The picture that is often painted of children with ADHD is that they are incredibly busy and cause a lot of problems at home, as well as at school and other places. Of course, this does not have to be the case. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder manifests itself differently in every person. In addition, it is good to know that all children sometimes have difficulty maintaining focus and sometimes exhibit difficult behavior. This does not mean that your child is suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.
Symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
The big difference between a child with ADHD and a child without ADHD is the word ‘sometimes’. Unfortunately, children suffering from ADHD won’t grow out of this “phase.” So make sure you know how you can recognize ADHD in your child or in the children of your loved ones. Possible symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder – in addition to not being to focus or acting out (at home or in school) – are:
- A lot of daydreaming
- Forgetting or easily loosing things
- Squirming or fidgeting
- Talking too much
- Making careless mistakes
- Taking unnecessary risks
- Difficult to resist temptations
- Trouble taking turns
- Having difficulty getting along – with others
- Having difficulty with organizing
- Finding it hard to sit still for long periods
Treatment Options
If you recognize these symptoms in yourself, (one of) your children or in other children, you might want to start the conversation or even enlist the help of your professional healthcare provider right away. He or she will make the correct diagnosis and if this indeed turns out to be Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, they will immediately look at possible treatment plans, such as:
- Medication, like (non-)stimulants & antidepressants
- Behavioral therapy
- Therapy for parents
- Healthy and balanced diet
- Physical activity
Treatments are always very personal, so it’s always a good idea to talk about this thoroughly with your professional healthcare provider and do your own online research, or maybe you’re in doubt if you – or a loved one – suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Start your search here:
