When talking about ADHD in children, most people picture a restless child jumping around, fiddling with things, and often being dubbed “naughty” by both teachers and parents. However, as families who have children with ADHD will tell you, this is often far from the truth. The condition is much more nuanced than that. So, does your child have undiagnosed ADHD? How can you check for it? Are there any symptoms? And does it mean that your child is less attentive? It’s time to answer these common questions.
What is ADHD?
Let’s start by taking a look at the most important question: What is ADHD? Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder is a neurological brain condition that impacts a person’s focus, behaviour, and regulation of impulses. The condition is commonly diagnosed at a young age, but does affect both children and adults. The main challenge with ADHD is finding an effective long-term approach to managing the condition, which often requires a combination of medication, lifestyle changes, and holistic support. The other challenge is finding effective strategies that support the person’s ability to learn, form new relationships, and control their impulses.
Symptoms
While ADHD is common, detecting its presence can be challenging. To solve this, let’s look at some commonly observed symptoms that are often prevalent in people with ADHD:
- Difficulty sustaining attention for long periods of time
- Frequent carelessness in daily tasks
- Getting easily distracted
- Losing items often
- Avoiding tasks that require constant mental effort
- Fidgeting with items, hands or feet constantly
- Talking excessively
- Feeling always ‘on the go’
- Difficulty waiting
- Interrupting conversations
These symptoms may seem quite common. However, when it comes to children, detecting and diagnosing ADHD can be difficult. This is because ADHD symptoms often overlap with other developmental changes in children, and can result in misdiagnosis. In fact, research shows that 60-80% of children with ADHD also suffer from dyslexia, social communication disorders, anxiety or at least one of these conditions. This is why it is often important to consult a psychiatrist, but more on that later.
Types of ADHD
Knowing about the different symptoms of ADHD can definitely help when it comes to getting a formal diagnosis. Having a basic understanding of the different types of ADHD can also help when it comes to choosing effective treatment options. Broadly speaking, there are three main types of ADHD seen in children – the Inattentive type, the Hyperactive-Impulsive type and the Combination type.
Inattentive type
Children that have been diagnosed with the inattentive type of ADHD may struggle to focus. For example, they may often appear to be daydreaming or ‘in their own world’. They may also show signs of distraction when completing tasks, have trouble focusing at school, and have difficulty following instructions. This type of ADHD is mainly characterised by inattention and was also earlier known as ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder).
Hyperactivity type
On the other hand, children that have been diagnosed with the hyperactivity type of ADHD may struggle to control their impulses. For example,they may have trouble staying seated in class and constantly fidget during class. They may also show signs of excessive talking and a strong need to always be ‘on the go’. As such, this type of ADHD is mainly categorised by an excess of energy or a high level of impulsivity.
Inattentive and hyperactive combination type
The third type of ADHD, the combination type, is a mix of both of the above. Children who are diagnosed with this type of ADHD may have difficulty concentrating and maintaining focus, whilst also showing signs of impulsivity and hyperactivity. Research has found that most people diagnosed with ADHD have the combination type.
If your child is showing any of the symptoms mentioned above, then it may be worth talking to a medical professional and getting a formal diagnosis. This can help ensure that your child gets the help that they need, and that they can better manage their condition. It’s important to keep in mind that children living with ADHD can still excel and go on to lead happy, healthy, and successful lives. In fact, while ADHD symptoms can sometimes be challenging, many can be considered strengths. For example, many children with ADHD show creativity in thoughts and actions, hyperfocus on things that interest them, a heightened sense of emotions and sensitivity, strong problem solving skills, and a high level of adaptability in new situations – all of which can be considered positive attributes.
Treatment options for ADHD in children
ADHD is a lifelong condition that cannot be cured. However, there are a number of treatment options available that can help children to manage their symptoms and get the most out of their childhood. Some of the most common treatment methods include cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), medication, and lifestyle changes.
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) teaches families to replace negative behaviours with positive ones, using a combination of parental interventions and individual coping strategies. For example, you can reward your child when he/she completes a task on their own. These types of parental interventions will help your child to know the correct actions to take, thereby reinforcing positive behaviours. Coupling parental interventions with other strategies, such as parent training programs and positive lifestyle changes, can help your child learn how to manage their ADHD more effectively.
Medication is another common treatment option for children. For example, medications like Ritalin, Adderall or other methylphenidate and amphetamine salts are often used to treat some of the more challenging ADHD symptoms, such as hyperactivity. This is because these medications increase dopamine levels in the brain, thereby improving focus
Additionally, using Individualised Education Program (IEPs) and classroom strategies such as having allocated quiet places, arranging for extra time in exams, and using a buddy system for collaborative projects in schools, can also be helpful.
Depending on the type of ADHD that your child may have along with their current health and lifestyle conditions, a private psychiatrist in London can help you devise a bespoke treatment plan. This can help your child learn how to better cope with symptoms of ADHD – for times when you aren’t around.
ADHD can be managed
Diagnosing ADHD in children can be challenging. ADHD symptoms are often confused with development challenges and deemed to be a phase. However, these symptoms can sometimes have a lasting impact on a child’s life. Thankfully, as discussed above, using the commonly observed symptoms to diagnose ADHD and knowing when to seek professional help, can help ensure early intervention and treatment. Seeking professional help from private psychiatrists can also ensure your child gets a customised treatment plan that meets their individual needs. Please know that thinking of ADHD as a special characteristic, instead of a disorder, can also help your child embrace the condition and bring peace to their life. Parents can also seek additional guidance and mental health support through online therapy platforms like BetterHelp.
