5 Symptoms of ADHD in Children
ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder can do a lot of damage to kids while growing up and it can even affect them in adulthood as well. Its symptoms become visible during childhood and it requires special treatment procedures to help the child overcome limitations. It is not proper to associate ADHD with strictly all learning difficulties. This is because learning is just one aspect that ADHD can affect. It is not observable only in the classroom because parents and those living around the kids can observe the symptoms as well.
5.29% of people around the world have ADHD and a lot needs to be done to support them. Leaving children with ADHD untreated implies, allowing them to face many challenges both at home and at school. To give your child the best care parents must be observant get a psychiatrist involved if they observe any of the following in kids from ages 2 and above to ensure that diagnosis is done early.
Symptoms of ADHD in Children
1. Difficulty in sitting still
A child that has ADHD can stand in a calm and quiet class to see what is happening outside through the window. If they are not doing this, they may be engrossed doing something else and not sitting still. They may do this even when the teacher is delivering lessons or trying to get them to pay attention without feeling sorry about it. This proves that kids with ADHD can be interested in something but it may require some extra work and knowledge to get them interested in schoolwork especially if they do not like it. That can be achieved if a psychiatrist is consulted for the child.
2. Fidgeting
Movements made with their hands or feet may show nervousness in kids with ADHD when they are faced with certain situations. It can convey their loss of interest in certain activities and it has to be observed to help the child avoid situations that they do not like. They are impatient because of their condition and they can get help if a psychiatrist is consulted.
3. Excess talking
Some children talk a lot, but talking should not be excessive that the child finds it difficult to concentrate on simple tasks. However, excess talking is not the only symptom of ADHD. Other symptoms may be associated with it as well but the excess talking can be more profound in some children and become a cause for worry for their parents or guardians.
4. Acting without thinking
The tendency of children with ADHD to act without giving their actions some thought exposes them to many dangers. They may put themselves in harm's way without knowing. Their peculiar pattern of behavior makes them look odd and different. However, their potentials for actualizing their potentials must not be underestimated. That is why they must be given all the care and attention that they desire.
If you have observed any of these signs in your child, get them a Psychiatrist for a proper ADHD diagnosis.
Facts about ADHD diagnosis
Most people do associate ADHD with learning disabilities for children only but research has it that 2.8% of the world's adult population have it. It often begins from childhood and can span throughout life. It will be difficult for kids to go through ADHD into adulthood without any form of support or treatment from Psychiatrists and care from their guardians. People that have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) deserve to live the best possible life and they can achieve their dreams if their condition is handled with care. Observing the symptoms of ADHD in kids is the best way to go about it.
When a child is suspected to have ADHD, parents should endeavor to take the child to a psychiatrist for examination. They may be asked questions about the child and the child will take part in the session as well. There are many ways that a psychiatrist can diagnose ADHD especially when the symptoms become obvious. But before taking a child for diagnosis for ADHD, several factors have to be considered. These factors will help hasten your diagnosis process because they are required before a diagnosis can be made.
However, it is a brain disorder that affects the ability of a person to concentrate, leads to hyperactive behaviors, fidgeting among others. These factors are important because people with ADHD may not show all the symptoms. They may have one or more dominant symptoms than others.
4 Facts About ADHD and its Diagnosis
Severity of symptoms
Before a child or an adult can be diagnosed with ADHD, there must be observable claims that their lives have been negatively affected. ADHD affects children while they are growing up and may not stop when the child becomes an adult. For children, the ability to learn at school may be affected while the career of an adult may be ruined by the disorder.
Childhood origin
ADHD is often observable in childhood. Children as young as 2 years have been diagnosed with ADHD so it often starts in childhood. If a person is going to have this mental disorder, it will become evident before the age of seven. All cases of ADHD can be diagnosed in childhood and they may last for a lifetime.
Diagnosing ADHD
There is no fixed period of diagnosis for this disorder. A session with a psychiatrist may last for up to 3 hours or more because the psychiatrist will touch on a wide range of aspects such as health, lifestyle, behavior, and other factors that has to do with the child's social and cognitive life. Before a diagnosis can be done, the person must have been showing the symptoms for 6 months. This applies to children and adults that have the condition.
Locations of Symptoms
The symptoms of ADHD are not restricted to a particular place alone. If a child has ADHD, it is observable both at home and at school. Children with ADHD experience the same dominant symptom wherever they are and not just in a remote location. They will fidget, have problems concentrating both at home and school. If the symptoms are seen in one area and not in another, it may not necessarily be ADHD. All the same, a diagnosis is the best way to find out.
If a child displays one of the known symptoms of ADHD or even shows multiple symptoms, it is not enough to conclude that the child has it. A diagnosis is required for all suspected cases of ADHD in children.