A specific type of brain disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by continued inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity that affects a child’s development and functions.
ADHD sufferers exhibit inattention, lacking persistence and wandering off tasks. As they’re disorganized, they tend to lack or sustain focus, but it doesn’t mean they lack understanding or their action means defiance.
They also move about constantly (hyperactivity). Constant movement includes situations when it’s inappropriate. If you have a kid with ADHD, you’ll notice he/she keeps talking, tapping or fidgeting.
[While it can also affect adults, children are affected more seriously. For adults, sufferers may be
showing restlessness and tending to wear out other people with constant activities.]
On the other hand, they also tend to be impulsive, doing nasty actions without thinking twice. For this reason, they have high harm potential, exhibit inability to delay gratification and have the need for immediate rewards.
ADHD sufferers, due to all these things mentioned, can be interrupting excessively, socially intrusive and lacking the ability to make a good decision for not seeing the long-term consequences.
ADHD Symptoms
The key behaviors of the brain disorder are hyperactivity-impulsivity and inattention, but a person can suffer from only one of these behaviors. However, others have inattention and hyperactivity-impulsivity
both at the same time.
For the symptoms, preschoolers with ADHD exhibit severe hyperactivity and inattention that occur more often. Some of the patients also show impulsivity and unfocused motor activity. All these things can interfere with function and social activity.
Inattention Symptoms
- Misses or overlook details
- Makes careless mistakes at work or school
- Finds it hard to sustain focus like in lectures and conversations
- Doesn’t seem to be interested to listen
- Fails to finish task in school or home
- Loses things, such as supplies for school tasks including pencils, tools or books
- Has organization problems
- Not following through on instructions
Hyperactivity-Impulsivity Symptoms
- Squirms or fidgets in seats
- Has the inability to engage in hobbies or play quietly
- Is always on the go as if driven by a motor
- Finishes other people’s sentences
- Leaves their seats even when they have to stay seated like in the classroom
- Talks non-stop
- Finds it hard to wait for his/her turn
- Dashes around when it’s inappropriate
Living with ADHD?
The symptoms can appear between three and six years old and continue through adulthood.
However, some symptoms can be mistakes for disciplinary or emotional problems. As a result, a delay in diagnosis occurs.
While the symptoms may change as the person ages, they should be recognized earlier to prevent more prominent and problematic symptoms to affect a child’s school performance, for instance.
Or else, these kids can also struggle with antisocial behaviors and relationships, as they become adolescents and later adults.
For these reasons, both children and adult suffering from it need understanding and guidance from their parents, teachers and families to help them reach their full potentials.
In the following section, let’s thoroughly discuss the treatment and therapy options to help adults and kids with ADHD.
Treatment & Therapy
Finding ADHD treatment, including behavioral therapies and medications, is crucial to manage ADHD.
The biggest impact in the treatment process belongs to the speech pathologists, teachers, psychologists and nurses, though.
Studies had it that an ADHD treatment plan can be more effective when combined with therapies, such as a speech therapy and behavioral therapy, to help families and patients cope with daily challenges.
For one, behavioral therapy can help the patient change his/her behavior. The therapy can involve practical assistance, including on completing schoolwork and organizing tasks.
Teachers, parents and family members can also provide negative/positive feedback and establish chore lists and clear rules to help a person control his behavior.
A therapist can also teach social skills, including waiting for a turn, asking for help and sharing toys. One can also teach how to read facial expressions and voice tone in other people.
The therapist can also teach a patient ways to respond properly as a part of social skills training.
When it comes to medication, the most common type is stimulants that can increase the brain’s norepinephrine and dopamine that function for attention and thinking.
Advantages of Behavioral Therapy
When combined a treatment plan, behavioral therapy can help an ADHD sufferer to make enough difference that will enable him/her to succeed in school and function well at home even without medication in the long-term.
Behavioral therapy can also be a first line treatment that can aid in the kid’s faster progress versus starting in medication. The longer lasting the results will be the earlier the treatment begins.
The therapy can also help the child cope with the ADHD symptoms daily. It also becomes more valuable if combined with medication. With therapy, a lower dose can be required, translating to a less expensive treatment than medication only.
In particular situations, based on the origin of the disorder the patients may need the intervention of the rehabilitation center that will implement several therapeutic recreation programs to educate the patients improve their physical lifestyle.
Final Thoughts
A child suffering from ADHD can still have a quality life with the support, guidance and understanding of teachers, families, parents, nurses and therapists. If you’re child or adult loved one has it, seek professional help and be guided on how to help your kid cope with ADHD daily.