Childhood ADHD

If your child has ADHD, he or she may have the following symptoms:

Inattention
• Fails to give close attention to details or makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work or other activities
• Has difficulty sustaining attention in tasks or play activities
• Does not seem to listen when spoken to directly
• Does not follow through on instructions and fails to finish schoolwork, chores or duties in the workplace (not due to oppositional behavior or failure to understand instructions)
• Has difficulty organizing tasks and activities
• Avoids, dislikes or is reluctant to engage in tasks that require sustained mental effort (such as schoolwork or homework)
• Loses things necessary for tasks or activities (e.g., toys, school assignments, pencils, books or tools)
• Easily distracted by extraneous stimuli
• Forgetful in daily activities

Hyperactivity
• Fidgets with hands or feet or squirms in seat
• Leaves seat in classroom or in other situations in which remaining seated is expected
• Runs about or climbs excessively in situations in which it is inappropriate (in adolescents or adults, may be limited to subjective feelings of restlessness)
• Has difficulty playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly
• Is often “on the go” or often acts as if “driven by a motor”
• Talks excessively

Impulsivity
• Blurts out answers before questions have been completed
• Difficulty awaiting turn
• Interrupts or intrudes on others (e.g., butts into conversations or games)

Management and Treatment of ADHD

In children, the first line of treatment is therapy with behavioural modifications. Medications may be recommended by the child psychiatrist to enable the child to cope with the ADHD symptoms. This will help prevent the child with ADHD from being labelled as a naughty or lazy child by his teachers and parents. Punitive actions from adults and ostracization from peers due to their impulsive behaviours are factors leading to alienation of ADHD children and worsening of their behaviour.

Ref : http://www.psywellness.com.sg/adhd.html