Working for a long time with preschool children, I came to the disappointing conclusion that few parents know how ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) manifests itself in children and what it is in general.
At the mere mention of ADHD, parents start to panic. Although there is nothing to panic about. This is not a terrible mental illness! Although, yes, the diagnosis is made by a psychiatrist or a neurologist.
Then what is it?
Today I will briefly tell you about it.
To begin with, let’s make it clear for ourselves that doctors characterize ADHD as one of the manifestations of MMD (minimal brain dysfunction). MMD is a violation of certain higher mental functions, which can be associated both with the immaturity of the child’s psyche (!), And with defects in the development of the cerebral cortex or regulatory functions of the brain. And most importantly – MMD are reversible, that is, with time, with maturation of the brain and age, it disappears!
Boys are more susceptible to this syndrome than girls.
There are 3 types of ADHD:
Mixed – when there is both hyperactivity and impaired attention. Most often in children it is this form.
Inattentive type – only a violation of attention, difficult to diagnose.
Hyperactive type – mostly hyperactive, but this is a rare type.
How do you know if your baby is hyperactive? From the very diapers, they are very mobile. All children are mobile, but they cannot be compared with such children in activity. These babies crawl out of diapers and diapers, move all over the crib, although they still do not know how to crawl, they sleep very poorly and restlessly.
In the kindergarten, they can be recognized by frequent falls and bumps. Children with ADHD are very clumsy. It is good that they get injured very rarely, the experience of frequent falls affects. Little ADHD will even watch a cartoon in motion – they will jump, run in circles, dance. The task of parents is to try not to pay attention to the child spinning without a break, not to get annoyed and not to despair. Such mobility is a necessity for the active work of their brain. Toddlers with ADHD usually have poorly developed fine motor skills (it is difficult to draw, fasten buttons, playing with small objects is difficult).
And these kids are extremely impulsive. They are very enterprising, but it is wildly difficult for them to bring the work they have started to the end. A fully assembled puzzle or a finished drawing is not about them! They are annoyed by any long wait, you will not stand in line with them.
When little ADHD kids start talking, there’s no stopping them! It’s a vocabulary flow! Next to such your baby, it will be difficult for you to talk with a neighbor or girlfriend, because the baby will insert his words into your speech incessantly and demand your attention. Lack of willpower will prevent your ADHD Genie from learning many social rules, in particular that it is not good to interrupt adults. A child may understand that he is wrong, even apologize, but due to problems with his will, he will do the same next time. And long educational conversations – in general, they will not influence him in any way.
How is ADHD treated?
How to raise such a child?
ADHD is suggested to be treated (but not cured!!) by doctors. Medications only help a little to adapt the child, but do not get rid of ADHD. Nobody still knows the exact reasons for the diagnosis: genetics, infections during pregnancy or the first year of life, birth trauma, structural features of the brain. There are many versions. If you understand that your child looks like ADHD Genk , it’s time to see a doctor, do an EEG and MRI of the brain, and then go to a psychologist with the results. Do not focus on the fact that your child is somehow different. This will frighten, embarrass him and maladjust him in society. Let him know that he has features, but he is not sick! And let him understand that everything is fine with him, that he, like other children, should listen to his parents, try to study at school. Otherwise, a little ADHD Genok may well begin to use his “so-called” disease and manipulate adults.
In a children’s team, such children may have problems with friends, since they behave quite unusually in the eyes of other children. Try to support your children and clarify the points that interest them when they encounter communication problems.
Tell them that these features of his will pass with time, it will become easier. And always emphasize that despite the difficulties, your child is very talented. And this is very often the case. The features of these children sometimes help to see what others do not see. These children often have high emotional intelligence and IQ for all their existing problems.
What problems can remain over the years in adults with ADHD, if the syndrome was not treated, it was not dealt with?
Inability to rationally plan one’s time, poor memory, low academic performance in universities, difficulties in the professional path, depression, neuroses, wild fatigue at work, difficulties in building a family and raising their own children. However, if children with ADHD are dealt with from birth, these consequences can be avoided.
Do not delay contacting a psychiatrist, a neurologist, then a psychologist. Take care of your kids in a timely manner, and you will definitely avoid all the most difficult possible problems for ADHD .