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ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER
(ADHD)
1)What is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?
1)ADHD is a persistent and pervasive
disorder characterized by poor attention span, overactivity and impulsive behavior
far in excess of behavior by other children in that age group. This behavior
makes it difficult for the child to adjust and adapt to the social environment
inspite of having normal intelligence. ADHD is usually noticed in children below
7 years of age. The following features are usually seen in children with ADHD:
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2) My child aged 5 years does not sit still for more than few minutes. She
finds it hard to concentrate and disturbs the class often. What should I do?
2) Your child has a low attention span. However, before labeling your
child as ADHD, it is imperative to rule out physical causes of restlessness
in your child (commonest being worms). Also, consult your doctor to rule out
epilepsy (an EEG may be recommended), psychosis, depression, anxiety etc. Many
children with learning disabilities may suffer from short attention, as they
may be depressed as they are unable to comprehend regular studies. Finally,
your child may be having too many sensory inputs and as a result may be irritable.
3) My child tends to day dream a lot and appears to be in his dream world.
What should I do?
3) Dreaming is a part of growing up and is considered normal. Abnormal
day dreaming is when the dreams are so intense that they interfere with day
to day activity. If your child has abnormal day dreaming, consult your doctor
for further evaluation.
4) How does one get ADHD?
4) Though the exact cause of ADHD is still not known, it is postulated
that these children suffer from minimal brain damage either prenatal, at time
of birth or even in the neonatal age group.
5) Is ADHD a hereditary condition?
5) The incidence of ADHD is seen more frequently in first-degree relatives,
in off springs of parents having depression, anxiety & personality disorders.
Incidence is also higher in children of parents with alcohol & drug abuse.
However, one should also remember that the severity and symptoms of ADHD also
depend on the upbringing of the child.
6) How is ADHD diagnosed?
6) ADHD is a clinical diagnosis. It is diagnosed by overactivity in
a child causing impairment of regular activities (The child disturbs both self & others). It is usually diagnosed when a child starts talking and walking.
However, before diagnosing ADHD, always rule out psychosis, depression, anxiety, epilepsy and dyslexia in a child. Again, IQ testing may not be a prerequisite to diagnose ADHD. It may be useful in an older child with inattention and overactivity to determine the mental age and whether the child’s behavior correlates with that age group. (If the child’s mental age and behavior correlate, the child may not be having ADHD and may be suffering from some other disorder).
7) What is the treatment of ADHD?
7) ADHD is due to an abnormality in the reticular activating system
of the brain. Drugs that increase the reticular activating system (RAS) stimulation
are used successfully in the treatment of ADHD. The two drugs commonly used
are methylphenidate and amphetamine. Methylphenidate is used in the dose of
5-10mg in the morning everyday. (The drug is given even on weekends & during
vacations). These drugs have to be taken under a doctor’s guidance, as
they are habit forming and cause loss of appetite. This treatment is required
for many years. However, the disorder attenuates as the child grows older and
hence life long medication is not required.
8) My child has ADHD. Does it affect the intelligence?
8) Usually ADHD is seen in children with normal intelligence. IQ testing
may show pseudo-retardation (i.e. the child may have normal IQ, but due to overactivity,
testing may show a false low IQ)
9) Is ADHD a life long condition? Can my child outgrow it?
9) No, ADHD is not a life long condition. It is usually outgrown by
the time the child becomes an adolescent.
10) How do adults with ADHD behave?
10) Usually children outgrow ADHD, as they grow older. Few preadolescents
and adolescents may have residual symptoms. For them, the treatment is usually
behavioral and cognitive therapy. There are anecdotal reports of various other
therapies that have been tried like dance therapy, swimming, exercise, horse – riding etc to channelise their energies and increase their concentration.
11) How can I, as a parent, help in the treatment of ADHD?
11) Parents can definitely help in the treatment of children with ADHD. They should
reward positive behavior of the child and reprimand negative behavior. The reprimand should be proportional to the
intensity of the negative behavior and should always be predictable /consistent. It should
not remain that the child is scolded sometimes and just let off other times. The parents
should use persuasive firmness while dealing with these children.
ALWAYS REMEMBER-
PARENTS SHOULD PREACH WHAT THEY PRACTICE AND PRACTICE WHAT THEY PREACH.
In school also, the teachers should be persuasive and yet firm. Before a child resumes school, the ADHD should be controlled else the child may be socially stigmatized.
12) I have a child with ADHD and I am expecting another child. What are the
chances that my next child will also have ADHD?
12) There is no direct linkage of genetic transmission of ADHD. However,
the younger child may assume the older sibling as a role model and develop overactivity.
Hence, what is required is effective parenting.
13) Does any particular diet help children with ADHD?
13) No particular diet has been found useful in patients with ADHD.
14) Can family feuds cause ADHD?
14) Family disruptions or broken homes do not lead to ADHD but it may
definitely aggravate or lengthen the disability.
15) What is the prognosis of a child with ADHD?
15) Prognosis of a child with ADHD depends on how alert are the parents.
Last updated 01-03-2007