Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is an attention disorder that affects most children. It usually comes with distinctive features and behavioral patterns that can be used in the diagnosis process. It is also referred to as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Research attests this disorder to neurological malfunctions in young children, who are the main victims. It usually results in increased activity of the child, and little or no ability to pay attention for long periods of time. Initially, people believed that the condition was a psychological one that stemmed from indiscipline. The root cause of the problem is incomplete development of the brain as the child grows. This is usually concerned with the nervous system and circuitry that monitors the proper functioning of the brain. Research shows that the normal functioning of the brain is crucial for normal motor functions.
The condition may vary from one child to another. Children may be primarily inattentive, hyperactive or even a blend of the two. As such, some of the common symptoms include fidgetiness, difficulty in being calm or peaceful as they carry out common activities such as playing, reading and eating. Such children also have difficulty in waiting their turn in a normal conversation. They also shout involuntarily, even when the situation does not call for such a response. As such, people tend to mistake these children to be rude and highly indiscipline. They also have difficulty in waiting their turn. Due to these multiple abnormal traits, they usually have problems making friends and eventually end up being lonely because of how callous they are.
Despite the common symptoms of ADHD, it is critical to discern this condition from the normal behavioral patterns that occur in children as they grow up (Oades, 645). One key factor to consider is the severity of the symptoms that are displayed. This means a keen comparison of the habits of the child to that of other children of the same age. This is rather easy to establish and parents must be ready to accept the situation to enable a prompt treatment and management procedure of the disorder. The hyperactivity symptoms are more common at an early age, usually before seven years of age. One of the most vivid symptoms of ADHD is inattention. This may be manifested in multiple ways in the child’s behavioral patterns. This encompasses failure to pay attention to detail or multiple careless mistakes that may appear due to utter disinterest in anything specific. This is further observable in the difficulties that arise when it comes to carrying out activities that require sustained attention. Incomplete tasks such as homework and failure to follow through on instructions are also a common phenomenon.
Children suffering from ADHD are also highly disorganized. They usually require constant supervision and control to ensure that they carry out the necessary activities. The inattention usually stems from unrelated or extraneous factors, other than the activity at hand. Forgetfulness is also manifested in form of loss of personal effects, and even normal procedures. Another common symptom is hyper activity. This symptom is also varies from one child to another, and in various ways. Children with ADD find it difficult to remain calm and still in situations that require one to do so, for example during a lesson. They also tend to be extremely noisy, and even violent in some instances (Larimer, 378).
They may, in some instances, be extremely talkative hence causing multiple distractions. They may also have difficulty sleeping, but they are normally very tired at the end of the day because of the amount of energy consumed. Before any conclusions are made, it is crucial for comprehensive behavioral, medical and educational evaluations to be conducted. This helps prevent instances of misdiagnosis. Teachers can help to identify such behavior that would help in such an analysis. This means that they should observe children who are extremely violent to their peers, fidgety and poor listeners.
Despite the severity of this disorder, no cure has ever been found that will solve all the behavioral challenges that come with the disorder. However, there are very effective strategies that have been used and have been successful. These strategies comprise of a combination of several methods aimed at reaching a specific goal. One of the key areas involved in the treatment process is the behavioral management. This is an approach aimed at changing the behavioral patterns of the child such that they acquire positive traits. The child is taught to appreciate the cause-effect relationship in doing any activity (Conners, 275).
They are also taught to be sensitive to other’s emotions and their opinions. This approach is especially preferred if the parents do not wish to follow up on the medical approach or if the medical approach fails to work. Alternatively, pharmacological approaches that involve the use of antidepressants and stimulants can also be used to curb hyper activity, insomnia and even nervousness. Multimodal approaches have also proven to be effective due to the fact that they incorporate a combination of several approaches. They make sure the teacher, parent and the child is comprehensively involved in the treatment procedure. This has been found to be the best approach in the treatment of ADHD.
Works Cited
Conners, C. Keith. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: the latest assessment and treatment
strategies. 3rd ed. Kansas City, MO: Compact Clinicals, 2006. Print.
Larimer, Michelle P.. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) research developments.
Hauppauge, N.Y.: Nova Science Publishers, 2005. Print.
Oades, Robert D.. Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) and the hyperkinetic
syndrome (HKS): current ideas and ways forward. New York: Nova Science Publishers, 2006. Print.
