ADHD OVERVIEW

Hyperactivity and Distractable Children

Almost every child has days when she seems "hyperactive," but true hyperactivity is a condition that affects only about one in twenty children under age twelve. Children who are hyperactive move about a great deal, have trouble sleeping, and cannot sit still for more than a few minutes at a time. They usually are easily distracted, often act on impulse, and have difficulty paying attention when listening or watching events around them. Physicians call this condition of combined hyperactivity and distractibility "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder" or ADHD.

Particularly when your child is a toddler, you may worry that she shows signs of hyperactivity, but if you compare her with others her age you probably will discover that she's normal. Around ages two and three, children naturally are very active and impulsive and have a short attention span. All children occasionally seem overactive or easily distractible, such as when they're very tired, excited about doing something "special," or anxious about being in a strange place or among strangers.

Truly hyperactive children are noticeably more active, more easily distracted, and more excitable than their peers. Most important of all, these children never seem to be calm from one day to the next, nor does their behavior improve as they get older.

Although most have normal intelligence, children with ADHD may seem like slow learners because they have difficulty paying attention or following instructions through to completion. They also are slower to develop control over their impulses and emotions, and slower in developing the ability to concentrate and pay attention. They tend to be more talkative, emotional, demanding, and disobedient than others their age. Their behavior often remains immature throughout childhood and adolescence and leads to problems in school, among friends, and in some cases, with the law. Without support and treatment, children who are truly hyperactive have difficulty developing the self-esteem they need to lead healthy, productive lives.

No one knows exactly what causes hyperactivity. Sometimes the condition can be traced to illnesses affecting the brain or nervous system, such as meningitis, encephalitis, fetal alcohol syndrome, or severe prematurity. Most hyperactive children have never had such an illness; however, and most children who do suffer these ailments do not become hyperactive. Many children with this disorder do have close relatives with similar problems, which suggests that it may be at least partially inherited. Also, boys are four to seven times more likely than girls to develop this problem. In part, this is because boys naturally tend to mature more slowly in these areas of behavior, but no one knows precisely why these differences exist. Although there also has been much speculation that certain foods and food additives might be linked to ADHD, extensive research has failed to conclusively show any such link.

Whatever the source of hyperactivity, the way a child is raised and disciplined seems to determine how severe the disorder will become and how well the child will cope with it. Youngsters whose parents are mentally disturbed or abusive generally have more severe problems than those whose parents are emotionally healthy and who discipline with gentle firmness, consistency, and love.