Hyperactivity-ADHD Syndrome
Children who are ultimately diagnose with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) were often very intense and high strung as infants; they cried and thrashed a lot, and were very very sensitive to sound and other stimulation from the environments.
Most children with ADHD calm down when their nervous systems mature, and they are able to focus their attention much better for longer periods, usually about the time they enter puberty. Some experts see this condition not as a “disorder” but as super active end of the activity continuum, which places the very quiet, least active children at the other end.
Although hyperactive children are sometimes thought to be slow learners, ADHD is not related to intellectual deficits. In fact, children with ADHD usually have average or above average intelligence; they appear scattered, however, because of their difficulty screening out distractions and concentrating on anything for more than a few minutes.
Nor the hyperactive child is “bad”, he is overly active because he can not sit still, not because he is very naughty or stubborn. And his parents are not bad parents either, if your child turns out to have ADHD, it is nit you fault. You did not cause his condition and should not feel guilty or responsible.There are many theories for the causes of ADHD, though at this point, the causes of most cases are unknown. It’s likely that there is more than one type of hyperactivity, each with a different set of contributory factors. Such factors may include :
Immaturity. Slower development of impulse control, emotional control, and fine motor coordination is common among children with ADHD. As these children mature, their behaviors improve.
Genetics. The fact that ADHD is seen more often in some families than others indicates that heredity may play a role; in a small percentage of children with ADHD the problem may be an inherited defect in the way the body responds to thyroid hormones.
Gender. ADHD is four to seven times more common in boys, who tend to mature more slowly than girls.
Pre- or Postnatal Environment. In some children, ADHD can be traced to the mother’s alcohol abuse, smoking, or use of other drugs during her pregnancy; in others, to an early-childhood illness, such as encephalitis or meningitis. There are some who believe that sensitivity to certain foods or food additives play a role in certain case of ADHD.
Oversensitivity to stimulation. Some experts suggest that ADHD is the result of a child experiencing a bolt of nervous energy when exposed to seemingly normal stimulation (sights, sounds, and people). That nervous energy, or tension, is vented in inappropriate ways, such as wild behavior, emotional outbursts, and recklessness.
Sometimes, a toddler is “hyper” and shows other signs of ADHD, but does not actually have the condition. Occasionally the over activity is a normal manifestation of high intelligence teamed with surplus energy. Or the behavior may be a response to stress in his life that he does not understand and able to cope with. Perhaps his parents have an unsatisfactory relationship, or both of them are overstressed, depressed, or abusing to alcohol or drugs, or the family is living in difficult, over crowded conditions.
The following questions depict behaviors that are common in ADHD children. Bear in mind, however, that they are present in all toddlers to some degree, only the extreme ones, that might have a potential problem :
- Does he seem to have an even shorter attention span and even more difficulty paying attention that his peers? Is he more easily distracted from whatever he is doing, whether it is a game, a television show, or a meal ?
- Does he seem to have more difficulty following simple instruction than do others his age? Does he appear never to listen? Keep in mind that language disorders sometimes masquerade as ADHD.
- Is he overly talkative, demanding, and emotional, with frequent outbursts of crying, screaming, hitting, or other signs of frustration that seem out of proportion to the triggering event? Does he often interrupt or intrude on others? (Pay attention that this might also be effected by depressed mother or caregiver).
- Does he have more trouble sitting still than most toddlers? Is he constantly “on the go”, taking no rest periods? Does he sleep very little? Is his sleep restless, with a lot of flailing and kicking?
- Does he often behave recklessly, such as running into the street, grabbing for a hot cup of coffee, punching a strange dog, etc, without considering the possible consequences of his actions?.
- Does he demand constant attention?
- Does he resist adult authority and persist in misbehaving, despite warnings? Is his play with others regularly punctuated by fights and disagreements?
If you responded “yes” to at least three of the above questions, consult to the doctor. Be aware that it is unlikely that he or she will even consider a diagnosis of ADHD at this age. The possibility of ADHD is not usually seriously considered until a child is two or three years old, and a diagnosis generally is not confirmed until age five. Nevertheless, the doctor may want to observe, put a record, and review your child time to time for a certainty.