What is ADHD

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is a common condition that affects some children, which may or may not continue into adulthood. A child with ADHD generally has problems in paying attention, focusing and concentrating. In short, they are easily distracted and easily get bored. These children also tend to move around excessively and non-stop!

It can be hard to determine if a child has ADHD, but this can be evaluated at around six or seven years old. Most younger children have short attention spans, which is normal, so this is where it gets confusing. But at a later stage where the child is meant to be already "well-behaved" but isn't, then it might be a sign of the disorder. If in doubt, best to speak to your child's pediatrician to get your little one evaluated. The earlier the treatment, the better.

Grouped into three categories, ADHD consists of hyperactivity (does not or never stays seated when instructed to, has difficulty playing quietly, always moving and talks too much - sometimes nonsense even), inattention (easily distracted, does not follow directions or finish tasks, doesn't listen, is forgetful or just refuses to remember, dislikes or even hates activities that require sitting, loses things constantly and also has the tendency to daydream) and impulsiveness (has trouble waiting for his/her turn, always wants to be the first, talks before thinking to seem smarter than others around, and always interrupts others).

But remember that many children naturally have trouble paying attention, and it doesn't necessarily mean that they have ADHD. Sometimes, having anxiety, depression and other learning disabilities can all be mistaken for the disorder. It is always best to get the child evaluated by a qualified professional.

During the diagnosis, the process would normally include (1) going through your family's health history, (2) an interview with the child with the parents present and also with the child alone since the child would sometimes open up a bit more without his/her parents around, (3) an interview with the parents including their activities and habits, and (4) a physical examination to detect problems, including vision or hearing troubles. There is usually a follow-up session after the first evaluation.

(Helpful Resource: www.webmd.com; www.babycentre.com)