ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Between 2% and 5% of children and adolescents suffer from this disorder. On average, there are 1 to 2 students who have ADHD in every classroom of 30 students.

It is a chronic condition whose signs and symptoms typically appear before the age of seven. It is also more common in boys than in girls, for every four boys with ADHD, there is one girl with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.

It is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by the core symptoms of inattention and/or hyperactivity-impulsivity. There are three subtypes of ADHD based on the predominant symptoms or on whether the symptoms appear combined.

ADHD Subtypes

• Predominantly inattentive: More inattentive symptoms, rather than hyperactive or impulsive symptoms.

• Predominantly hyperactive-impulsive: The majority of symptoms are hyperactive and impulsive, with few or no inattentive symptoms.

• Combined: A mix of inattentive, hyperactive, and impulsive symptoms.

How to recognize ADHD in children?

Early diagnosis is crucial in preventing complications. The main signs of each category are:

Inattention

• Fail to pay attention to details.
• Have problems sustaining attention in tasks or fun activities.
• Make careless mistakes, for example, in schoolwork.
• Are easily distracted by mundane stimuli.
• Do not seem to listen when spoken to directly.
• Have difficulty following through on instructions and fail to finish tasks.
• Have trouble organizing tasks and activities.

Hyperactivity

• Fidget with hands or feet or squirm in seat.
• Leave seat in situations in which remaining seated is expected.
• Have excess energy.
• Run about or climb excessively in situations where it is inappropriate (in adults, feelings of restlessness).
• Have trouble playing or engaging in leisure activities quietly.
• Talk excessively.

Impulsivity

• Blurt out answers before questions have been completed.
• Have difficulty awaiting turn.
• Interrupt or intrude on others.

How to deal with ADHD in children?

Treatment for children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder involves a multidisciplinary program that meets the specific needs of each child to improve their individual capacities and characteristics. It requires psychotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, pharmacological treatment, and psycho-pedagogical intervention.

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