Developmental Problems in Children With ADD & ADHD
Several developmental problems exist for children with attention deficit disorder (ADD) and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although these children appear to develop in much the same fashion as their peers, they do have significant differences that need to be addressed.
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Inattentiveness
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One of the most common developmental problems for a child with ADD and/or ADHD is the inability of the child to remain focused on a topic that may be of little interest to him. Children with ADD/ADHD appear to move from one task or idea to another rather quickly and rarely see something through to completion. A child with this diagnosis may even have difficulty focusing his or her attention on a specific idea or task even in the most structured environments.
Hyperactivity
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Another developmental problem for children with ADD/ADHD is that they frequently are hyperactive. Children who are hyperactive always appear to be on the go, moving about the room, fidgeting in their seats, and tapping or touching nearby objects. Unfortunately, hyperactive children have a tendency to get into trouble in structured settings because of their inability to control themselves.
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Impulsivity
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Impulsivity is another developmental problem for children with ADD/ADHD. Impulsive children simply act without first considering the consequences of their actions.
Social Repercussions
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Children with ADD/ADHD may have a difficult time in school and with their peers due to these developmental factors. They are typically labeled as troublemakers in such structured settings and they may find it difficult to make friends. A low level of self-esteem may result from such negative experiences.
Positive Aspects
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However, on a more positive side, children with ADD/ADHD are wonderfully energetic, inventive and creative thinkers who are able to see "outside of the box" when looking at a given topic. They are able to consider a situation from various perspectives before arriving at a conclusion.
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