Undisciplined, disruptive, careless, disinterested, spoiled---there are so many incorrect labels used to evaluate the behavior of a child with undiagnosed attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or ADHD. Rather than judgment and criticism, a child with ADHD needs help from specially trained health professionals, parents and teachers with the knowledge and expertise to aid them in nurturing the ADHD child. Knowledge of the characteristics of ADHD in children is crucial in detecting the disease and taking the first steps toward treatment.
Difficulty in School
Children with ADHD typically demonstrate a number of behavioral patterns that have negative effects on their ability to perform in school. ADHD children can have a tendency toward inattentiveness or hyperactivity or both, depending on which type of ADHD they have.
Inattentive type ADHD can inspire a resistance toward tasks that require focused effort, such as studying for tests. Difficulty in sustaining concentration may result in an inability to follow through on instructions, complete homework or organize projects, according to the Mayo Clinic. Children with this type of ADHD may be accused of daydreaming instead of listening to lessons.
Hyperactive and impulsive type ADHD is characterized by restless squirming and fidgeting or the inability to stay seated in class for sustained periods of time. Children with this type of ADHD sometimes disrupt classes by blurting out answers or failing to wait their turn.
Social Problems
An inability to conform to the appropriate standards of social behavior can result in alienation by peers of children with ADHD. The excess energy demonstrated in hyperactive type ADHD make it difficult for a child to maintain proper boundaries. These children often intrude on, or interrupt ,other children at play and seem incapable of playing quietly when the situation calls for it. The University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC) notes that the sensory overload experienced in a busy classroom can hyper-stimulate the ADHD child.
Struggles at Home
Parents of ADHD children face a unique set of challenges. In the home environment, such children may reaction badly to any alteration in normal daily routine. A new food or a change in bedtime can cause an eruption of anger. Temper tantrums are common in some children with ADHD, and their mood shifts may be sudden and unpredictable.
It is important to note that the behaviors described as being characteristic of ADHD are also exhibited from time to time by children who do not have the condition. Young children have shorter attention spans, and the occasional tantrum is a normal part of exploring boundaries. It is only when the cluster of typical ADHD symptoms recur in a persistent and unrelenting manner that ADHD should be suspected.
