The average age when children are diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is 7 years. However, signs of ADHD in children are evident from the age of three years. ADHD prevalence in Singapore is less than 5%, affecting more boys than girls.
Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to tell if children are naturally active or have ADHD. Children with attention deficit disorder (ADD), a form of ADHD, are usually less noticeable. It may take much longer for parents to notice the difference.
The symptoms fall into two categories.
- Inattentiveness.
- Hyperactivity and impulsiveness.
Finding a child with symptoms falling into both categories is not unusual. Girls tend to have signs of inattentiveness. On the other hand, boys tend to have disruptive behaviours, which are more evident as the child ages.
This is probably why more boys than girls are diagnosed with ADHD. More girls may go undiagnosed because their symptoms are not as obvious.
Inattentiveness
This is usually evident in children struggling to focus or concentrate. It is easy to miss some signs because they can easily be interpreted as “children being children”. However, if a child has multiple symptoms linked to inattentiveness, it is best to get a proper diagnosis.
Some of the symptoms of inattentiveness in children are;
- Short attention span. It is not unusual for children. However, if the child gets distracted too easily, it is worth paying attention to it.
- Careless mistakes. When a child keeps making preventable mistakes, it is likely because they have ADHD.
- The child needs to be reminded constantly or keep losing things.
- Difficulty in performing and completing tasks.
- Inability to listen to instructions, and when children with ADHD understand, they struggle to follow through.
- The child changes tasks consistently, even before they complete even one task.
Hyperactivity And Impulsiveness
Most children with ADHD have symptoms associated with inattentiveness and hyperactivity. Some of the signs associated with hyperactivity include;
- Constant fidgeting.
- Talking extensively.
- Interrupting conversations.
- No sense of danger.
- Inability to wait their turn, whether performing tasks at home or in school.
- Acting without thinking.
- Excessive physical activities.
At a glance, these activities seem normal for a child. However, they affect a child’s ability to perform well in school. This is probably why most children get diagnosed when they reach school age because they are evidently different from other children.
ADHD in children is critical because inattentiveness makes them lag behind academically. They’ll also consistently have poor grades, and teachers will have difficulty getting them to sit still and learn.
Children with ADHD also have a difficult time controlling their emotions. This will affect their socialization skills. They won’t know how to take turns or share toys and other school items. Other children may interpret these actions as selfishness, so they may behave the same way.
Fortunately, some treatments will suppress severe symptoms. Additionally, when parents and teachers appreciate that the children are acting up because of a disorder, they are bound to be more understanding and forgiving.
