ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and the most important step is to identify the signs and symptoms of it. Children are very active and it is normal for them to forget their homework, daydream during classes, act impulsively or fidget during dinner. Signs of ADHD are inattentiveness, impulsiveness and hyperactivity and these can interfere with the learning ability of the child and even in getting along with other kids of their age.

What Is ADHD?

It is a very common disorder seen during childhood and can sometimes continue to adolescence and adulthood. The symptoms are difficulty in staying focused, inability in paying attention, difficulty in controlling behavior and over-activity.

The 3 main types of ADHD are:

• Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive. Six or more symptoms (listed in the next part) fall in the hyperactive-impulsive category. Inattention symptoms are less than 6, however, it may be present to some extent
• Predominantly inattentive. 6 or more symptoms fall in the inattentive category and less than 6 fall in the hyperactive-impulsive category. It is; however, seen to some extent in the kids. Children who fall in this category have no problems in getting along with other kids and do not act out. However, they might not pay attention and sit very quietly and tend to get ignored or over-looked.
• Combined hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive. More than 6 symptoms fall in both the hyperactive-impulsive and inattentive category. Most children have this type of ADHD.

Does My Child Have ADHD?

The main signs and symptoms of ADHD are inattentiveness, hyperactivity and impulsiveness. These traits are common in all children. However, they are more pronounced in children suffering from ADHD and are seen more often. To confirm the diagnosis of ADHD, these symptoms should be persistent for 6 months or more and the severity should be higher than what is seen in other children of the same age group.

The most common symptoms of inattention in children:

• They cannot pay attention to detail
• They always make careless mistakes
• They get distracted easily and have difficulty in focusing
• They don’t listen when being spoken to
• They become difficult to remember and follow instructions
• They are difficult to be organized, plan and finish projects
• They tending to leave tasks unfinished as they get bored
• They can misplace books, toys, homework and other items easily.

The commonly seen symptoms of hyperactivity in children:

• They are constantly fidgeting and squirming
• They cannot sit quietly in one place and constantly get up or leave their seat
• They are constantly moving around, climb or run around in inappropriate places
• They have excessive talking
• They have difficulty in playing quietly or relaxing
• They seem to be driven by a motor and always seem to be on the go
• They might seem to have a quick and short temper

The common symptoms of impulsivity in children:

• They act without thinking
• They answer questions without hearing the whole question or without waiting to be asked
• They have difficulty in waiting for their turn when playing games or standing in line
• They say the wrong thing at the wrong time
• They tend to interrupt others
• They intrude on conversations or games
• They find it difficult to keep their emotions in check, have temper tantrums or angry outbursts
• They don’t take the time to solve a given problem and make guesses

What Are the Causes of ADHD?

The exact cause of ADHD is not very clear and research is ongoing to find the cause. Many factors have been implicated in developing ADHD, some of the common causes are given below:

Factors	Description
Heredity	Research has found that ADHD runs in families and search is on to find the genes which cause this problem.
Environmental impacts	Cigarette smoking and consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can cause ADHD in children. Exposure to these during preschool days can also cause ADHD.
Injuries in brain	Brain injury in children can result in symptoms similar to ADHD. But children with ADHD do not always have traumatic brain injury. Thinner brain tissue in certain areas in childhood can also be a cause for ADHD.
Food additives	Food additives like artificial colors or preservatives have been linked to increase in activity. More research is required.

How to Diagnose ADHD

Physical diagnosis by the means of blood, urine test or brain scan is not possible for ADHD, since it is not a physiological problem with certain causes. Proper diagnosis of ADHD has to be done by a psychiatrist, psychologist and pediatrician. This will be done by observing the behavior patterns, collecting data regarding behavior at home and school. Conclusion can then be drawn if the characteristics are ADHD-like.

When to See a Doctor

If you have doubts that your child is showing signs of ADHD, you should contact your pediatrician or family doctor who may send you to a specialist. They will have a medical evaluation and check if the signs are for ADHD or other causes.

What Are the Treatments for ADHD?

Different types of medication may be used to treat ADHD:

• Stimulants. Used for more than 50 years, they are the best known treatment for ADHD and several doses might be required per day. Side effects could be reduced appetite, stomach ache, irritability and insomnia.
• Non-Stimulants. They are alternatives to stimulants and sometimes used along with stimulants as well. First non-stimulant was given approval in 2003 and has less side effects as compared to stimulants.
• Antidepressants. They may be prescribed but warning was given by US FDA in 2004 on the increased risk of suicide in children and teens. If it has been prescribed, risk discussion should be done with the doctor.

All children may react differently to medications and doctor may try various options and doses for the treatment. 

Therapies and Counseling

Counseling or behavior therapy by psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or health care professionals helps children with ADHD to overcome the condition. Some of the different therapies include behavior therapy, psychotherapy, parenting skills training, family therapy and social skills training.

These therapies range from learning behavior changing strategies, talking about issues, training parents to understand and guide their child’s behavior. It should be a combined effort with the involvement of parents, teachers and doctors. Learning about the condition and talking to the teachers will be helpful for everyone involved.

Watch the video to have a deeper understanding on ADHD: