Features: Magazine | Literary Review | Life | Metro Plus | Open Page | Education Plus | Book Review | Business | SciTech | Friday Review | Young World | Property Plus | Quest | Folio |

Is your child always restless?

The tricky aspect of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is that its symptoms are difficult to diagnose

IT'S TREATABLE If you suspect that your toddler or teenager suffers from ADHD, discuss the issue with his teacher

Is your child perpetually inattentive, hyperactive and over-impulsive? Does he find it difficult to complete tasks given to him or learn something new? Does he dash around endlessly or talk incessantly? Does he blurt out inappropriate, irrelevant comments, and keep repeating them? Does he constantly disturb the class or have his grades dropped drastically?

Watch out, it may not be insolence, bad behaviour or laziness. Your child may be suffering from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), a mental condition that affects 5 per cent of school going children. Curiously, ADHD seems to be more common in boys than in girls. Children, teenagers and even adults with ADHD may exhibit one or all of these symptoms. Experts now believe that ADHD has a genetic origin, and that parenting and discipline styles do not cause ADHD, as was commonly perceived earlier.

The tricky facet of ADHD is the fact that its symptoms are confusing, and difficult to diagnose, as they border on behaviour exhibited by `normal' persons at different points of time. Luckily, evaluation by qualified physicians can confirm the presence or absence of this disorder.

Not a minor issue

Don't dismiss ADHD as a minor issue. If left untreated, ADHD can negatively impact the child not just in academics, but also play havoc on his emotions and behaviour. "Consequent to these behavioural anomalies of ADHD, these children tend to develop poor self-esteem. ADHD may also cause emotional and social problems, and the child's academic performance may get severely impaired, if untreated," says Dr. Shanthi Raj, visiting consultant, paediatrics, Sundaram Medical Foundation.

Worrisome is the fact that children with ADHD have problems concerning impulsivity, problem solving, decision-making and inattention throughout their teenage years. In concrete terms, in teenagers, ADHD may lead to driving accidents, low self-esteem, drug and alcohol abuse or negative encounters with the law. It may also manifest itself in symptoms such as general untidiness, being consistently late with assignments, constantly losing things, being distracted easily, an unusual sense of fairness, failure in accomplishing many tasks and giving the impression of not listening when being spoken to.

"As for the academic sphere, since these children have a short attention span, they will not be able to understand elaborate concepts and drop down in grades from about the first standard in school onwards, when elaborate concepts begin to be taught," elaborates Dr. S. Yamuna, consultant paediatrician and adolescent physician, adding, "the attention problem makes it very difficult for the caretaker too, and they tend to lose their temper. On the other hand, these children get frustrated that they perform badly at school and other places and consequently become aggressive."

If untreated, ADHD can continue in a person's adulthood too. Tragically, adults whose ADHD remains undiagnosed are often mistakenly judged by society to be just lazy and stupid, rather than being recognised as victims of a disorder. "The cases of ADHD that get reported at hospitals in the city forms only the tip of the iceberg. Awareness is low," says Dr. Raj. Most cases of ADHD don't get the treatment they need, scarring them for life. The good news is, ADHD is treatable, and if treated right, these children can be successful in life. The other reassuring fact is ADHD does not affect intellectual ability. "Children with ADHD may have high IQ, but are hampered by behavioural bottlenecks," informs Dr. S. Yamuna.

Dr. Raj recommends that parents be open about their child's condition. "Parents sometimes feel embarrassed about their child's ADHD problem and hide the issue from family and friends. However, discussing the condition with relatives can prepare them and avoid embarrassments." Naturopathy by way of meditation, massage and specific yogasanas is also said to provide relief, while exercise, rest and proper nutrition can go a long way in managing ADHD.

Comprehensive treatment

Just the recognition of ADHD and the understanding that follows an evaluation can initiate healing by putting the symptoms in perspective and understanding the reasons behind the underperformance and abnormal behaviour.

ADHD treatment requires a comprehensive psychosocial and educational programme and medication too, in some cases. "This calls for a programme that includes inputs from both the family and teachers," says Dr. Raj. For instance, teachers can help by giving the ADHD child extra attention and seat him in the front bench.

If you suspect that your toddler or teenager suffers from ADHD, discuss the issue with his teacher and learn more about his behaviour patterns at school. This can help doctors assess the child's problem and diagnose its stage and arrive at an effective treatment programme.

However, don't hastily decide that you or your child has ADHD. Not everyone who is hyperactive, inattentive or over-impulsive has ADHD. To suspect ADHD, the warning symptoms should have persisted for at least six months to a degree that it has impaired the child's development.

Some of these symptoms should have been present before the age of seven.

Highly confusing, but physicians can arrive at the right diagnosis through specific tests. But, don't delay this. Early diagnosis can work wonders and grant the child a happy, normal and successful life. Like Henry Ford, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Alva Edison, Albert Einstein, Agatha Christie, Tom Cruise, Prince Charles and several others who had ADHD.

HEMA VIJAY

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail