Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a child. Hyperactivity in school-age children: treatment, symptoms, causes

or ADHD is the most common cause of behavioral and learning problems in children before school age and schoolchildren.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a child- a developmental disorder that manifests itself in a violation of behavior. A child with ADHD is restless, shows “stupid” activity, cannot sit in class at school or kindergarten, and will not do what he is not interested in. He interrupts the elders, plays in the classroom, goes about his own business, can crawl under the desk. At the same time, the child correctly perceives the environment. He hears and understands all the instructions of the elders, but cannot follow their instructions due to impulsiveness. Despite the fact that the child understood the task, he cannot complete what he started, he is not able to plan and foresee the consequences of his actions. Associated with this is a high risk of domestic injury, getting lost.

Neurologists consider attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a child as a neurological disease. Its manifestations are not the result of improper upbringing, neglect or permissiveness, they are a consequence of the special work of the brain.

Prevalence. ADHD is found in 3-5% of children. Of these, 30% "outgrow" the disease after 14 years, another 40% adapt to it and learn to smooth out its manifestations. Among adults, this syndrome is found in only 1%.

Boys are diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder 3-5 times more often than girls. Moreover, in boys, the syndrome is more often manifested by destructive behavior (disobedience and aggression), and in girls by inattention. According to some studies, fair-haired and blue-eyed Europeans are more susceptible to the disease. Interestingly, in different countries incidence rates are significantly different. Thus, studies conducted in London and Tennessee revealed ADHD in 17% of children.

Types of ADHD

• Attention deficit and hyperactivity are equally pronounced;
• Attention deficit predominates, and impulsivity and hyperactivity appear slightly;
• Hyperactivity and impulsivity predominate, attention is slightly impaired.

• dependence on alcohol, narcotic substances, psychotropic medicines;
• difficulties with the assimilation of information that disrupt the learning process;
• high anxiety, which comes to replace physical activity;
• tics - repetitive muscle twitches.
• headaches;
• antisocial changes - a tendency to hooliganism, theft.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a child, causes

1. Factors that disrupt the formation of the nervous system in the fetus, which can lead to oxygen starvation or hemorrhage into the brain tissue:

• pollution environment, high content of harmful substances in the air, water, food;
• taking medications by a woman during pregnancy;
• exposure to alcohol, drugs, nicotine;
• infections carried by the mother during pregnancy;
• Rh factor conflict - immunological incompatibility;
• risk of miscarriage ;
• fetal asphyxia;
• cord entanglement;
• complicated or rapid childbirth, leading to injury to the head or spine of the fetus.

1. Factors that disrupt brain function in infancy

• diseases accompanied by a temperature above 39-40 degrees;
• taking certain drugs that have a neurotoxic effect;
• bronchial asthma, pneumonia;
• severe kidney disease;
• heart failure, heart disease.

1. Genetic factors. According to this theory, 80% of cases of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are associated with disorders in the gene that regulates the release of dopamine and the work of dopamine receptors. The result is a violation of the transmission of bioelectric impulses between brain cells. Moreover, the disease manifests itself if, in addition to genetic abnormalities, there are unfavorable environmental factors.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a child, symptoms

Signs of ADHD at an early age

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a child, symptoms which are most pronounced at 5-12 years old, can be recognized at an earlier age.

• Early they begin to hold their heads, sit, crawl, walk.
• Experiencing trouble falling asleep, sleeping less than normal.
• If they get tired, they do not engage in a calm type of activity, do not fall asleep on their own, but fall into hysterics.
• Very sensitive to loud noises, bright lights, strangers, changes in scenery. These factors cause them to cry loudly.
• Throw away toys before they even had a chance to see them.

