ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder)
ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a mental disorder that prevents children from focusing, as well as impulsive and hyperactive behavior, so that it can affect the educational outcomes of children. child.
Until now, the main cause of ADHD is not known with certainty. However, it is thought that this condition is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Besides occurring in children, ADHD can also occur in adults
ADHD symptoms
ADHD symptoms are usually seen since childhood. Symptoms of ADHD in children usually begin at age 3 and will appear more striking as the child ages, especially when the child enters school or early puberty. Even in this case, ADHD symptoms can only be observed when the patient is an adult.
ADHD symptoms in children
The main symptoms of ADHD are difficulty in focusing and hyperactive and impulsive behavior. In fact, it is normal for children to have difficulty concentrating or impulsive behavior. But in children with ADHD, behavior appears more often and more severely, affecting their performance in school and their social interactions with other children.
Most people with ADHD have both of these symptoms, although sometimes only one symptom is seen. For example, in children who are not yet in school, symptoms of hyperactivity will be greater. The following will be explained in more detail about the symptoms of ADHD in children:
Difficult to attract attention
Symptoms include difficulty in paying attention to other people's orientation or teacher's lessons. As an example:
If there are only these symptoms without hyperactive behavior, it means that the patient has an inactive type of ADHD.
Hyperactive and impulsive behavior
Here are some examples of hyperactive and impulsive behavior:
The symptoms of ADHD are not only felt by children, but can also be experienced by adults. Adults with ADHD are considered to have experienced ADHD as children.
Symptoms of hyperactivity in ADHD will usually decrease with age. Conversely, symptoms of difficulty concentrating tend to worsen with age.
ADHD sufferers will experience education and work problems, mainly because of the difficulty of prioritizing and concentrating. In addition, adults with ADHD also have difficulty having friends or partners because they tend to be irritable or easily emotional.
When to see a doctor
Check with your child immediately for ADHD symptoms that are difficult to focus and behave hyperactively or impulsively.
The symptoms of ADHD are often difficult to distinguish from the normal behavior of children. Therefore, parents should consult a doctor if they feel the child behaves in an unusual way.
Children with ADHD must also be checked regularly by a doctor to be able to monitor the condition, symptoms and response to treatment.
Causes of ADHD
The cause of ADHD is not known with certainty, but a number of studies have shown that ADHD can occur due to a combination of the following factors:
ADHD Prevention
The emergence of ADHD in children can not be prevented, but the risk of the emergence of this disorder can be reduced. To reduce the risk of ADHD, pregnant women should not smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, or use drugs. In addition, keep children away from cigarette smoke and exposure to toxic substances.
ADHD diagnosis
All children with concentration difficulties and hyperactivity do not have ADHD. Healthy children are usually very active and often surpass their parents. Similarly, teenagers. Even though they don't seem to listen, behave impulsively and easily distract them, they don't need to suffer from ADHD.
ADHD is often undiagnosed because parents assume that the symptoms that appear are normal behavior. Do not consult with your doctor. Therefore, it is important for parents to recognize the symptoms of ADHD as well as the difference with the normal behavior of children.
ADHD diagnosis is quite difficult, so it requires cooperation from various parties. A series of physical and psychological examinations will be carried out by pediatricians and psychiatrists. Apart from families, schools (especially teachers) must also participate in this process. Not only in children, the process of diagnosing ADHD in adults is also quite difficult.
Tests for diagnosing ADHD include interviews and physical examinations. Doctors will conduct interviews with children and parents, teachers and educators.
In general, interviews and examinations aim to:
Management of ADHD
The combination of medication and special therapy is the best step to fight ADHD. There are no shortcuts to overcome this condition. ADHD care requires commitment and commitment in terms of time, emotions and finances.
Although it cannot be completely cured, ADHD can be treated with several types of drugs and therapies to relieve symptoms, so people with this disorder can carry out their normal daily activities.
Drug treatment
The most commonly used medication for ADHD is methylphenidate. This drug works by balancing chemical compounds in the brain to relieve ADHD symptoms.
Methylphenidate is safe for children to consume, but doctors will continue to monitor medications to find out side effects, such as heart problems. If a child has these side effects or risks them, the doctor will give you other medicines, including:
ADHD sufferers need psychotherapy. Besides treating ADHD, psychotherapy also helps in treating other mental disorders that accompany ADHD, such as depression. The types of psychotherapy that can be chosen are:
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy will help people with ADHD to change their mindset and behavior in dealing with certain problems or situations.
