Hyperactive children

Attention deficit disorder with or without hyperactivity (adhd) is a behavioral disorder of neurobiological origin characterized by the appearance of three typical symptoms: attention deficit, impulsivity, and motor and / or vocal hyperactivity. All three symptoms may or may not occur together.

There are three types of adhd:

• Impulsive-hyperactive type: it is the less frequent type where there are impulsive and hyperactive behaviors without lack of attention or distraction.
• Inattentive type: there is inattention and distraction but there is no hyperactivity.
• Combined type: it is the most frequent of the three and it is where the three symptoms exist at the same time.

Cause

The direct or immediate cause of adhd is not yet known, but it does seem to be a hereditary neurobiological disorder. There seems to be a chemical imbalance in the part of the brain responsible for attention and movement.

It seems that adhd is the disorder with the highest incidence in childhood and it is said that at least one child in every classroom, at school, has adhd. It affects 3-7% of adolescents. It is more common in boys than girls. In the case of children, it presents with a higher degree of hyperactivity-impulsivity leading to annoying or aggressive behaviors. Girls have more problems with academic performance and inattention.

Symptoms

In the predominantly inattentive type of adhd, it seems that the child does not listen when spoken to directly, that it is difficult for him to get going, and that he often forgets or loses things. He is distracted by any noise or irrelevant environmental stimuli and even disperses himself in activities that he enjoys or during play. At school he is passive, unnoticed and does not learn at the expected rate. He does not write homework on the agenda, so he forgets to do it at home. You don't like tasks that require sustained mental effort. When he presents a job he does it late and badly, in a sloppy way. With all this, it does not mean that he is a child with little intelligence.

In the predominantly hyperactive-impulsive type adhd, it is characteristic that the child moves from one side to another in any circumstance, even if it is inappropriate. Moves the body excessively: hands, feet, balances, gets up often from the chair or at mealtime. Interrupts conversations and activities. Respond hastily to questions, without thinking about them. Talks a lot and has difficulty engaging in quiet games or activities. It is a behavior that is annoying both at school and in the family.

Most children with adhd have another added disorder: learning disorder, anxiety, depression, oppositional disorder, or conduct disorder.

Diagnosis

Usually the alarm signal is given by the family (who do not know how to direct their child's behavior) or the teachers (when the student does not follow the expected rhythm). The diagnosis must be made by a professional specialized in seeing this type of disorder through a series of questionnaires that are passed on to parents, teachers and the child himself.

Treatment

The treatment of the child with adhd must be multidisciplinary. The family and teachers should be instructed to inform them about the child's problem and to help them where possible. In many cases, treatment with medicines that try to improve the school performance of these children is indicated.