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Identifying ADHD in Childhood
By Mary Asomah...
Identifying ADHD in childhood allows a child who is suffering from ADHD to receive the treatment that can
ultimately improve their quality of life.
Childhood ADHD affects the child's ability to concentrate, stay focused, follow directions, wait for their
turn and pay attention.
Missing the signs of Childhood ADHD can cause a child to be mislabeled as a 'bad kid' or one who is unable
to succeed in school.
Childhood ADHD can have detrimental affects on a child's self esteem and can affect every aspect of their
life from their academics to their social life.
Parents who are made aware of childhood ADHD can arm themselves with the proper tools to best parent a child
with ADHD.
Childhood ADHD can make parenting a seemingly overwhelming and challenging ordeal. But with education and support,
parents can learn parenting tips and coping skills that will allow them to parent their children with success.
Recognizing ADHD in Childhood
Within the ADHD spectrum there are three behaviour categories; Hyperactivity, Impulsiveness and Inattention.
Childhood ADHD causes the following behaviours...
Hyperactivity
The child seems constantly in motion and is unable to stay seated, stay still or play quietly.
The child constantly fidgets, squirms, runs and jumps inappropriately.
Impulsiveness
The child acts without thinking of the consequences, such as running into traffic. They interrupt
conversations and children's play, blurts out answers inappropriately, and has difficulty waiting for their
turn. The child also reacts to situations with extreme emotion.
Inattention
The child does not appear to listen when being spoken to. The child is easily distracted and
has difficulty completing tasks. The child is unorganized and often loses or misplaces their things.
Treating ADHD in Childhood
Doctors believe that ADHD is a condition which causes a chemical imbalance in a child's brain.
Certain medications have been shown to affectively counteract this chemical imbalance and improve the ADHD
child's ability to concentrate, stay focused and stay still.
Some common medication prescribed for childhood ADHD includes Ritalin, Focalin, Metadate and Dexedrine.
Childhood ADHD has also been affectively treated with various psychological treatments.
Some of the more effective psychological treatments for childhood ADHD include...
Behaviour Modification; the child's behaviour is charted and the child is rewarded for positive behaviour.
Privileges may be removed for negative behaviour. This therapy helps an ADHD child stay organized, focused and motivated.
Social Skills Training; through therapy sessions the child develops stronger social skills, such as
taking turns, waiting for turns and sharing, which allows them to have more positive social connections.
Special Education; the child's learning environment is organized in the school setting in a
structured manner with consistent routines.
ADHD children may receive a combination of medical and psychological treatment.
