What is ADHD in Children?

ADHD, which is usually detectable during early childhood, exhibits itself as hyperactivity, too much energy, inattentiveness, and impulsiveness. ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. While it doesn’t have a specific treatment that can make the condition go away, with the correct approach, you can manage symptoms. Often, as the child grows up, the tendencies of hyperactivity fade away too.

ADHD is a neurodevelopmental disorder, and the intensity of it can vary from child to child. Also, it emerges in childhood between the ages of five and twelve..

It’s normal for children to occasionally become excitable, and they may seem hyperstimulated once in a while. However, if such a behavioral pattern seems consistent and/or frequent, it is something to pay attention to. Here are some of the characteristics of children with ADHD.

If, as a parent or a guardian, you notice one of these, do get in touch with a children’s psychology expert to gauge and manage the disorder through ADHD assessment.

ADHD has been apparent in male children more than in girls. However, girls also develop ADHD, but the condition is more apparent through a lack of focus, forgetfulness, and disorganization.

There are three main types of ADHD; however, you can see a lot of overlapping of symptoms in patients. Oftentimes, ADHD shows comorbidity with anxiety and/or depression in childhood and adult life.

Inability to maintain focus becomes the core symptom here, as hyperactivity or restless behavior takes a backseat.

• • Not paying attention
  • Hyperactive
  • Impulsive
  • Trouble staying focused on tasks
  • Fail to follow through on instructions
  • Inability to organize
  • Making careless mistakes (at school/home)

Impulsive and easily triggered behavioral patterns are more apparent in this. Remaining calm becomes a struggle for these kids.

• • Fidgeting
  • Struggle to stay seated
  • Run around or climb where it’s not safe
  • Talks excessively

Children with combined ADHD display both inattentive and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. This is the most common type in children, and symptoms can change over time.

Often, it gets tricky to get an accurate diagnosis if one has ADHD, especially for adults with ADHD. The symptoms sometimes overlap with other conditions such as anxiety and mood issues, and since one might have lived with ADHD for so long, disorders with comorbidity might take place too

Hyperactivity in adults often manifests as internal restlessness or fidgeting rather than overt physical movement, and inattentive symptoms might impact work or daily responsibilities more than schoolwork. Additionally, adults aged 17 and over require fewer symptoms to get diagnosed with ADHD.

To be able to get on-point and effective diagnosis and treatment, get in touch with the registered mental health professional near you. Whether it’s a child or an adult, going through multiple sessions of therapy will be essential, so patience will be absolutely required till you see positive results.

Genetic reasons, if we elaborate more, if one or both parents have neurodivergent tendencies or a sibling has such a condition, it is likely to get diagnosed with ADHD. Also, a mother’s exposure to environmental toxins such as lead during pregnancy period is a strong risk factor for ADHD.

If one or both parents have a long history of consuming recreational drugs, smoking, alcohol, or tobacco is also something that should be avoided. If during pregnancy parents consume any of these, the chances of ADHD rise. Moreover, premature births also pose a threat when it comes to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

ADHD management is individualized and often combines several approaches for best results. In case of ADHD, regardless of the intensity, these factors can play a key role.