Psychoeducation therapy
People with ADHD will be invited to share stories about this therapy, such as their difficulties in managing ADHD symptoms. With this therapy, patients must find the most appropriate way to deal with these symptoms.
Social interaction training
This type of therapy can help people with ADHD understand appropriate social behavior in certain situations.
Parents, families, teachers, and caregivers of people with ADHD also need knowledge and advice to help people with ADHD. Therefore, they must benefit from special training programs.
The material taught in this training includes how to implement a praise system to encourage children, how to punish children when they behave badly or violently, and how to direct the activities of children according to their abilities.
To help children control the symptoms of ADHD, parents can also adopt a healthy lifestyle in children, including:
ADHD can not be cured, but if diagnosed early and treated appropriately, patients will be able to adapt to their conditions and carry out normal daily activities.
ADHD can not be cured, but if diagnosed early and treated appropriately, patients will be able to adapt to their conditions and carry out normal daily activities.
Complications
Untreated ADHD sufferers can experience the following conditions:
According to several studies, ADHD sufferers are also at risk of experiencing other mental disorders, such as:
Until now, the main cause of ADHD is not known with certainty. However, it is thought that this condition is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Besides occurring in children, ADHD can also occur in adults
ADHD symptoms
ADHD symptoms are usually seen since childhood. Symptoms of ADHD in children usually begin at age 3 and will appear more striking as the child ages, especially when the child enters school or early puberty. Even in this case, ADHD symptoms can only be observed when the patient is an adult.
ADHD symptoms in children
The main symptoms of ADHD are difficulty in focusing and hyperactive and impulsive behavior. In fact, it is normal for children to have difficulty concentrating or impulsive behavior. But in children with ADHD, behavior appears more often and more severely, affecting their performance in school and their social interactions with other children.
Most people with ADHD have both of these symptoms, although sometimes only one symptom is seen. For example, in children who are not yet in school, symptoms of hyperactivity will be greater. The following will be explained in more detail about the symptoms of ADHD in children:
Difficult to attract attention
Symptoms include difficulty in paying attention to other people's orientation or teacher's lessons. As an example:
- Don't focus on doing anything.
- Attention is easily disturbed.
- Often we don't listen to conversations or directions, even when we talk about them directly.
- Don't pay attention to details.
- Cheerful.
- Difficult to manage the tasks and activities carried out.
- It's hard to follow instructions to do something.
- Loss of objects that are often used daily.
- Don't like activities that need attention, like doing homework.
If there are only these symptoms without hyperactive behavior, it means that the patient has an inactive type of ADHD.
Hyperactive and impulsive behavior
Here are some examples of hyperactive and impulsive behavior:
- It's hard to stay silent in class.
- The habit of moving parts of the body, especially the legs or arms, to a sitting position.
- Difficult to do activities calmly.
- Run or climb something at the wrong time.
- Often interrupt the conversation of others.
- Too much talking.
- Often disrupt the activities of others.
- Can not be silent and always want to move.
The symptoms of ADHD are not only felt by children, but can also be experienced by adults. Adults with ADHD are considered to have experienced ADHD as children.
Symptoms of hyperactivity in ADHD will usually decrease with age. Conversely, symptoms of difficulty concentrating tend to worsen with age.
ADHD sufferers will experience education and work problems, mainly because of the difficulty of prioritizing and concentrating. In addition, adults with ADHD also have difficulty having friends or partners because they tend to be irritable or easily emotional.
When to see a doctor
Check with your child immediately for ADHD symptoms that are difficult to focus and behave hyperactively or impulsively.
The symptoms of ADHD are often difficult to distinguish from the normal behavior of children. Therefore, parents should consult a doctor if they feel the child behaves in an unusual way.
Children with ADHD must also be checked regularly by a doctor to be able to monitor the condition, symptoms and response to treatment.
Causes of ADHD
The cause of ADHD is not known with certainty, but a number of studies have shown that ADHD can occur due to a combination of the following factors:
- Heredity or genetic factors, including having a mother, father or brother with ADHD or other mental disorders.
- Premature birth, born before 37 weeks' gestation.
- Abnormalities in brain structure or function.
- Brain damage in the womb.
- Mothers consume drugs, consume alcoholic beverages or smoke during pregnancy.
- Mother is stressed during pregnancy.
- Exposure to toxins from the environment during childhood, such as exposure to lead paint.
ADHD Prevention
The emergence of ADHD in children can not be prevented, but the risk of the emergence of this disorder can be reduced. To reduce the risk of ADHD, pregnant women should not smoke, drink alcoholic beverages, or use drugs. In addition, keep children away from cigarette smoke and exposure to toxic substances.
ADHD diagnosis
All children with concentration difficulties and hyperactivity do not have ADHD. Healthy children are usually very active and often surpass their parents. Similarly, teenagers. Even though they don't seem to listen, behave impulsively and easily distract them, they don't need to suffer from ADHD.
ADHD is often undiagnosed because parents assume that the symptoms that appear are normal behavior. Do not consult with your doctor. Therefore, it is important for parents to recognize the symptoms of ADHD as well as the difference with the normal behavior of children.
ADHD diagnosis is quite difficult, so it requires cooperation from various parties. A series of physical and psychological examinations will be carried out by pediatricians and psychiatrists. Apart from families, schools (especially teachers) must also participate in this process. Not only in children, the process of diagnosing ADHD in adults is also quite difficult.
Tests for diagnosing ADHD include interviews and physical examinations. Doctors will conduct interviews with children and parents, teachers and educators.
In general, interviews and examinations aim to:
- Diagnosis if the child has ADHD.
- Know the seriousness of ADHD in children.
- Learn about other diseases that cause symptoms experienced by children.
- Know other mental disorders in children.
Management of ADHD
The combination of medication and special therapy is the best step to fight ADHD. There are no shortcuts to overcome this condition. ADHD care requires commitment and commitment in terms of time, emotions and finances.
Although it cannot be completely cured, ADHD can be treated with several types of drugs and therapies to relieve symptoms, so people with this disorder can carry out their normal daily activities.
Drug treatment
The most commonly used medication for ADHD is methylphenidate. This drug works by balancing chemical compounds in the brain to relieve ADHD symptoms.
Methylphenidate is safe for children to consume, but doctors will continue to monitor medications to find out side effects, such as heart problems. If a child has these side effects or risks them, the doctor will give you other medicines, including:
- Atomoxetine.
- Amitriptyline.
- Alpha-agonist drugs, such as clonidine.
ADHD sufferers need psychotherapy. Besides treating ADHD, psychotherapy also helps in treating other mental disorders that accompany ADHD, such as depression. The types of psychotherapy that can be chosen are:
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy will help people with ADHD to change their mindset and behavior in dealing with certain problems or situations.
Psychoeducation therapy
People with ADHD will be invited to share stories about this therapy, such as their difficulties in managing ADHD symptoms. With this therapy, patients must find the most appropriate way to deal with these symptoms.
Social interaction training
This type of therapy can help people with ADHD understand appropriate social behavior in certain situations.
Parents, families, teachers, and caregivers of people with ADHD also need knowledge and advice to help people with ADHD. Therefore, they must benefit from special training programs.
The material taught in this training includes how to implement a praise system to encourage children, how to punish children when they behave badly or violently, and how to direct the activities of children according to their abilities.
To help children control the symptoms of ADHD, parents can also adopt a healthy lifestyle in children, including:
- Familiarize a healthy diet with nutritious food
- Make sure the child is getting enough sleep and rest.
- Limit the child's time watching television and using a cellphone or computer.
- Invite children to do physical activity at least 60 minutes every day.
ADHD can not be cured, but if diagnosed early and treated appropriately, patients will be able to adapt to their conditions and carry out normal daily activities.
ADHD can not be cured, but if diagnosed early and treated appropriately, patients will be able to adapt to their conditions and carry out normal daily activities.
Complications
Untreated ADHD sufferers can experience the following conditions:
- Having difficulty focusing on learning in class, so that his academic performance is decreasing.
- Having problems interacting with peers and the surrounding environment.
- Have the risk of consuming alcohol and abusing drugs when growing up.
- Risk of injury during daily activities.
- Feel inferior.
According to several studies, ADHD sufferers are also at risk of experiencing other mental disorders, such as:
- Depression
- Anxiety disorders
- Bipolar disorder
- Tourette's Syndrome
- Oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)
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