Are all hyperactive children necessarily have ADHD? Some people feel that the answer is a resounding "No"! In the classroom the child who is hyperactive can be really disruptive and cause a lot of distraction. They invariably do not complete their schoolwork and their energy is practically limitless. No wonder the majority of teachers and educators dread having such a child in their classroom.
It is commonly believed that if a child is hyperactive they must be suffering with ADHD or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder. However, according to some experts, such as Dr Sandi Pillay who is a psychiatrist that specializes in this condition, not every child who is hyperactive is therefore ADHD.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disordes
Whenever a child is diagnosed as ADHD they must be exhibiting symptoms other than just hyperactivity. For instance they also need to be assessed for impulsivity and distractibility, as well as hyperactivity. It is important to remember that ADHD is a medical illness and there are academic, behavioral, and emotional symptoms involved. The child focuses too much on everything and yet concentrates on virtually nothing at all.
Roughly 4 - 8 percent of children are affected by hyperactivity and boys are more often affected than their female counterparts are. In girls inattention is more common. Despite what many believe ADHD is not the result of poor parenting, too much television, or playing too many computer games. It is instead a hereditary condition and in the majority of cases at least one of the child's parents actually has the disorder. Very often the parents only discover that they have themselves ADHD when their child diagnosed with it.
Most hyperactive children who are diagnosed with ADHD usually do not only have this disorder because in approximately 70 percent of cases it is accompanied by other conditions such as a learning disorder or a conduct disorder. For the ADHD child the best kind of teacher is one who has the right type of attitude and can understand that the child does not intend to be disruptive in the classroom or be inattentive.
If you suspect that your child might have ADHD, or if the child's teacher has suggested that this is the case, you will need to have your child properly assessed by a mental health professional who has experience with diagnosing and treating the disorder. Unfortunately millions of children have been diagnosed and a number of these are misdiagnosed because the child does not have ADHD at all. This is why following the guidelines and criteria for diagnosing ADHD is essential and why the process is such a drawn out one.
There is no single test to determine if your child has ADHD or not. Instead the mental health expert will interview you regarding the child's behavior and medical history. The child will need to undergo a medical examination to rule out other possible causes that might be responsible for the ADHD-like symptoms he or she is displaying. The specialist will also enquire about any upsetting events that might have transpired in the child's life such as a divorce, a death in the family, or changing schools. Such events have been known to produce symptoms that mimic ADHD.
When it comes to diagnosing hyperactive children with ADHD the child has to display the symptoms of the disorder in more than a single setting, for example, at school and also at home. The symptoms need to have been noticeable for a while which means for longer than six months. If the diagnosis is ADHD the child is likely to be placed on medications to treat the disorder. These are harsh and have known side-effects that can be very alarming. Before you agree to let your child be medicated it is a good idea to try other treatments first such as changing their diet, getting them involved in competitive sports, teaching them relaxation techniques, etc. Very often natural choices are beneficial for children who are hyperactive even if they do not have Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder.
About Hyperactive Children - Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
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