Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Definition
ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is a mental disorder that causes a child to be difficult to concentrate, as well as having impulsive and hyperactive behavior, so it can impact on the child’s achievement in school.
Besides occurring in children, ADHD may also occur in older persons.
Healthcare professionals have identified 3 main types of ADHD, namely inattentive ADHD or also called ADD, hyperactive-impulsive ADHD, and combined ADHD, where children experience inattentive and hyperactive symptoms.
What causes ADHD?
Not found much information on the cause of ADHD. However, scientists still learn it. The causes and risk factors of these conditions are unknown, but research suggests genetics and environmental factors plays an important role.
In addition to genetics, scientists also studied other possible causes and risk factors, such as:
- Brain Injury
- Environmental exposure in childhood or early age
- Use of alco**hol and tobacco during pregnancy
- Premature births
- Low birth weight.
There is no study that supports popular assumptions in the community about the causes of hyperactive children, such as too much sugar consumption, watching too much TV, or social and environmental factors such as poverty and family disorder.
Many things, like the ones mentioned above, may have worsened the symptoms of the condition. However, it can not be used as a strong proof to conclude that it is the cause of hyperactive children.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder Symptoms
The main symptom of ADHD is difficult to concentrate, as well as to behave impulsivity and hyperactivity. Sufferers cannot be silent and always want to move.
ADHD symptoms generally appear in children before the age of 12 years. However, in many cases, the symptoms of ADHD can already be seen since the 3 year old child. ADHD occurring in children can be carried away to adulthood.
Symptoms shown by people with ADHD can vary.
In diagnosing ADHD, doctors will assess whether the child often behaves as mentioned below, in more than one situation, for more than 6 months. This behavior also negatively affects the child’s life at home, school, and social situations:
Signs of the Inattentive ADHD type:
- Difficulty listening to what was said to him.
- It is difficult to focus on the detailed things.
- Easy to take care of the task or game.
- Perform carelessness in school assignments or other activities.
- Daydream, having difficulty focusing.
- Forget important objects needed in tasks or activities, such as toys, school assignments, pencils, books.
- Unable to follow instructions and failed to complete the school assignment (not for opposing or not understanding).
- Avoid or particularly dislikes tasks like HOMEWORK or games that require mental effort.
- Forgot many things.
- Difficulty organizing tasks and other activities.
Signs of hyperactive:
- Left the seat when he was required to remain silent.
- It is often jittery and stretched like a constant movement.
- Talk too much.
- Often running around and climbing in inappropriate situations.
- Difficulty playing with quiet conditions.
Signs of Impulsive:
- Difficulty waiting for a turn or queueing.
- Run down the street without looking.
- Catapult the answer before the whole question is asked.
- Act and behave without thinking.
- Interrupt conversations or other people’s games.
Diagnosis of ADHD
Not all children who look very active can be diagnosed with ADHD. There are a few steps a doctor will take to diagnose ADHD.
- Explore the history of the patient’s illness, history of disease in the family, and school records.
- Conducting a series of physical and psychological examinations that the expert doctor will do to the citizens.
- Engage in interviews or questionnaires against family members, teachers, caregivers, or people who know the best.
- Perform several image test and laboratory tests to find other causes.
Thank you very much for reading Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Definition, Causes, Symptoms, and Diagnosis.
