Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a chronic condition experienced by millions of children worldwide and often persists into adulthood. ADHD involves a combination of persistent problems, such as difficulty maintaining focus or attention and exhibiting hyperactive and impulsive behavior.
Children with ADHD usually have self-confidence problems, trouble building relationships with others, or do poorly in school. Although ADHD cannot be completely cured, proper treatment can reduce the symptoms.
ADHD symptoms
The exact cause of ADHD is not known, although genetic and environmental factors are the most commonly associated factors. ADHD symptoms can start before age 12, even in some children, ADHD symptoms begin to appear as early as age 3. ADHD symptoms can be divided into mild, moderate, and severe.
The main characteristics of ADHD include difficulty sustaining attention and hyperactive and impulsive behavior. ADHD is more common in men than in women. Boys have a predominant tendency towards hyperactivity and impulsivity, while women are more dominated by the problem of difficulty holding attention. Some children show symptoms of these two characteristics.
- Symptoms of difficulty maintaining attention are usually characterized by:
- Children have trouble concentrating when doing tasks or playing
- Children have difficulty following the instructions given
- Children have difficulty organizing daily tasks and activities
- Often loses the tools needed to complete tasks
- Their focus is easy to distract
- Often forget to do something
- Dislikes doing activities that require focus, such as doing schoolwork
- Symptoms of hyperactivity and impulsivity are usually characterized by:
- Children experience anxiety characterized by tapping with their hands or feet
- Difficulty staying seated in class or in other situations
- Running around in inappropriate situations
- Talking too much
- Children have trouble when they have to play quietly
- Children have difficulty waiting their turn in play or in other circumstances
Diagnosing Children with ADHD
In general, do not diagnose a child with ADHD unless major symptoms appear before age 12 and cause significant problems in the child's life. This is because developmental problems in children are often mistaken for ADHD.
Naturally healthy children usually have a lot of energy comparable to hyperactivity. Or young children also have long-term difficulties in performing one particular activity. Therefore, the diagnosis of ADHD in children will usually be performed by a psychologist, psychiatrist, or pediatrician, which includes medical exams, information gathering, interviews, and ADHD rating scales.
Tips to Relieve ADHD Symptoms
ADHD is a complex condition and varies from person to person. Nevertheless, here are some recommendations that can be made to create a supportive environment for children:
- Express your love for your child so that they feel loved and valued.
- Look for ways to boost your children's confidence. Support their hobbies or interests outside of the academic aspect, such as art or sports.
- Provide brief and clearly understood instructions when giving directions to children.
- Provide appropriate consequences to build the children's discipline.
- Try to create a schedule for children to eat and sleep at set times.
- Adopt a healthy lifestyle.
- Ask about the development of school activities in children, both academically and outside the classroom, such as extracurricular activities.
- Talk to your children's teacher at school to share information about your child's development.
While medication cannot cure ADHD, it can treat the symptoms that occur. Treatment usually involves medication and behavioral interventions. Early diagnosis and treatment can make a big difference in the results that will be seen. Therefore, guide the children's growth and development process by giving them the attention it needs.
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Sources:
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children: Symptoms and Causes. Mayo Clinic. [online]. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adhd/symptoms-causes/syc-20350889
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2019). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children: Diagnosis and Treatment. Mayo Clinic. [online]. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/adhd/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20350895