ADHD: what is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or hyperkinetic disorder (ADHD) attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is a common neurodevelopmental disorder in children. Its incidence is estimated at 1-5% depending on the criteria used. Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is slightly more common in boys, but its prevalence in girls may be underestimated due to less severe hyperactivity in this group.
This disorder begins in early childhood, most often in preschool age. In the majority - about 70% of patients, symptoms persist during puberty, and in 30-66% of patients, they remain present in adulthood. Often in the subject of ADHD we wonder what exactly is it? What are the symptoms of ADHD in children, is there a test that can dispel our doubts? What symptoms of ADHD can be observed in a 2-year-old and a 3-year-old, and what in teenagers? How to treat ADHD?
ADHD Symptoms: What is it?
ADHD is characterized by three groups of symptoms: hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsiveness. ADHD symptoms belonging to these groups may vary in severity depending on the child, one of the categories may be dominant. To recognize ADHD, symptoms:
- must be observed at least two different social environments, e.g. at home or school;
- should be present for a period longer than 6 months;
- occur depending on the criteria used przed 7 rokiem zycia (ICD10) or 12 years old (DSMV).
ADHD: causes
The causes of ADHD are complex, with many interrelated factors. The causes of ADHD include:
- conditions genetic;
- so-called impact environmental.
ADHD: causes concerning genetic conditions
An important role is played by mutations in genes responsible for neurotransmission, more frequent familial occurrence of this syndrome is observed.
ADHD: causes on environmental impacts
Environmental factors include exposure in fetal life to tobacco smoke, alcohol, certain medications, nutritional deficiencies, and low birth weight. These factors contribute to specific changes in neurotransmission and altered activity in certain areas of the brain, resulting in ADHD symptoms.
As mentioned above, for a doctor to be able to make a diagnosis of ADHD according to the ICD10 criteria used in most European countries, ADHD symptoms should be present in a child before the age of 7.
Symptoms of ADHD At 2 i 3-year-old
This issue is not obvious, because the symptoms of ADHD in 2 and 3-year-olds are difficult to interpret due to the features resulting from the natural course of child development. Young children tend to be more mobile, have shorter attention spans, and are more likely to be impulsive.
Expert advises
Doctors and therapists use specialized scales to verify whether the child's behavior exceeds the accepted norms and meets the criteria necessary for the diagnosis of ADHD. The experience of the evaluator is very important here. Attention should be paid to the behavior of the child, which makes it difficult for him and the people around him to function on a daily basis. Very high emotional lability, easy transition to extreme emotions and their high expression, impulsive behavior, great difficulty in staying still even for a moment, constant fidgeting, big problems with focusing attention that make it impossible to listen to the end of a fairy tale or command. When all of the above symptoms occur with high severity, we can suspect ADHD even in 2 and 3-year-olds.
It should be noted that in such young children, the researchers emphasize that risk factors such as mental illness in parents, high stress, insufficient time and attention devoted to children by parents play a very important role in the development and maintenance of symptoms of full-blown ADHD.
ADHD: symptoms in children in early school age
In preschool children, we can suspect ADHD when we notice the following symptoms:
- cannot wait his turn;
- gives an answer before the question is heard in its entirety;
- interrupts others;
- goes about doing things before thinking about how they should be done;
- regardless of the known danger and consequences, he makes hasty decisions (e.g. runs across the road after a escaping ball without looking back);
- forgets to prepare for school, does not remember what was assigned and finds it difficult to focus on the lesson;
- easily succumbs to distractions, often fails to complete a task;
- Has trouble reading long, complex instructions
- is hyperactive cannot stand sitting in a pew - gets up, talks to or accosts other children, fidgets;
- quickly evaluates the behavior of others and makes hasty decisions on this basis, often getting into conflicts.
ADHD: Symptoms in Teenagers
When talking about ADHD and its symptoms in teenagers, problems with attention and impulsivity come to the fore. Hyperactivity is often slightly less pronounced than in younger children. The above-mentioned problems can significantly affect school performance, which is often lower than it would result from the child's intellectual abilities. They can also affect relationships with peers and teachers. People with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are more likely to have conflicts with other people, and sometimes problems with the law.
A very serious problem, especially intensified in adolescents with ADHD, are disorders that often coexist with this syndrome, such as anxiety, depression, sometimes bipolar disorder, substance abuse, tics.
Symptoms of ADHD in children: test
Diagnosis and treatment of ADHD should be carried out under the supervision of a psychiatrist and psychologist.
In making a diagnosis of the symptoms of ADHD in children, the so-called tests are very helpful. tests. What is it exactly? We have tests such as:
- structured diagnostic interview questionnaire for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) according to ICD-10 and DSM-IV TR (Wolańczyk, Kołakowski);
- CONNERS questionnaire, among others – during their completion, specific questions are asked about various areas of life and aspects of the disorder.
The tests should be completed by people who have contact with the child in various environments, e.g. by the parent and teacher. Their completion requires careful observation of the child, which allows you to give precise answers to questions about the child's functioning in various areas of life.
Expert advises
Differential diagnosis plays a very important role, conditions that may manifest themselves similarly to ADHD should be excluded - severe anxiety disorders, severe stress, cases of maltreatment, situations when a very talented child is not sufficiently stimulated, issues of setting boundaries. In addition, diseases such as hormonal disorders, hearing loss, epilepsy, as well as side effects of drugs (steroids, B2 mimetics, theophylline and others) and psychoactive substances should be excluded.
ADHD: how to treat?
The first step in treatment should be psychoeducation, during which the patient and his caregivers should be familiar with the essence of this disease and its course. Therapy should also be used to teach the patient ways to cope with the disease, e.g. controlling emotions, attention training, planning.
What if psychoeducation and ADHD therapy don't help? How else can this disorder be treated? Another element is pharmacological treatment, which is necessary for some patients and facilitates their daily functioning, but should be used in conjunction with psychotherapy. The most commonly used drugs are mildly stimulating the nervous system and drugs affecting neurotransmission. A psychiatrist should decide on the appropriateness and selection of such treatment.
ADHD: symptoms and the daily functioning of the child
It is important that the patient receives help in educational institutions and at home - the school should be informed about the diagnosis of ADHD in the child. Such a student should be supported by teachers and pedagogues. You should remember to give clear instructions, they should be addressed directly to him, try to limit the number of distractions. You should not judge the child's behavior as a manifestation of ill will, you should always make sure that the messages were delivered in an appropriate way and were received by the child.
ADHD is a disorder that seriously affects a child's functioning, self-esteem and how it is perceived by others.
Expert advises
In ADHD we are dealing with modified brain work and we should treat it as a disease, people affected by it should not be stigmatized, but should receive professional help and support from the environment. A correct diagnosis of ADHD and the use of appropriate therapy can significantly improve the quality of life, academic performance and avoid complications related to it.
Źródła:
Barbara Steinborn: Developmental Age Neurology. 2017, PZWL;
Anastasiadis, Will. "Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in Preschool-Aged Children: A Critical Review." (2021).
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