When a child is hyperactive

All healthy children are vivacious by nature. Everybody likes lively children who are active in their daily life. But sometime few children are hyperactive and sometimes impulsive with lack of attention. They create problem in their home, school and other social setting.

In medical terminology they called as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)   or Hyperkinetic/Hyperactive child. This is a childhood mental disorder which can affect a child’s ability to learn and get along with others.

It is a mental disorder that begins in childhood and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. It makes it difficult for a child to focus and pay attention. For children with ADHD, levels of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsive behaviours are greater than that of other children in their age group. ADHD can make it harder for a child to do well in school or behave at home or in the community.

ADHD often runs in families and other causes are smoking or drinking of mother during pregnancy, birth complications, very low birth weight, exposure of infant to lead or other toxic substances, extreme neglect, abuse or social deprivation, food additives like artificial colouring, which might make hyperactivity worse.

ADHD has many symptoms. Some symptoms at first may look like normal behaviour for a child, but it makes them much worse and occur more often. Children with ADHD have few symptoms that start in the first 12 years of their lives.

Children with ADHD may:

• Get distracted easily and forget things often
• Switch too quickly from one activity to the next
• Have trouble with directions
• Daydream too much
• Have trouble finishing tasks like homework or chores
• Lose toys, books, and school supplies often
• Fidget and squirm a lot
• Talk nonstop and interrupt people
• Run around a lot
• Touch and play with everything they see
• Be very impatient
• Blurt out inappropriate comments
• Have trouble controlling their emotions.

Boys  are more likely than girls to have ever been diagnosed with ADHD. The average age of ADHD diagnosis is 7 years of age, but children reported by their parents as having more severe ADHD are diagnosed earlier.

Children with ADD/ADHD need structure, consistency, clear communication and rewards and consequences for their behaviour. They also need lots of love, support and encouragement.

There are many things parents can do to reduce the symptoms of ADD/ADHD without sacrificing the natural energy. In most cases, ADHD is best treated with a combination of medication and behaviour therapy. No single treatment is the answer for every child and good treatment plans will include close monitoring, follow-ups and any changes needed along the way.

The team made with Psychiatrist, Psychologist and Paediatrician can deal with ADHD. In Bangladesh, National Institute of Mental Health in Dhaka and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University have special child guidance clinic for the management of ADHD. Early intervention shows better improvement; so any child has the symptoms of ADHD need to consult for professional management.

The writer is an Assistant Professor of Child Adolescent & Family Psychiatry at National Institute of Mental Health, Dhaka.

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