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Written By: Editorial Team | Updated : February 23, 2015 6:54 PM IST
Hi I am extremely worried about my eight-year-old son. He doesn't pay attention in school; his teachers are constantly complaining about his academics and even at home he can't sit still for a minute. Does he have Attention Deficiency Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)? What should I do? I am really worried.
Ans: The problem with ADHD diagnosis is that in places where the disease is unknown children actually suffering from the disease are punished or reprimanded for being naughty while in other societies where the disease is well-known even normal children are wrongly diagnosed with the disease. A child is considered to be suffering from the condition when he/she displays three primary characteristics inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity. And they show these characteristics in specific ways:
Children who only have inattentive symptoms of ADD/ADHD are often overlooked, since they're not disruptive. But, the symptoms of inattention have consequences: like being unable to follow directions; underperforming in school; or clashing with other kids over not playing by the rules.
Read more about causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of ADHD.
It's important not to confuse ADHD with other conditions like traumatic experiences, medical disorders affecting the brain like epilepsy, sleep disorders or even psychological disorders like depression, anxiety and bipolar disorder and developmental disorders like autism. It might be a good idea to take your child to see a psychiatrist who can then properly analyse whether your child has ADHD or not. For more information please read: Dealing with ADHD in children
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