QUESTION: My kid just doesn't seem to listen to anything I say, and certainly can't sit still long enough to have a talk with.
Even my neighbors are beginning to make comments and one friend thinks that I am dealing with a child with condition that has the word "hyperactive" in it.
I need some advise and information.
Can you help, please?
ANSWER: I certainly can offer you a few bits and pieces that may help, but this is a condition where the child must be observed and examined by a physician in order to get a clear understanding of the problem, and the information needed to make a correct diagnosis.
I believe your friend is referring to a condition known as "Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder" (ADHD).
It is a neurological condition that causes a child to be easily distracted from the task at hand, inattentive, impulsive, and hyperactive when compared to other children of the same age.
In some cases, particularly girls, the hyperactivity is less pronounced or noticeable.
With or without hyperactivity, this condition may affect from 2 percent to 10 percent of all children, and hyperactive behavior is the most common problem now being referred for care to child guidance clinics in the United States.
The diagnosis will depend upon the presence or absence of certain behavior patterns, and the severity will be judged by the effect on the child's ability to function.
There are 14 behavioral criteria listed for ADHD and there must be at least eight present for six or more months to make the diagnosis.
Here are but a few for you to use in your own preliminary evaluation of your child. 1: Often fidgets with hands and feet or squirms in seat, 2: has difficulty in remaining seated when required to do so, 3: is easily distracted by things happening outside the immediate area, 4: has difficulty in awaiting turns in games or group situations. As you can see it is not a simple task to arrive at the correct diagnosis, which is a must if an effective therapeutic plan is to be fashioned.
Prescription medications can be one route that is available to you, but this is a problem in which the solution is neither instantaneous nor complete; and you should proceed step by step through all the steps needed for a complete evaluation, meanwhile gathering all the information and resources that you may need to help you cope effectively.
Your ability to help your child is most important in the outcome of any treatment.
The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician.
Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.
