ADHD clinic
Assessment and management of ADHD in adults and children
Inam Psychiatry Ltd
Children with ADHD are usually reported as disruptive, unable to concentrate on their task, easily distractible, and on the go most of the time, jumping from one activity to another. Sometimes, these children can concentrate well on the activities of their interest like video games, where they can get immediate gratification, but they find it very difficult to concentrate on activities where there is no immediate reward or consequences like doing homework, where the reward is delayed.
This is a complex disorder and every child presents differently with regard to severity and symptoms. Some children present with predominantly inattentive symptoms and some present predominantly with impulsive-hyperactivity symptoms, while others have both.
Some children present with major behaviour issues, including oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) and conduct disorder (CD), while other children have no behaviour issues but they suffer from lack of attention and distractibility.
It is well known from literature and my own clinical experience that children with ADHD commonly have other issues and problems, including autism (a disorder of social communication and interaction), dyspraxia (difficulty in activities requiring coordination and movements), and learning difficulties.
Children with ADHD also have problems with their emotions and they may have difficulty in controlling them. Feelings usually come out in the form of anger and aggressive outbursts, and as you’d expect, these emotional outbursts are socially detrimental. Therefore, children with ADHD have fewer friends and are not usually welcomed to social gatherings. This can be very depressing for the child and heartbreaking for their parents.
ADHD is treatable, but other problems, including autism and learning disabilities, make it complex and challenging for both clinicians and parents.
The symptoms of ADHD can be categorised into two types of behavioural problems:
Symptoms
Inattentiveness
Hyperactivity and Impulsiveness
Most people with ADHD have problems that fall into both these categories, but this isn't always the case. For example, some people with the condition may have problems with inattentiveness, but not with hyperactivity or impulsiveness. This form of ADHD is also known as attention deficit disorder (ADD). ADD can sometimes go unnoticed because the symptoms may be less obvious.
The symptoms of ADHD in children and teenagers are well defined, and they're usually noticeable before the age of six. They occur in more than one situation, such as at home and at school. These symptoms can cause significant problems in a child's life, such as underachievement at school, poor social interaction with other children and adults, and problems with discipline. The main signs of each behavioural problem are detailed below.
Inattentiveness
Having a Short Attention Span and Being Easily Distracted
Making Careless Mistakes e.g. in Schoolwork
Appearing Forgetful or Losing Things
Being Unable to Stick at Tasks That Are Tedious or Time-Consuming
Appearing to Be Unable to Listen to or Carry out Instructions
Constantly Changing Activity or Task
Having Difficulty Organising Tasks
Hyperactivity and Impulsiveness
Hyperactivity and Impulsiveness
Being Unable to Sit Still, Especially in Calm or Quiet Surroundings
Constantly Fidgeting
Being Unable to Concentrate on Tasks
Excessive Physical Movement
Excessive Talking
Being Unable to Wait Their Turn
Acting without Thinking
Interrupting Conversations
Little or No Sense of Danger