Do you think your child has ADHD?
Common Symptoms:
Inattentiveness
Hyperactivity
Impulsiveness
- easily distracted, forgetful
- unable to focus on one task; may become bored with tasks that they do not enjoy after a few minutes
- difficulty focusing on new information or completing tasks
- seeming aloof or daydreaming when spoken to
- slow moving
- difficulty processing information quickly and as accurately as others; easily confused
- unable to properly follow directions/schedule
Hyperactivity
- trouble sitting still at any time; frequently fidgets and squirms in seat
- constantly moving
- touching or playing with everything in sight
- struggles with quiet activities
Impulsiveness
- very impatient, difficulty waiting for things like taking turns
- interrupt conversations and activities
- speak and act without thinking and act without regard for consequences (National Institutes of Health, 2012)
* Important to recognize ADHD can be mistaken for other issues (nimh). If you suspect your child has ADHD based on display of many symptoms, talk to child's doctor.
How does your child feel?
Having ADHD can be very frustrating to children because they want to be able to learn and behave like everyone else. They want to be good kids but for some reason, being "good" is difficult for them and they don't know why. It is important to understand that children with ADHD are not lazy or unwilling. They just have neurological deficits that prevent them from learning like the rest of their peers (Segal, 2014).
One child's perspective on having ADHD:
How children's Domains of Development are affected by ADHD:
- Physical - It is expected for young children to be active balls of energy. However, it is important to distinguish a common active child to a child with ADHD. A child with ADHD may display many symptoms of hyperactivity such as not being able to sit still in class and running around the house like the energizer bunny at inappropriate times. It is beneficial for children with ADHD to participate in some forms of physical activity when it is appropriate so that they can release some of their hyperactive tendencies.
- Cognitive - Considering ADHD is a neurological disorder, it plays a massive impact on a child's cognitive development. Children with ADHD tend to be inattentive and therefore can get lost in the clouds every now and then . When directed to read a short story for example and then answer conceptual questions afterwards, children with ADHD may take longer on this assignment than children without ADHD. This is because they are unable to focus on certain given tasks and so their mind will wander while reading instead of focusing their full attention and picking up all clues to the questions. They also may take longer to think about the questions also because of their tendencies to get off track. This however does not mean that children with ADHD lack the ability to think about things . It instead simply suggests that attention-deficit children have the skills but are unable to use them properly.
- Emotional - At a young age, pleasing teachers and parents and getting good grades is a key component to a child's positive self-outlook. So if a child is performing poorly in school even though they are trying and want to do well, their self-esteem may drop. Its is common for children with ADHD to have less confidence than children who can behave and perform properly. Low self-confidence can cause issues in that the child may not be independent and take the initiative to better her or himself. This is where the parent comes in and needs to facilitate a positive environment for the child to work in, simultaneously restoring the child's confidence so that they believe they can succeed.
- Social - Early age children tend to be less accepting of those who are different from them because they are unable to consider another's reasoning for acting the way they do. If a child with ADHD is struggling in class and is constantly picked on by the teacher to stay in his or her seat or to stop talking or to stay on task, the other students may not understand that the "trouble-maker" has a nuerodevelopmental disorder that causes him or her to act a certain way. Therefore, it is likely for peers to ostracize children with ADHD, lessening chances for children with ADHD to develop proper social skills.