As intriguing as it may look, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition every parent must not joke with. It highly impacts a child’s mental, social, and emotional development, impacting their relationships with others. ADHD symptoms in children at an early stage can be difficult to decipher as it varies from case to case. This blog covers all the notable signs of ADHD in children, ranging from emotional Havoc to daydreaming. Let’s have a look at what the condition means and its causes before we know the signs.
What is ADHD?
ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a severe condition that affects millions of children, and they at times grow into adulthood with it. This condition includes a combination of different issues that are all related to mental health.
What Causes ADHD in Children?
The main cause of ADHD in children remains unclear. Genetics has a good hold on it, and a child is more likely to get affected when the parents or close relatives suffer from the condition. Other factors like low birth weight, premature birth, smoking or alcohol use during pregnancy, and exposure to some environmental toxins like lead have been linked to ADHD.
What are the Symptoms of ADHD in Children?
The basic symptoms of ADHD include loss of focus and hyperactive-impulsive behavior. ADHD symptoms normally surface before age 12 and can be easily noticeable in some kids as early as 3 years. Its symptoms range from mild to severe and may grow with the child into adulthood. This condition is highly noticeable in males than in females, and symptoms and behaviors might be different for both genders.
The common signs and symptoms of ADHD in children include:
· Self-centred Behavior
ADHD distorts the mental health of most children, making them lose focus and consciousness of the needs of other people around them. As humans, we always have to put our environment into consideration as well as the people in the same cycle but children with ADHD always have difficulty connecting with other people because they only think and focus on “ME” while kicking others out of the picture.
· Impatience and Frequent Interruptions
This symptom is related to “self-centered behavior”. When they are self-focused, they’ll start interrupting games and other activities in which they were not invited to take part. Imagine having a conversation with a friend and a child bursts in out of nowhere with his talks, not minding the fact that you were busy.
Also, another symptom of ADHD includes impatience with little things like staying in the queue for their turn during school activities or games. This behavior is alarming as other kids won’t know your child is suffering from this condition, tagging him as annoying and rude. This in turn causes some psychological havoc to your child in the long run.
· Unfinished jobs and Lack of Focus
Children are curious beings that love to try new things always. A child with ADHD also gets curious and would love to try new things. The issue here is that they always leave what they started uncompleted. Let’s say they started a drawing, they will leave the drawing unfinished and switch to other activities.
In addition, a child with ADHD will always lose focus on virtually everything. They may find it difficult to concentrate in class, even when asked a question. They may answer “yes I understand” without remembering a single word you said and how to react to it.
· Always Bugging Around
When a child has ADHD, they find it difficult to stay at a spot, and will always try to bug around for no reason at all. Staying calm is always an issue for kids with ADHD as they’ll constantly try to play with something, run to and from it, and run around loudly. Their level of excitement is high, more like “SpongeBob that accidentally takes a sweetener”. This affects their communication with other children and the way they interact too.
· Forgetfulness
Some kids may be extremely active due to ADHD but the opposite is the case for others. Research on the brain’s anatomy suggests that children are extremely active with sharper memories than adults. That’s why you’re advised to mind what you say to a child because they’ll always remember your face and the way you said it. This means that when your child forgets little things at a younger age, it shows there’s a lack of focus and attention which should be of serious concern to you.
· Always Daydreaming and Isolation
Another notable sign of ADHD in children is daydreaming and isolating oneself from other children. As stated earlier, children want to go around the four corners of the world. They love to explore, whether skating or biking with their friends, or playing and chatting. So, be more observant. If your child doesn’t value the company of those they call friends, then it’s a clear sign of ADHD.
At times, they may be seen staring into a deep space not concentrating on what’s going on around their environment and daydreaming about virtually nothing.
· Emotional Imbalance
Tantrums are normal behavior for children especially when they are upset, annoyed, hungry or hurt. They may throw things around to show their anger. You should however be careful to observe your child’s tantrums. If they seem to destroy stuff over small issues, then it’s ADHD. This behavior is referred to as tempered tantrums. It’s a situation where anger and frustration are released all at once.
Children especially in the toddler stage tend to have one of these temper tantrums. When it becomes too much, you’ll need to seek medical attention because that I an early stage of ADHD.
FINAL WORDS
ADHD in children poses a major threat to both the mental and physical life of a kid. It causes them to experience inattention or hyperactivity-impulsivity or even the both. Its symptoms are sometimes misunderstood and neglected by parents and caretakers, leaving the child mentally unstable. Provided in this article are the common signs and symptoms associated with this condition. Go get the right diagnosis and treatment for your child today, saving them as a responsible parent.
