Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a disorder seen among 3 to 5% of the young children, mostly before they reach the age of 7. As the name suggests, children with ADHD display distraction, impulsiveness, and hyperactivity. Consequently, they fare poorly at school, suffer from low self-esteem, and have trouble in building up relationships. ADHD patients need prolonged medical care and counseling to get over the disease. Although ADHD can be remedied in childhood in some cases the disorder persists into adulthood as well.
There can be several symptoms indicating ADHD, but these symptoms are broadly classified as ‘inattentiveness’ and ‘hyperactivity’.
The symptoms of inattentiveness may include:
The symptoms of hyperactivity include:
However, it is not always easy to identify a child suffering from ADHD; most children can show these symptoms at one point of time or the other. But while a normal child will show different behavior at different places and with different people, a child suffering from ADHD will show these symptoms at all occasions. Nevertheless, whenever you suspect the child to be suffering from ADHD, you should get him/her evaluated by a doctor.
It is difficult to identify definite causes for ADHD; it mostly depends on a variety of factors. Heredity is a strong factor for ADHD. Exposure to alcohol, smoking, and certain drugs or toxins during pregnancy may also increase the chances of ADHD in the child. Other environmental factors during the growing up years may have some affect too.
There are several drugs – both stimulant and non-stimulant – that are used to treat ADHD. You will need to consult your health care provider before using any of them. There are no exact home remedies for ADHD, but the symptoms can be managed quite effectively by following a proper diet, exercise routine, and coping techniques.
Feed the child a proper nutritious diet and avoid anything that can excite the child further. Avoid sugar, caffeinated drinks, and artificial colorings and additives. Give the child foods that have omega-3 fatty acids; it is supposed to help treat ADHD. You should also pay attention to providing the child with vitamin, mineral, and herbal supplements. Let the child take up some amount of physical exercise. Be affectionate to the child, identify the problem areas, and invest time to solve them together. And, finally, do not lose patience; you’ll need loads and loads of it.