What is ADHD? We hear this all of the time but do you really know what it involves? I am a teacher and I had no idea what ADHD involved until I did a large amount of research on it after his diagnosis. Check out my past blogs about my son's diagnosis and our journey prior to that.
These are just the tip of the "iceberg" of ADHD. These are the symptoms and characteristics that we can "see" and think that are the only components to it. If a child has combined ADHD, like my son, they can have symptoms from both lists.
ADHD hyperactive/ impulsive type
Can't sit still
fidgets a lot
talks constantly
runs or climbs a lot
always on the go
Lacks self control
difficulty waiting turn
blurts out
interrupts
intrudes
talks back
loses temper
ADHD inattentive type (used to be called ADD)
disorganized
doesn't follow through
doesn't pay attention
is forgetful
loses things
doesn't seem to be listening
late homework and school work
The characteristics above are just the tip of the ADHD "iceberg." This is what we can see. As with an iceberg, there is so much more to ADHD that we cannot see. At least 2.3 of children have another condition with ADHD. In my son's case, he has anxiety and SPD.
Neurotransmitter deficits impact behavior:
Insufficient levels of neurotransmitters- dopamine and norepinephrine, results in reduced brain activity.
Weak Executive Functioning:
Working memory and recall
getting started and putting forth effort
internalizing language
controlling emotions
problem solving
Impaired Sense of Time:
Doesn't judge passage of time properly
loses track of time
often late
forgets long term projects or is late
difficulty planning for future
impatient
hates waiting
time creeps
avoids doing homework or classwork (they cannot get started)
Sleep Disturbance
Impacts memory
doesn't get restful sleep
Can't fall asleep
Can't wake up
late for school
irritable
morning battles
3 year delayed brain maturation
less mature
less responsible
Does not learn easily from rewards and punishment
repeats misbehavior
may be difficult to discipline
less likely to follow rules
difficulty managing own behavior
acts without a sense of hindsight
must have immediate rewards
long term rewards don't work
Doesn't examine own behavior
difficulty change behavior
May have a co-existing condition:
Anxiety (34%)
Depression (29%)
Bipolar (12%)
Tourette's Syndrome (11%)
OCD (4%)
ODD (54-67%)
Serious Learning Problems
Specific learning disability (25-50%)
Poor working memory
can't memorize easily
forgets teacher and parent requests
slow math calculation
spelling problems
poor written expression
difficulty writing essays
slow retrieval of information
poor listening and reading comprehension
difficulty describing the world in words
Disorganization
Slow cognitive processing speed
poor handwriting
inattention
impulsive learning style
Low Frustration Tolerance
difficulty controlling emotions
short fuse
emotionally reactive
loses temper easily
may give up more easily
doesn't stick with things
speaks or acts before thinking
difficulty seeing others' perspective
may be self centered
If you suspect that your child has ADHD, talk to your child's pediatrician. They can treat or refer you to a specialist to treat ADHD, whatever treatment you choose for your child.
Check out our next blog post on our journey through using medication as our treatment.
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