Signs, Causes, and Management Tips for ADHD in Children
ADHD is a common disorder in children that is neurodevelopmental. While it is diagnosed in childhood, it has been seen to last into adulthood. The three types of ADHD are predominantly inattentive presentation, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive presentation, and combined presentation. Read on to know the signs, causes, and management tips for ADHD in children.
Signs of ADHD
- Self-focused behavior
An inability to notice the desires and needs of other people is one of the most common signs of ADHD. This leads to children interrupting and getting into conversations, not involving them. Also, in public spaces like classrooms, they tend to find it difficult to wait for their turn for certain activities.
- Fidgeting
Children who have ADHD find it difficult to sit quietly in one place. They tend to always run around, fidget, and squirm when they are asked to sit. Furthermore, they find it difficult to indulge in leisure activities that require them to be quiet, such as watching a show, having a meal, or simply waiting. Moreover, children with ADHD are restless and tend to jump to successive tasks without completing any.
- Lack of focus
One of the most important and primary signs of ADHD is the lack of focus in children. Because they lack focus, they tend to make many mistakes and even miss out on things said to them directly. They tend to daydream and completely ignore activities happening around them.
Causes of ADHD
- Brain anatomy and function
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder may be caused by a lack of activity in the part of the brain that controls attention as well as activity level.
- Heredity
It has been observed that ADHD runs in the family. If a child has ADHD, there’s a 25% chance that one parents has or had ADHD. Also, it is likely to present in another family member like a sibling. Often, the diagnosis of ADHD happens in parents at the same time as their children.
- Health reasons
Some of the other reasons include head injuries, prematurity, and prenatal exposure to nicotine and alcohol. In addition, environmental toxins can lead to ADHD, although this is a rare cause.
Management tips for ADHD
ADHD can be managed with certain Dos and Don’ts, and most of these involve parents of children suffering from ADHD. Tasks for kids with ADHD should be divided into smaller and manageable parts. Exercise should be encouraged in kids, and other distractions like television and video games should be limited. A strict sleep schedule should be maintained. Lastly, it is important to give the child regular breaks and ensure that they are not overwhelmed.