ADHD

Today we are having a look at ADHD a condition my grandchild Sam has, I also have a niece with it.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects a person’s behaviour and learning. It’s characterized by symptoms like:

• Inattention, or difficulty focusing
• Hyperactivity, or excess movement
• Impulsivity, or acting without thinking 

It is often first diagnosed in childhood, but some people don’t discover they have it until they’re older. The exact cause of ADHD is unknown, but it’s thought to be caused by differences in the brain that impact attention and behaviour. 

It can impact a person’s life at home, school, and with friends. Treatments include:

• Behavioural therapies, like psychotherapy or talk therapy
• Medication, which can help manage impulses and actions

Sam was diagnosed when he was in kindergarten and had to be medicated before he was allowed to attend a full day at school later, she moved on to a full week. When Sam first started school, she was only going two half days a week.

It is one of the most common mental disorders affecting children. Symptoms include the following:

inattention

hyperactivity

impulsivity

finding it hard to sit still

constantly fidgeting.

being unable to concentrate on tasks.

excessive physical movement.

excessive talking.

being unable to wait their turn.

acting without thinking.

interrupting conversations.

Yes, Sam has all these symptoms.

Usually, the most difficult times for persons with ADHD are their school years these are the years when children are faced with the widest range of tasks to do and the least opportunity to escape from the tasks that they struggle with or find to be boring.

You cannot outgrow the condition but as you age you learn how to control it or yourself and your symptoms, it is likely you may need some form of medication even as an adult. My niece is in her 30’s and was only diagnosed this year and is now on medication and coping much better than she was.

It tends to run in families, and, in most cases, it’s thought the genes you inherit from your parents are a significant factor in developing the condition. Research shows that parents and siblings of someone with ADHD are more likely to have ADHD themselves.

Sam’s father has ADHD