Children With ADHD

ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder) is a crucial neurodevelopmental disorder in children that makes them hyperactive, excessively impulsive and brings about a lower level of attention in their everyday life (chadd.org). This has a possibility of extending into adolescent life as well if not treated properly. It has to be mentioned that more than 3 to 5 percent of children in America suffer from ADHD (MedlinePlus, 2016). The very early observations upon children who displayed hyperactivity, impulsiveness and low attentiveness was carried on in the year 1902 (chadd.org). Everybody is said to have a certain level of impulsiveness, hyperactivity and a lack of attention but these behavioural patterns are found at a higher degree in ADHD affected children which creates a problem for them almost every way they go. This disorder affects a conspicuous amount of a child’s personality, hence, it has been a huge concern for the people since a long period of time. A little more detail about ADHD shall be discussed further including its treatment as well.

Keywords: ADHD, children with ADHD

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Analysis of Children With ADHD

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) has been of a great concern for people who have their near and dear ones going through this neurodevelopmental disorder. Children with ADHD are adversely affected because of their lack in attentiveness and a heightened level of impulsiveness in everything they do whether they are at home or in their school or any other public places. It is not only challenging for them but the situation is immensely difficult for their families as well. The children suffering from ADHD might: daydream in excess, appear to be listening less, pay very less attention, easily sway away from their assigned work, talk excessively, abruptly come in the middle of someone else’s conversation, forget about things easily, act without giving it a thought, be too noisy, unnecessarily fidgety, find it difficult to stay at one single place (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). They can also grow up mentally a little later than their friends of the same age, are socially more awkward than normal with a very less ability to control their emotion and have a low level of tolerance (chadd.org).

This essay on children with ADHD is important to me, personally, because one of my closest nephews is suffering from this disorder and I see the 6 year old child, my brother and my sister-in-law who are his parents suffer every day. We stay under one roof and I get to observe all that occurs quite closely. Mike is the only child they have and it’s been one and a half years since

he started showing signs of ADHD. The child isn’t doing anything on purpose and the sad part is he can’t help it. His parents on the other hand lose their sanity at times but still hold on because                           parents are instinctively like that, and, I know they won’t give up. Mike is the only one in the family with such a disorder and also the youngest, so, all of us try our best to help him be

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normal. In all of these sessions I have observed that patience plays a key role while trying to deal with children with ADHD apart from the treatment given by the doctors.

The factors that result in ADHD in children have not been very clear to the researchers, however, a substantial number of these experts say that it has the possibility of being genetic in nature since it runs within the families and to support this argument, more than twenty studies on genetics have effectively reflected on the fact that ADHD is an inherited disorder. However, it is a sophisticated matter because this disorder is due to more than one interacting genes. The other causes that have been validated are: injuries in the brain, untimely birth or weighing less after birth, and being exposed to certain amount of pesticides and leads in earlier phases of childhood (chadd.org. org). 

My brother and his wife are nature lovers and yoga enthusiasts which helps them find their equilibrium while dealing with the ADHD in Mike. They are aware that this condition can result in a lot of hindrances for Mike while growing up but all they can do is be tolerant and help their son to cope with his conditions given that he is just a six year old going through this bitter phase so early in life. There is a possibility that this neurodevelopmental disorder can be treated by, an  effective behavior therapy and parent trainings, stimulant and non-stimulant medications and                                                                                                        

availability of school accommodations and interventions. It has been approved by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) that behaviour therapy and medications are effective for a six year old child and above whilst the behaviour therapy to be the first step taken towards curing ADHD in children who are below six years old by the parents followed by medications later ? (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017). Behaviour therapy includes the learning of respective

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mannerisms and techniques to benefit the child with ADHD and his/her family. It will help the parents to understand more about their child’s perspective on the day to day activities, hence, creating a deeper empathy in parents. Even the training includes activities for the parents to have a better understanding of ADHD. Medications including both stimulants and non-stimulants are effective. Stimulants have resulted in lesser ADHD problems in seventy to eighty percent children whereas the non-stimulants after being approved in the year 2003 have been used as a treatment even if they are slower than the stimulants while healing and they are effective for 24 hours maximum. The treatment including school accommodations and interventions includes the steps that can be adopted by the teachers who have students diagnosed with ADHD. They can make their lessons shorter and non repetitive, they should also see that the children are allowed to move around and keep a check on whether they understood their lessons. It is advised to make a distinct homework folder to help the student to keep a track on his homework and to be in constant touch with the parents (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2017).

ADHD in children is nothing less than a challenge where the stakes of losing out is more than triumphing over the disorder. It is exhaustive not only for the child but to his/her entire family and friends. We must be calm and gentle with these children and understand their condition by putting ourselves in their place for a while. These children need to be given more chances to express themselves and help them heal in some way. My brother, my sister-in-law, my entire family and I have been looking after Mike as best as we can and we try and make him better by patience, love and the prescribed therapies and medications.