ADHD - your child needs a check!

Hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattentiveness – a combination of traits if present in any child, would never send alarm bells ringing in the minds of their parents.

However, today doctors and medical analysts have coined a tern for the above combination as ADHD or Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder- a complex neurological condition that might mimic other disorders like learning disabilities, anxiety and depression, conduct disorder etc. Generally occurring in children below the age of 7 years it characterizes inappropriate levels of activity & impulsive behavior along with inattention. The line between a hyperactive and a normal child might be very thin but an always “on the run” situation, restlessness due to idleness are some signs of hyperactivity.

Impulsivity on the other hand refers to other hand refers to immediate reactions which arise without any thought process, out of sheer instincts. Too much display of emotions and impatience occur along with impulsivity. Children with extremely low concentration levels who find it difficult to keep their minds on a particular job for a sufficient time and get bored easily show symptoms of inattentiveness.

Studies show that about two million children in United States suffer from ADHD. That is in about thirty children one is affected.

An important question which arises is what causes ADHD? Is it something a child develops at the time of conceiving, at the time of birth or is it something about genes? Today evidence shows that ADHD may arise due to social factors and upbringing of the child. However environmental factors like smoking and consuming alcohol at the time of pregnancy increases the risk of ADHD in the child. Along with this disorder in the brain can also cause this disease.

Before undergoing any treatment for ADHD, a thorough physical checkup should be done to rule out the possibility of physical disorder.

Generally a combination of behavioral and medication therapies is undertaken to tackle the problem. These include speaking with a therapist, giving small manageable projects to the child, keeping the child away from distractions as much as possible along with proper medication.

However controversies have surrounded ADHD. Rather than a disease it is thought of as a different way of living and neurological diversity. Today ADHD is a non curable disorder for which only preventive measures exist which help different children to different degrees. A more comprehensive and detailed study is required to truly understand ADHD.