Define ADHD in Children

ADHD is prevalent in between 3 and 5 percent of children in the USA which, while a small percentage, is still a number in the millions. Children diagnosed with the disorder exhibit some common behaviors, ranging from impulsivity, hyperactivity, dreaminess and creativity, which this article will explore.

Characteristics

While the stereotypical characteristic of ADHD is hyperactivity, the actual defining characteristic is an inability to focus. This often manifests itself as hyperactivity, but it does not necessarily have to. An ADHD child is just as likely to be quiet and dreamy, but still unable to focus on or complete tasks. Other characteristics include impulsivity, difficulty remembering things and following instructions. To have ADHD, a child does not necessarily need to have all of these characteristics, but rather just some of them.

Hyperactivity

The largest misconception is, as mentioned above, that all ADHD children are hyperactive. A child can be hyperactive without ADHD, just as a child with ADHD may not be hyperactive. Sadly, it is these children who most often go undiagnosed and without treatment.

Positive Characteristics

It is important to remember that ADHD is not necessarily a profound disability or cross to bear. It brings with it the ability to concentrate harder than most on a limited number of topics; this characteristic can give those with ADHD excellent careers in academia or other such specific-expertise fields. What is more, the constant shifting and jumping of the ADHD mind yields a creative flair that is hard to match in non-ADHD individuals.

Super concentration

Another misconception about ADHD is that children who suffer are absolutely unable to concentrate. This is untrue; in fact, ADHD "sufferers" are capable of better-than-normal concentration when it comes to subjects they are genuinely interested in. The problem is that these subjects tend to be few and far between, and ADHD therefore does not engender a particularly positive classroom setting. What is more, a child's interests will wax and wane a great deal. What he or she could super concentrate on one day may not be of any interest the following day. This also makes a classroom a very challenging place for a child with ADHD to thrive--it depends on consistency when ADHD makes one anything but consistent.

Treatment

It is important to bear in mind that ADHD is not something that a child simply "grows out of." This does not mean that treatment is absolutely necessary, however, it depends on the child. Some children can function without any treatment, while others depend on it. The most common treatment is through medication, a controversial topic whose debate is beyond the scope of this article.

Behavior Modification

Less common, but still worth mentioning, is behavior therapy. Behavior therapy and behavior modification do not tackle the ADHD itself, but rather the negative behaviors that can stem from it--the negative behaviors are discouraged while the positive ones are encouraged. This can be effective on some children, but others require medication. There is very little consistency in ADHD, and therefore there is very little consistency in the "right" way to treat someone with it--it varies with the individual.

Conclusion

Since ADHD is so inconsistent in its symptoms and severity, it is mostly a matter for a child's parents to decide. Only you know your child's strengths, weaknesses, foibles and capabilities, and it is up to you whether to medicate him, to send her to a specialist or mainstream school, to pay for expensive behavior therapy. This article has shown some of the characteristics of ADHD, but what you do with it is up to you.