Approximately 3% to 5% of children in the United States alone suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD. That figure is alarmingly high since it translates to about 2 million children or approximately 1 in every class of 25 students! There has been much controversy surrounding this disorder for the past several years, but what exactly is ADHD? What are the symptoms, which accompany this disorder? How do we know that our children are merely acting their age or are already afflicted with this malady? Can ADHD sufferers ever recover?
ADHD was previously considered to be a neurological disorder, which usually shows up during the early childhood years (usually before age 7). Children with ADHD (also referred to as ADD) find themselves unable to control their behavior or to pay close attention to a lot of things.
All children cannot stay put at times. All may be inattentive and fantasize to pass the time away or may act without thinking at times, but when the child's hyperactivity, inattentiveness, poor concentration or impulsiveness start to negatively affect his performance in school, his demeanor at home or interfere with his relationship with other children, the presence of ADHD may be considered. However, ADHD is hard to diagnose since its symptoms may vary from one case to another, especially when the primary symptom is inattentiveness.
There are three types of ADHD based on the primary symptoms exhibited by an individual. These are as follows:
. The predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type. The "hyperactive" children are restless and often find it hard to sit still. These children are in perpetual motion and feel the need to be constantly doing something. They may squirm and fidget in their seats during mealtimes and at school making it hard for them to complete a meal or a lesson. They may act without taking the time to consider the consequences of their actions and find it hard to hide or suppress their emotions. They find it difficult to wait for turns during a game or to get something they want.
. The predominantly inattentive type. These are the "dreamers" who cannot concentrate on keeping their minds on one thing and often gets bored with a task after a short while. As a result, they find it hard to complete a task or to learn something new. These children can only focus when they are doing something they really enjoy.
. The combined type. These children display symptoms of the two earlier types.
Because all children may exhibit some of the symptoms stated above such as hyperactivity, inattentiveness and impulsiveness at times, strict guidelines have been set for diagnosing the disorder. Among the requirements for determining whether the symptoms indicate ADHD or are just indications of some other disorders, the following must be met:
. The indicative symptoms must have manifested during the early childhood years (before age 7) and must have persisted for at least 6 months
. The behaviors must have created a handicap for at least two areas of the child's life such as in school, at home, in the playground, in the immediate community or in other social settings
If you suspect your child is afflicted with ADHD, it is best to consult with a professional who has extensive experience in the diagnosis of mental disorders, especially ADHD. Children with ADHD face a great challenge. They need guidance and understanding from everyone around them - their parents, their teachers and the whole educational system as well. Let us not let them down.