How Can I Tell if My Child Has ADHD
Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is very common, according to research, affecting 4% to 12% of school-age children. It’s more common in boys than in girls. This is a group of behavior disorder which was renamed from Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) by the American Psychiatric Association (APA) in 1994.
If your child feels difficulties in paying attention at school work or homework, you don’t need to worry. Here are the symptoms of ADHD. Just to check it out first by yourself and then consult your doctor or a professional psychologist if necessary.
A child with ADHD who is inattentive will have 6 or more of the following symptoms:
- Has difficulty following instructions
- Has difficulty keeping attention on work or play activities at school and at home
- Loses things needed for activities at school and at home
- Appears not to listen
- Doesn’t pay close attention to details
- Seems disorganized
- Has trouble with tasks that require planning ahead
- Forgets things
- Is easily distracted
The child with ADHD who is hyperactive/impulsive will have at least 6 of the following symptoms:
- Is fidgety
- Runs or climbs inappropriately
- Can’t play quietly
- Blurts out answers
- Interrupts people
- Can’t stay in seat
- Talks too much
- Is always on the go
- Has trouble waiting his or her turn
As for children with ADHD, the distinct behavior disorder is characterized as inattentiveness to external direction, underachievement, impulsive behavior, and restlessness. Hyperactivity is typically taken as an indication, however, children identified as inattentive are often sluggish and hypo-active. If you have any doubts, the better way is to have your child diagnosed by a professional.
As parents, we can also feel relaxed that bad parenting or unstructured family life/school life are not the cause of ADHD. These factors would only make symptoms worse. Usually structured family life and team effort with doctors and teachers will ease the symptoms.
ADHD: What Parents Should Know [familydoctor.or]
More information:
January 4th, 2006 at 1:06 am
Personally, as someone who practices Eastern Medicine, I’m very skeptical of the whole ADD/ADHD thing. We get adults and kids all the time in the clinic who have been diagnosed with ADHD and the actual symptoms they exhibit vary widely.
More here:
http://www.opinionatedbastard.com/archives/000274.html
January 6th, 2006 at 9:00 am
The term of ADD/ADHD is very widely used presently. Many parents I know in schools are threatened by this term and are very afraid of having a child with ADD/ADHD. That’s why clinics are crowded with anxious parents. Once a parent who I know noticed her son couldn’t focus on his homework for a period of time as she expected, she’s just worried and wanted to have her son undertook clinic diagnosis. I also realize the trend of increasing usage of medicine trying to fix “every” problem. Mostly the medicine prescribed to cure ADD/ADHD is to calm down kids. I am not an expert on medicine. But as a parent, I won’t bother whether there is ADD/ADHD thing or not, the real question for me is whether my child has got it. If so, what kind of cure, not just using medicine, is the best for my child?
January 15th, 2006 at 10:29 pm
[…] Sometimes kinetic learners are misunderstood as people who have ADHD as it seems that they cannot sit still and focus on work quietly. » Bookmark this to del.icio.us for later reference! […]
November 10th, 2006 at 2:46 am
I was one of the parents who didnt want to believe her daughter could have ADHD. but when she was getting in trouble all the time in kindergarden I had to re-think things. The breaking point for me was when at age 5 she came to me crying and said I try to be good buy I just cant. That was the day I made the doctors appointment. She is now in the 3rd grade and on the principals list for staight A’s. I will never fight my feelings again about my childs well being because of what people think about kids with ADHD.I was told by several people she was just an active child. They were not the ones who had to see her cry.
March 3rd, 2007 at 2:46 pm
I just found out that my daughter may have ADD and it just about broke my heart. She is in 2nd grade and has been having alot of problems, but is an extremely smart child. I have always heard such bad things about ADD, that when she could possibly have this I freaked. I am curious any websites that would be beneficial in helping parents with dealing with a child with ADD or ADHD. Thanks for your help and listening.
October 2nd, 2007 at 12:48 am
My daughter, age 3, has been acting out in a way I cannot explain. I wounderd if she may have ADHD or not. She is constantly on the go all the time, and does thing in which she knows is “naughty”, to see what kind of reaction she can get. Her behavior has changed in the past year, and I’m afraid to have her put on medication…..DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS?! She sees the doctor today for an evaluation!