Signs Of ADHD To Look Out For
Several children suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, or more commonly known as ADHD. It is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder that can affect your child’s performance and interpersonal relationships in school, at home, and in other social situations such as at church. Doctors are usually able to detect ADHD in children from when they are 7 years old to when they are in their teens. Older children who may have ADHD would usually have shown signs of it earlier in their childhood. If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, you might want to send them immediately to a healthcare practice that focuses on wellness of the mind as well as the body.
Inability To Keep Still Or Play Quietly
Children with ADHD are easily spotted by their tendency to fidget. When asked to sit in one spot for an extended period of time, they may try to get up and roam around or run, and if forced to sit they may fidget and squirm in their seat. They also find it difficult to be quiet when they are playing.
Frequently Interrupts Others
If a child often interrupts others, it indicates that they have a tendency to only focus on their own needs, and are unable to recognize other people’s needs and desires. They may not only cut people off while talking, but they may butt into other people’s conversations or games without thinking too much about politeness.
Talks Excessively
Children with ADHD have a tendency to chatter constantly, even for inappropriate periods of time, seemingly never getting tired. They also may blurt out answers to questions, or bring up new topics or questions that set them off on another spiral.
Impatient
Trouble waiting their turn to ask questions or play games? Can’t wait for the teacher to call on them before speaking? Impatience is also a strong indicator of ADHD in children, and it also shows their tendency to only focus on their own needs compared to others.
Emotionally Volatile
Kids with ADHD may have trouble with impulsivity or expressing their emotions, which can lead to anger outbursts. This means a child can switch from extremely joyous one second to extremely angry and upset the next, without the ability to control his or her emotions even after some time.
Unfocused And Unable To Finish Tasks
You may be speaking directly to them, but they still are unable to pay attention. Even if they say they heard you, they would be unable to repeat back to you what you had just said a second before. This also translates to having difficulties in finishing tasks, be it chores, homework, personal projects and the like, quickly moving on to the next distraction before the first one is done.
Often Daydreams
Some of the quieter children with ADHD may be found daydreaming, staring into space, and ignoring what is happening around them. They may be lost in their own train of thoughts for long periods of time. Even if you try to catch their attention, it does not work unless you get right in their faces or physically contact them. Aside from daydreaming, they may also tend to be forgetful, or frequently lose things.
Makes Mistakes Easily
While some tasks may be simple to execute, and you may have already given clear instructions that other children were able to follow without a hitch, children with ADHD symptoms may make careless mistakes over and over again even though they are smart and seem to understand concepts quickly.
If you are concerned about ADHD in your child, do approach Mind & Body Group, as we give equal importance to mental and emotional health, physical health, and spiritual health. We can pair your child with a professionally trained counselor who can help increase your child’s emotional vocabulary, implement effective problem-solving strategies, and raise the frequency of positive interactions with teachers and parents.