What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder or ADHD as it’s commonly known, is one of the most common disorders of childhood. It is usually first diagnosed in childhood and often lasts into adulthood. Children with ADHD may have trouble paying attention, controlling impulsive behaviours (may act without thinking about what the result will be), or be overly active.
It is normal for children to have trouble focusing and behaving at one time or another. However, children with ADHD do not just grow out of these behaviours. The symptoms continue, can be severe, and can cause difficulty at school, at home, or with friends.
A child with ADHD might:
- Talk a lot
- Daydream
- Easily forget or lose things
- Fidget
- Take risks
- Find it difficult to take turns
- Have difficulty getting along with other children
Support
Most children that are diagnosed as having ADHD are aware they are ‘different’ to others, they most likely struggle with managing their emotions and feel angry or sad a lot of the time. Each child will have their own fears and anxieties such as taking medication, making and keeping friends or feeling they can’t do anything right (as a result of parents and teachers regularly becoming upset with them).
What children need most of all is your patience, understanding and care. Children with ADHD can and do thrive with the right support in place. The first step in supporting your child is getting a diagnosis, if your child has any of the above traits, then speak to your GP.