How To Identify The Signs Of ADHD In your kids and how to help them
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, also known as ADHD, is a medical condition that affects a child’s ability to focus and control behavior. result from a deficiency in certain chemical messengers in the brain — namely, dopamine and norepinephrine.
It can cause problems with attention span, concentration, impulse control, activity level, and more. This can make it hard to function at home and school. Dopamine and norepinephrine are responsible for many behavioral skills, including the following: ability to pay attention.
It is a disorder that affects 3–7% of school age children in schools in India and can continue into adulthood. Although signs of ADHD are generally noticed in childhood, it is not until adolescence or adulthood that the disorder is diagnosed. ADHD can be treated, but some people with it find they need to manage it all their lives.
The symptoms of ADHD in children and teenagers are well defined, and they’re usually noticeable before the age of 6. They occur in more than 1 situation, such as at home and at school. You can look for the following symptoms in ADHD in your child
- having a short attention span and being easily distracted
- making careless mistakes
- appearing forgetful or losing things
- being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious or time-consuming
- appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out instructions
- being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings and constantly fidgeting.
- excessive talking
- acting without thinking
- interrupting conversations
- little or no sense of danger
There are many ways to treat ADHD but the first thing, which parents should do is be supportive.
Medication is the first line treatment for ADHD, although many children will improve with behavioral therapies alone. A psychiatrist should make the diagnosis, then do a physical exam and patient interview to determine whether medications are needed or not.
While stimulants treat hyperactivity, they also may make children aggressive or give them headaches. ADHD stimulant medication works by helping decrease the symptoms and improve a person’s ability to focus and stay calm.
Adderall is a combination of dextroamphetamine and amphetamine which is used as a central nervous system stimulant. It can help kids with problems such as attention deficit disorder (ADHD) and narcolepsy. Non-stimulant medications may be prescribed to address a child’s concentration or behavior problems. The goal of medication is to help the child learn better ways to control his behavior.
Parents may try cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or parent training. CBT teaches parents new behavior management skills and helps kids change the way they think about their abilities and what they can do.
Parent training, on the other hand, teaches parents techniques to control their own behavior because children often pick up cues from the adults in their lives.
There’s also group therapy for kids, which has been found to improve self-esteem. Kids learn how to interact with others and how to work together as a team.
Another part of the treatment plan is talking with your child about his or her feelings and understanding parenting techniques that will help you get to your child’s behavioral issues from every angle.
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