptoms such as a racing heart, sweating, stomach |
| aggression, poor social skills and educational failings. | | | | pains, and diarrhoea. Some symptoms include limited |
| ADHD cases involving kids are on the rise; hence it is | | | | social skills, school performance issues, needing extra |
| necessary to understand the causes and symptoms | | | | time to learn, irritability, inability to concentrate, impaired |
| of ADHD so that you can take action early on. | | | | cognitive skills and a short attention span. |
| Before understanding the symptoms of ADHD let us | | | | It is necessary to understand that ADHD is not caused |
| understand what are the types of ADHD? There are | | | | by poor parenting and its biological origins are not yet |
| 3 subtypes of ADHD:o Predominantly | | | | clearly understood. Hence there is no single cause of |
| hyperactive-impulsive - these are kids that are more | | | | ADHD and it can be a combination of various genetic |
| hyperactive and have less inattention problems.o | | | | and environmental factors that can cause ADHD. |
| Predominantly inattentive - these are kids who are less | | | | Some of the common reasons attributed to ADHD |
| hyperactive or impulsive but have inattention problem.o | | | | are: |
| Combined - these are children who have both | | | | Genetic: There are several studies that show that |
| hyperactivity and inattention problems. | | | | ADHD runs in the family and some children with ADHD |
| It is necessary to understand that there are treatments | | | | have thinner brain tissue. |
| available that can relieve many of the disorder's | | | | Environment and Life Experiences: High usage of |
| symptoms, but there is no cure. With treatment, most | | | | alcohol or cigarettes during pregnancy, premature birth |
| people with ADHD can be successful in school and | | | | or exposure to lead leads to ADHD. Kids who have |
| lead productive lives. | | | | experienced a divorce, a move, an illness, constant |
| Let us understand the symptoms of ADHD and how | | | | change of school due to parent jobs, or other |
| you can recognise that your child is suffering from this | | | | significant life event may suddenly begin to act out or |
| syndrome so that you can act fast. In order to be | | | | become forgetful. Some studies have also shown that |
| diagnosed of ADHD your child should display some of | | | | watching excessive television as a child can cause |
| the behaviours listed under each of the three ADHD | | | | future attention problems. |
| sub types before age of 7 for a period of at least 6 | | | | Brain injuries or medical/mental condition: Children who |
| months. Following are the common symptoms you | | | | have suffered a brain injury or have undetected |
| need to be aware of: | | | | seizures may show some behaviour similar to those of |
| Children who have symptoms of predominantly | | | | ADHD. Undetected vision and hearing problems, |
| hyperactive impulsive behaviours would typically exhibit | | | | infection in ears can also cause attention deficit. Finally |
| following behaviours:o Constant fidgeting and moving in | | | | if the child is suffering from any psychiatric problems |
| their seats; cannot sit still on their desk in school or on | | | | like anxiety or depression, then they are more likely to |
| dinner table.o Unnecessary and excessive talkingo | | | | have ADHD syndrome. |
| Want to touch and play with everything that they can | | | | Food additives: There are some researches done |
| seeo They constantly need to be doing things and are | | | | recently, that show that consumption of certain food |
| in motion all the time; but they can never complete a | | | | additives like artificial colours or preservatives can |
| task or activity in hand. They keep on jumping | | | | increase hyperactivity in children. |
| between tasks, wanting to do everything.o They are | | | | No single test can diagnose a child as having ADHD |
| very impatient; they cannot wait for their turn and are | | | | and it is necessary to speak to the child's paediatrician. |
| ready to break rules all the time.o They often don't | | | | The good news is that with proper treatment, kids with |
| think before talking, they show their emotions and have | | | | ADHD can learn to successfully live with and manage |
| no regard for consequences of their behaviouro They | | | | their symptoms. Although it can be challenging to raise |
| do not listen and often interrupt conversations or | | | | kids with ADHD, it's important to remember they aren't |
| others' activities. | | | | "bad," "acting out," or being difficult on purpose. And |
| Children who have symptoms of predominantly | | | | they have difficulty controlling their behaviour without |
| inattention would typically exhibit following behaviours:o | | | | medication or behavioural therapy. |