Children are always active and mobile than adults, and this is common to all forms of life. But where is the line between normal activity and pathology? Some parents believe excessive activity perfectly normal, others rush to the diagnosis "hyperactive child" and show the baby's specialists. The truth, as always, is somewhere in between.

ADHD: a case history

The first descriptions of excessively restless children relate to the mid-nineteenth century. And in the sixties of the last century doctors began to regard such disorders as pathological - minimal brain dysfunction. In the eighties of hyperactive children was considered a separate disease: the International Classification of Diseases was named the disorder attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

This functional disorder of the central nervous system, which manifests itself in the fact that the child is difficult to focus on his problems with training. Although parents notice primarily hyperactive kid, much more serious violation of a child's inability to concentrate on something.

Interestingly, the number of children with this syndrome is growing: this diagnosis is almost every fifth child. Boys suffer from ADHD are four to five times more often than girls. It is believed that in the future these children are at risk for the development of chemical dependencies, although this relationship has yet to be proved.

For a long time, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in society is not perceived as something serious: many parents and teachers are convinced that the problem is just a bad temper. On the other hand, many anxious parents are willing to declare their child ill simply because of the fact that the toddler wakes up too early or likes to move actively. This, too, is fundamentally wrong. Diagnosis of ADHD can only pediatric neurologist.

Symptoms

The first symptoms of ADHD often occurs in infancy. These children have a high sensitivity to external stimuli, they have little sleep, a loud cry, and may be slightly behind in motor development. Parents concerned about randomness and redundancy of movement of the child, as well as its small backlog in speech development.

When a child goes to kindergarten, the problems are compounded. Teachers are beginning to complain about the lack of control and the restlessness of the child, his disinhibition and the inability to perform any task. These disorders are even more pronounced when the kindergarten children begin systematic training (training school). The brain is hyperactive children can not cope with the load, the kids get tired quickly. They are unbalanced, quick-tempered, conflict, they are often plagued by night terrors. So it is difficult for children to attend school and to adapt to the team, and because of his impulsiveness, such children often do things that qualify as anti-social.

As a rule, the results of observation of the child, which can be expected to suffer ADHD, a psychologist at the kindergarten (school psychologist) recommends that parents seek child to a pediatric neurologist. Sometimes, only one doctor's advice, in other cases, you must complete the survey, including the special tests, talk with your doctor, EEG or MRI. All of these methods are harmless and painless, and together they allow an accurate diagnosis.

What causes attention deficit disorder

As a rule, functional disorders of the brain in a child does not lead one reason, but the whole of the complex:

• Genetic predisposition. Approximately one-third of hyperactive children close relatives as a child had a similar problem.
• Adverse pregnancy of the mother. Risk factors include smoking and poor nutrition during pregnancy, fetal hypoxia, severe stress during pregnancy, threatened abortion.
• Birth injuries and complications. Prematurity, premature, delayed or, on the contrary, transient labor, induction of labor the mother - all of these factors may contribute to the development of ADHD in children.
• The tense situation in the family. Excessive strictness children, intolerance and unhealthy situation in the family can trigger disease onset.

  

Living with ADHD

In mild cases, hyperactivity disappears itself to adolescence; problems with impulsivity and attention deficit may last longer, but eventually they disappear. And to help the child to recover soon, parents will have to change the style of education. In advanced cases can not do without medical therapy, which may prescribe, of course, only a doctor.

Hyperactive children are very sensitive, they will quickly become fatigued and tired. Dealing with such a child should be gently and patiently, calmly and kindly. It should once and for all to understand that particular child's behavior caused by incorrect functioning of his nervous system, not with the bad character, so you can not punish him for signs of the disease.

It is important to observe the mode of the day, the child slept enough during both day and night. From daytime sleep should give up as late as possible. Are important and a walk in the fresh air. Active sessions necessary to alternate with quiet games.

Praise such a child should be often, but not too emotional, not to cause excitement. Number of prohibitions should not be excessive, it is better to forbid only what is truly dangerous or causes severe inconvenience to the child and others. Do not give your child several directions: first let perform one task, and only then get the next.

Maria Bykov

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