What is ADHD? The terms ADHD or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder and ADD or Attention Deficit Disorder are often used interchangeably. Sometimes the condition is often loosely used for unusual aggressiveness, talkativeness or misbehaviour But what is ADHD really? The condition is a psychiatric ailment that manifests early during childhood typified by very short, almost nil attention span, uncontrolled impulses and high intensity level of activities in all aspects. Given all these challenges, the individual exhibiting these symptoms will have much difficulty completing any task or taking on any type of responsibility. Staying still or paying attention to understand any form of instruction will always be a serious challenge. Because of this, the individual could often times act insensibly, unmindful of the harmful and dangerous consequences it might bring about to self as well as others.
ADHD symptoms in children can be detected early from infancy. There can be multifarious symptoms but the following are the most significant:
Inattentive. Most who suffer with the condition find it difficult to pay attention or have a total lack of focus. Affected children will usually fail to finish any activity, jumping from one task to the next. They are easily distracted and are sometimes unable to take on even simple instructions. There is no organized or logical pattern in all the undertaken activities, which makes it hard to endeavour in planning for long-term objectives. They can totally miss out details because this is unimportant to them. Illegible handwriting can also result from this behaviour.
Impulsiveness. Another one of the significant ADHD symptoms in children is when they act spontaneously or on impulse rather than logic. Thus, recipients of this kind of behaviour who are unfamiliar with ADHD characteristics often perceive the child as discourteous or tactless as they say whatever comes into their minds first. They have difficulty in imposing self-discipline so they find even the most simplistic tasks like being able to stand in line at school extremely difficult to adhere to. They think nothing of grabbing other children’s possessions without permission or rudely interrupting conversations to ask questions, totally unrelated to the topic. The adage “Patience is a Virtue” will never be applicable to them. Frequent mood swings can also be observed.
Hyperactivity. This is perhaps the clearest sign of ADHD. The child tends to be fidgety, unable to stand still for a period of time even in a controlled environment where they are required to decrease their activity; such as in a classroom or church setting. Even when sitting or standing, there is still a need to tap their feet, drum fingers or generally fidget. There is a desire to attempt activities simultaneously, without organization, thus jumping from one activity to another without completing any of the activities they started. Along with the incessant physical activities they are usually excessive talkers, which is quite often irrelevant to the situation. Their desire to do so many things at once can also add to their frustration, making them even more short-tempered and edgy. However, some affected children may also manifest normal levels of activity or even lethargy, but are still inattentive and are prone to “day dream”.
These characteristic behaviours result in responses that are quite different from those socially accepted and can cause isolation and negative impressions from peers, family and the society in general. They are often perceived as bullies and overbearing, stubborn or just plain uncaring. Consequently, constant reprimand of their behaviour will result in low self-esteem which often leads to further behavioural and developmental disorders.
So What is ADHD?
In my opinion, having a daughter who suffered ADD as a child and still struggles to cope with it as an adult, it is simply a condition that is brought about by imbalances within the brain, causing the child/adult to become angered and frustrated at their own inabilities and the perception by others that they are “abnormal”. They are far from abnormal, in fact you will usually find that deep beneath the anger and frustration there lies a personality that is extremely loving and caring!