ADHD in Children

ADHD in children poses major problems for the sufferers’ development and maturity. This behavioural disorder is not confined to a selected few but actually affects millions of children not only in all countries but also in all social and economic classes.

A conservative estimate has it that ADHD in children amounts to about 3% to 5% of school-age children in the United States alone. Others put the figures at between 4% to a massive 18%. It is believed that ADHD in children may persist into adulthood for about 60% of the sufferers, while some do outgrow ADHD. Its symptoms include distractibility, impulsivity and social behaviour problems.

It is not easy to make a clear distinction between what is considered normal and abnormal behaviour in children. It is thus advisable to note that the earlier quoted figures for ADHD in children are not carved in stone. For one thing we are not sure who carried out the diagnosis or the diagnostic procedures used. In addition to that, the scientific community still hasn’t fully understood this disorder in its totality.

All children behave along a spectrum that ranges from normal to abnormal. Some are noisy, some calm and collected, while others may be brash and dynamic. Concerns about ADHD should ideally only arise when the children’s behaviours are deemed excessive, pervasive and persistent in many different situations – such as in school, at home, among friends or the grocery store.

But one important point to note is that if your kid is just, say, three or fours years old, you should not jump into conclusion that he or she has ADHD just because they show some symptoms of it. This is because ADHD in children of preschool age is difficult to diagnose. What could be ADHD may simply turn out to be just that your child’s preschool teachers have unrealistic expectations of him/her. Remember, most three or four year olds have short attention spans, are hyperactive, and like to play. You can’t expect them to sit still for a 2-hour stretch at a time.

You should be concern only if ADHD runs in the family, and, as mentioned earlier, your kid he is also overly aggressive towards other children or his behaviour is very different from other preschoolers. It is then advisable to seek further evaluation by a child psychologist or your pediatrician.

ADHD in children is not a death knell. There exists any well-known personalities who have it but succeeded in beating the odd to do well academically, socially or employment wise. The right way to view ADHD is to look at it as a “wake-up call”. Once the child has been positive diagnosed, an important thing to do is to accept it and then systematically identify their weaknesses and strengths for the purpose of treatment.

Continue reading to find out the answer to the question - do children with ADHD outgrow it?.