ADHD or Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, is a psychological disorder which starts to appear in early childhood and continue to adulthood. People with ADHD find it difficult to control their spontaneous physical or speech responses and get easily distracted.
While the signs of ADHD can be observed in children at the age of seven, many times it becomes difficult to distinguish them from the normal child behaviour. Thus, a confirmed diagnosis of ADHD requires six months of careful observation by a specialist as well as parents.
A parent can suspect ADHD in his/her child if the below symptoms are present for around six months. However, it is important to remember that a child with ADHD can only be inattentive, or only hyperactive, or both.
Symptoms of inattention in a child:- Not able to follow detailed instruction.
- Exhibit easily avoidable mistakes.
- Get distracted with smallest event and not able to focus.
- Cannot remember things.
- Not able to finish schoolwork or remain organized.
- Easily loses interest in tasks and show no commitment to finish work.
- Often misplace his/her belongings like books and toys.
- Cannot sit at a place quietly and abruptly leaves his/her seat.
- Extremely talkative and do not allow others to speak.
- Play around constantly and squirms.
- Can have a short temper and can become violent with peers.
These signs and symptoms of ADHD can be observed in many other medical conditions also. It is important to rule out the following in your child to confirm ADHD.
- Learning disability.
- Psychological disorder like anxiety, depression, and bipolar disorder.
- Diseases like epilepsy, sleep disorder, and thyroid imbalance.
ADHD can be very well treated with a combination of medical therapy and behavioural therapy, under the supervision of specialist and with active cooperation from parents.
