This image depicts an overactive child running away with an expensive vase and not following his mother’s instructions.
ADHD(Attention Defecit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a chronic condition where a child is not able to focus on anything clearly, is extremely overactive and impulsive at most times. A child suffering from ADHD has severe behavioral issues which affect his/her activities at home and school. This type of disorder makes it difficult for a child to adjust in social environments and making friends. The average age for diagnosis of ADHD is 7 years old.
FACTS
70 % of the people suffering from ADHD gets treated for depression at some point of time in their life.
The term used for ADHD has been frequently fluctuating from minimal brain damage, learning disability and hyperactivity, but the behavioural pattern has been found similar to cases found in the 1800’s.
INATTENTION:
- Difficulty in remembering things and keeping focus.
- Easily distracted
- Unable to pay attention to details
- Making careless mistakes
- Can’t follow instructions
- Often loses and misplaces own belongings (toys, copies, pencil box)
HYPERACTIVITY:
- Talkativeness
- Short tempered
- Constantly is in motion (running, climbing, jumping, moving without any purpose)
- Constant fidgeting
IMPULSITIVITY:
- Interrupting others in their conversation
- Inability to control emotions resulting in frequent angry outbursts
- Saying wrong things at the wrong time (not understanding the current situation)
- Anxious and impatient at all times
Energy and drive- They work and play hard, if something motivates them they put all their energy and desire into the task.
CREATIVITY- Sometimes a child who has ADHD is highly creative and full of new ideas and thoughts.
Enthusiastic- Children with ADHD have lively personality and are interested in a lot of different things.
CASE STUDIES
Mater R, 10 years old was brought to the clinic by his mother and the following history was given by her about him; He almost every alternate day loses his pencils, sharpener and copies. He doesn’t listen and obeys to things she asks him to do, he constantly fidgets and plays with electrical appliances. In his school, his teachers define him as extremely lively and energetic child, where other kids enjoy his company. Academically his handwriting is poor and he finds it hard to perform well in tests and exams. Furthermore, he doesn’t pay attention when the teacher is teaching in the class. Master R is a good athlete and he won the first prize in 100 m sprint race. His mother at home finds it difficult to control him as he is constantly looking to play with things, and it is hard for her to even make him sit down for a meal. In the clinic, while waiting he roams around the whole area and looks to play with things like an empty plastic glass, table fan and making aeroplanes with newspaper. After examining him, he was diagnosed with ADHD.
