Often times, a child’s hyperactivity is confused with sugar. Sugar might be one of the causes of a child’s hyperactivity but it is not “THE CAUSE”. Parents, teachers and significant others need to be careful when a child starts showing excess of activity and bouts of inattentiveness. For, the real cause can be a psychological disorder- ADHD!

ADHD

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) as the word suggests, is a disorder where a person has a short attention-span, is hyperactive and often gets impulsive. ADHD in earlier days was commonly known as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).

ADHD in Kids

Signs and Symptoms:

ADHD is generally diagnosed in the developmental years of a child, specifically 7 to 12 years of age. (In some cases it might continue in the adulthood as well.) Kids with ADHD are generally inattentive, impulsive and hyperactive in their behavior pattern, causing problems at home, school, and in relationships.

How can you diagnose that your child is suffering from ADHD?

25 Signs that your kid has ADHD

1. Low school grades
2. Constant complaints from school and other parents
3. Difficulty in learning new things
4. Involvement of the child in many activities simultaneously
5. Inability to be seated in one place for a longer duration
6. Failure in completing one task/homework at a time
7. Getting bored easily, unless doing an enjoyable task
8. Excessive talkativeness
9. Temper Tantrums and frequent Mood Swings
10. Inability to concentrate
11. Missing out details of certain events
12. Always on the move
13. Forgetfulness
14. Living in one’s own world
15. Impatient
16. Not speaking the words clearly
17. Often interrupts the conversations
18. Poor handwriting
19. Helplessness in managing anger and other emotions
20. Start answering even before listening to the complete question
21. Act without thinking
22. Getting confused
23. Difficulty in following instructions
24. Not paying attention to whatever is spoken
25. Shifting attention from one task to another

Causes of ADHD:

ADHD can be due to genetic reasons, due to the environment provided to the child or it can be a combination of both.

Note: Recent studies have shown that present day’s electronic gadgets are playing a significant role in causing ADHD!

Fact: Boys are diagnosed with ADHD THREE times more than Girls!

Treatment of ADHD:

They say that it is difficult to completely treat ADHD. Nevertheless, medicine and behaviour therapies have proved successful in treating ADHD!

Here are 6 Golden Rules for the Parents

Your patience and love is all that’s needed.     

 1.    Make a Schedule

Daily schedule and following the same routine limits the scope of distraction in your child. Avoid changes, but if they are to come, write them down on the schedule much in advance so that the child is prepared for the same. Collaborate with the school teachers and tally the home-works done.

2.    Be Systematic

Be as much systematic as possible. Keep things in their proper places. If possible, try keeping the same maids, be in the same house, and do not change places of things your child usually uses. Facilitate your child rather than reinforcing his diverted behaviour. Stable environment helps building a sense of security and consistency in your child’s behaviour.

3.    Less of Gadgets

Give him less electronic items. Ensure that your child does not watch TV or surf the net for more than 2 hours. Keep away your smart phones from him. Don’t let him lose real feelings in the sensations of those play-stations. Help him engage in hobbies like reading, painting, or gardening. They serve to instill patience and stability.

 4.    Be Integrated

Do what you say and be consistent. The child looks for consistent rules. Keep them unchangeable and ask him to follow the same. Do not give him mixed messages.

5.    Constant Support

Assist your child in his hardships. Make your family a full-functional family where each one is ready to help each other specially the child suffering with ADHD. Push wherever required, but be affectionate while you do so. Show him how he can deal with this problem.

6.    Reinforce

Lastly, understand that it is not your child’s mistake if he has the disorder and behaves differently. Stop criticizing or getting irritated even if he asks same things all over again. Be patient, kind and learn to cooperate with your child in his problem. Praise him and motivate him whenever he does something good. Plan out a token economy and give away goodies whenever your kid is successful.

About the author:

Ms. Kavita Bhargava is the Founder and Director of the NGO With Care. Her programs are especially oriented for Palliative Care in Cancer and HIV which comprise of Free Home Care Services to the terminally-ill patients. She works as a counselor and is a lifetime member of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology.