ADHD is a mental disorder that affects the behaviour or development of young children. Children suffering from ADHD typically show the following signs before they turn 7 years old:
Inattention
Overactivity
Impulsiveness
Many children with ADHD can’t explain why they might feel out of control or very lonely. This condition is more common in boys than girls.
Types of ADHD
There are 3 types of ADHD:
Predominantly inattentive, where the child is mostly unable to hold attention.
Predominantly hyperactive or impulsive, where the child's behaviour tends to be hyperactive or impulsive.
Combined, where the child displays a mix of inattentive and hyperactive or impulsive symptoms.
What are the symptoms of ADHD?
Children with ADHD tend to face the following challenges due to their difficulties in paying attention or regulating their hyperactive or impulsive behaviours:
Academic
Learning disabilities
Not doing well in school
Cognitive
Poor problem-solving abilities
Inability to understand the consequences of misbehaving
Talking to themselves in a childish way (relative to their age)
Emotional
Depression
Inability to control their emotions
Unpredictable moods
Social
Aggressiveness
Inability to make friends
Inability to follow instructions
Lying, stealing and high-risk tendencies
Lack of self-control
Poor social skills
What causes ADHD?
Researchers are still working to understand the exact cause of ADHD. However, a combination of factors is found to be related to ADHD. These include:
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