Know About ADHD In Children

A person with ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder finds it difficult to sit still, focus or pay attention. Starting from childhood they have difficulty in focusing on some tasks and subjects. They may get into trouble because they are impulsive nature. Since ADHD covers different things like attention, activity and impulsiveness, it may show up in different ways in different people.

Causes of ADHD:

Though it is difficult to pinpoint the exact cause of ADHD, researchers believe it could be genetic and also inherited in most cases. Lot of study is going on regarding the genes that cause ADHD, with some believing that it was most predominant in children who are born prematurely. Doctors are of the opinion that certain parts of the brain is involved in ADHD, with the lower amount of brain chemicals or neurotransmitters being thought to be one of the main causes of ADHD.

Some of the signs that children having ADHD portray are:

a) Children with this disorder may find it difficult to pay attention or stay focused on a task or activity. It is also found that they have trouble focusing on instructions and following them through. It may seem normal, as all of us experience these difficulties though it is not true. ADHD affects their emotions and how well they do in school or other areas of their lives.

 
b) ADHD children may have problems with finishing assignments at school and at home as they are unable to focus on one activity and may jump from one activity to another. Being distracted even in fun activities they may lose things and forget things like homework.  

c) These children may have problems in paying attention to details and have a tendency to make careless mistakes. ADHD can interfere so much with a person's ability to study and learn that teachers and doctors might consider it a learning disorder.

d) They feel generally restless, may talk a lot and may experience difficulty in doing things quietly.

e) Such children may have trouble in organizing activities and tasks.

f) ADHD children may experience difficulty waiting for their turn and may be found to be interrupting and intruding on others. They may also blurt answers to questions that are not completed.

g) Children with this disorder may have difficulty in sitting still and may fidget ones feet and hands.

h) It is also to be noted that those with ADHD may have other problems like depression, anxiety and learning disability. They are also likely to smoke and use drugs. Prompt treatment could help in the elimination of these problems.

i) Certain problems of ADHD like hyperactivity may ease when a child grows up, but it is quite likely that the problems of organization and attention continue to exist.   

Consult your doctor if you suspect your child has ADHD; it is best diagnosed based on history, interviews, special evaluations and tests for vision, hearing and learning. Your doctor may refer you to a specialist, a psychologist or psychiatrist who may design multimodal approach treatment plan that includes medicine, therapy, and making changes at school to meet specific learning needs to suit your child’s needs.