Is your kid showing inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity? If yes, he or she might be positive of having an ADHD, as these 3 are the behavioral symptoms of the disorder.
My youngest son, who is now 12 years old has been evaluated by a Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician having the Mixed Receptive-Expressive Language Disorder and ADHD Combined Type when he was 6 years old, September 28, 2005.
He was evaluated through administering the Griffith’s Mental Development Scales. Results of his Neurodevelopmental Evaluation are shown below.
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| ADHD result 1 |
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| ADHD result 2 |
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| ADHD result 3 |
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| ADHD result 4 |
Symptoms of ADHD
Inattention
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Has a hard time paying attention, daydreams
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Does not seem to listen
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Is easily distracted from work or play
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Does not seem to care about details, makes careless mistakes
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Does not follow through on instructions or finish tasks
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Is disorganized
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Loses a lot of important things
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Forgets things
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Does not want to do things that require ongoing mental effort
Hyperactivity
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Is in constant motion, as if “driven by a motor”
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Cannot stay seated
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Squirms and fidgets
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Talks too much
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Runs, jumps and climbs when this is not permitted
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Cannot play quietly
Impulsivity
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Acts and speaks without thinking
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May run into the street without looking for traffic first
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Has trouble taking turns
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Cannot wait for things
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Calls out answer before the question is complete
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Interrupts others
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, better known as ADHD is a condition of the brain that makes it difficult for children and adults to control their behavior. It is known as one of the most common chronic conditions of childhood.
For a child with ADHD, it can mean feeling alone and being unable to make and keep friends or participate in after-school activities such as sports. Usually, academic performance is affected too. Problems associated with ADHD may continue into adolescence and adulthood. It is recommended for the disorder to be treated, receive proper care and attention they need.
Researches has shown the following causes of ADHD
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ADHD is a biological disorder. Children with ADHD have problems with chemicals that send messages in the brain.
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A lower level of activity in the parts of the brain that control attention and activity level may be associated with ADHD.
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It appears to run in families. Hereditary.
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Rare cases shows that toxins in the environment may lead to ADHD
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Very severe head injuries may cause ADHD in some cases.
Types of ADHD
ADHD Primarily Inattentive Type (ADHD-1)
Children with this type of disorder are not overly active. They do not disrupt classroom or other activities, their symptoms may not be noticed. Among girls with ADHD, this form is the most common.
ADHD Primarily Hyperactive/Impulsive Type (ADHD-HI)
Children with this type show both hyperactive and impulsive behavior but can pay attention.
ADHD Combined Type (ADHD-C)
Combined inattentive-hyperactive/impulsive. Children with this type show all 3 symptoms. This is the most common type of ADHD.
Diagnosis
Standard guidelines are used by physicians to determine whether a child has ADHD. Diagnosis guidelines are for children 6-12 years of age. Diagnosing a child below 5 years of age is difficult according to studies. Many preschool children have some ADHD symptoms in various situations and children change very rapidly during the preschool years. Moreover, it is also difficult to diagnose ADHD once a child becomes a teenager.
The process of diagnosis requires several steps and involves gathering a lot of information from multiple sources. Parents, siblings, other house members, school teachers, classmates and friends should be involved in assessing the child’s behavior. A full medical history will be needed to put your child’s behavior in context and screen for other conditions that may affect your child’s behavior.
Treatment
There is no specific cure for ADHD but there are many treatment options available. Two basic approaches for treatment are Behavior Management and Medication. In my son’s case we only opt for the Behavior Management.
We attended parent education and training, and was given a list of behavior management techniques. We also informed the school and gave them a copy of the diagnosis and we were allowed to coordinate personally with his classrooms teachers to be able for us to help hand in hand to implement the Behavior Management techniques.
Developing consistency in behavioral adjustments is crucial to the success of behavioral treatment but can be a significant challenge to achieve. Through the years, my son slowly progressed, he gained focus and developed better managing skills in the daily challenges of his ADHD.
Helpful Information Sources:
ADHD Society of the Philippines
www.ama-assn.org
www.aap.org
www.aacap.org
www.chadd.org