What is ADHD or attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity?

What is ADHD or attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity?

ADHD is one of the disorders with the highest incidence in childhood, with a ratio of one boy to every four girls. It is one of the disorders that cause more concern in both parents and teachers, so we are going to talk to you today about what ADHD is.

«I am not below normal, nor worthless, nor am I less capable, I only work differently»

-Anonymous-

What is ADHD?

ADHD or attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity is a neurobiological disorder, which can manifest itself from childhood and continue its development to adulthood and is characterized by the presence of three typical symptoms: attention deficit, impulsivity and motor and/or vocal hyperactivity.

The direct cause of ADHD is currently unknown, although some advances have helped to clarify different issues, considering as we have already mentioned a disorder of neurobiological origin (possible chemical imbalance in the brain areas involved in attention and movement) of character hereditary.

A child who always misses class, who has impulsivity and has a hard time staying still may indicate that he has ADHD

We must bear in mind that not all children with this disorder manifest the same symptoms and with the same intensity, that is, there is variability, being a very heterogeneous group of children. Therefore, different subtypes of ADHD are differentiated (inattentive, hyperactive-impulsive, combined) depending on the most predominant symptomatology.

How can a predominantly inattentive child be?

They are usually children who are easily distracted, who do not seem to listen when they are spoken, who daydream, find it difficult to get going and can often forget or lose things. In addition, they value any irrelevant noise or stimulus, dispersing their activity.

And a predominantly hyperactive-impulsive child?

They are children who move continuously. They can move from one place to another, swing, get up from the chair, etc. They tend to interrupt conversations and activities, in addition to responding hastily, even before the question is finished.

Your behavior can be annoying. They usually have problems waiting for turns or following instructions and have little tolerance for frustration.

The behavior of an overactive child affects the rest of the class, as it causes other children to be distracted and cannot concentrate on the teacher's lesson

What other areas may be affected?

There are usually other associated problems such as behavioral problems, poor school performance, and learning difficulties, problems in relationships with peers and some emotional symptoms such as low self-esteem, anxiety ... etc.

Although not all children with ADHD meet criteria to develop a learning disorder, the vast majority have academic difficulties, as a result of their distraction, impulsivity, and restless behavior.

How can we help a child with ADHD?

The recommended is a multidisciplinary treatment, that is, a combined medical and psychological treatment. Therefore it is very important to consult with the different specialists. But in addition, parents and teachers can also contribute to their help, showing children a structured environment, with routines, organized and able to motivate them.

The use of positive reinforcement as praising or reinforcing those behaviors that we want to occur more frequently will generate self-esteem and respect. We can also stop attending a behavior to reduce or prevent it from repeating itself, without paying attention to the problem behavior. In addition, constant supervision will allow us to anticipate and prevent situations that may represent a problem.

Parents will play a fundamental role when their child suffers from ADHD, as punishment and negative reinforcement must be avoided.

Finally, we must not forget that they are children and that regardless of whether they have the disorder or not, listening and attending to them is essential for their education and growth. Sometimes parents and teachers take a position of "I am the adult, here I command and you have to obey me." An attitude that prevents them from listening to the demands of the little ones. Doing so can change their lives.