Main symptoms

1. Attention disorder

• R the child has difficulty concentrating on one subject or activity. He does not pay attention to details, unable to distinguish the main from the secondary. The child tries to do all the things at the same time: he paints all the details without finishing, reads the text, jumping over the line. This is due to the fact that he does not know how to plan. When performing tasks together, explain: “First we will do one thing, then another.”
• The child, under any pretext, tries to avoid routine matters, lessons, creativity. This may be a quiet protest when the child runs away and hides, or a tantrum with screams and tears.
• There is a cyclical nature of attention. A preschooler can do one thing for 3-5 minutes, a child of primary school age up to 10 minutes. Then for the same period nervous system restores the resource. Often at this time it seems that the child does not hear the speech addressed to him. Then the cycle repeats.
• Attention can only be focused if you are left alone with the child. The child is more attentive and obedient if the room is quiet and there are no irritants, toys, other people.

1. Hyperactivity

• The child makes a large number of inappropriate movements,most which he does not notice. A hallmark of motor activity in ADHD is its aimlessness. This can be rotation of the hands and feet, running, jumping, tapping on the table or on the floor. The child runs, not walks. Climbing on furniture . Breaks toys.
• Talking too loud and fast. He answers without listening to the question. Shouts out an answer, interrupting the answerer. He speaks in unfinished phrases, jumping from one thought to another. Swallows the endings of words and sentences. He constantly asks. His statements are often thoughtless, they provoke and offend others.
• Mimicry is very expressive. The face expresses emotions that quickly appear and disappear - anger, surprise, joy. Sometimes he grimaces for no apparent reason.

1. Impulsiveness

• Guided solely by their own desires and execute them immediately. Acts on the first impulse, without considering the consequences and without planning. For a child, there are no situations in which he must sit still. In the classroom in kindergarten or at school, he jumps up and runs to the window, into the corridor, makes noise, shouts out from his place. Takes the favorite thing from peers.
• Can't follow instructions, especially those with multiple items. The child constantly has new desires (impulses) that prevent him from completing the work he has begun (doing homework, collect toys).
• Unable to wait or endure. He must immediately get or do what he wants. If this does not happen, he makes a row, switches to other things or performs aimless actions. This is clearly noticeable in class or when waiting for your turn.
• Mood swings happen every few minutes. The child goes from laughing to crying. Short temper is especially characteristic of children with ADHD. Angry, the child throws objects, may start a fight or ruin the offender's things. He will do it at once, without thinking or hatching a plan of revenge.
• The child does not feel threatened. He can do things that are dangerous to health and life: climb to a height, walk through abandoned buildings, go out on thin ice, because he wanted to do it. This property leads to a high level of trauma in children with ADHD.

Additional symptoms

• Difficulties in learning with a normal level of intelligence. The child may have difficulty writing and reading. However, he does not perceive individual letters and sounds or does not fully own this skill. The inability to learn arithmetic may be an independent impairment or accompany problems with reading and writing.
• Communication disorders. A child with ADHD may be obsessive towards peers and unfamiliar adults. He can be too emotional or even aggressive, which makes it difficult to communicate and establish friendly contacts.
• Backlog in emotional development. The child behaves excessively capriciously and emotionally. He does not tolerate criticism, failures, behaves unbalanced, "childishly". A pattern has been established that with ADHD there is a 30% lag in emotional development. For example, a 10-year-old child behaves like a 7-year-old, although he is intellectually developed no worse than his peers.
• Negative self-esteem. The child hears a huge number of remarks during the day. If at the same time he is also compared with his peers: “Look how well Masha behaves!” this makes the situation worse. Criticism and claims convince the child that he is worse than others, bad, stupid, restless. This makes the child unhappy, distant, aggressive, instills hatred for others.

Positive qualities of children with ADHD

• Active, active;
• Easily read the mood of the interlocutor;
• Ready for self-sacrifice for the people they like;
• Not vindictive, unable to hold a grudge;
• Fearless, they are not characterized by most childhood fears.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a child, diagnosis

1. Collection of information - interview with the child, conversation with parents, diagnostic questionnaires.
2. Neuropsychological examination.
3. Pediatric consultation.

1. Collection of information

Diagnostic questionnaire is a list of questions designed to gather as much information about the child's behavior and mental state as possible. It usually takes the form of a multiple choice test. To identify ADHD are used:

• Vanderbilt Adolescent ADHD Diagnostic Questionnaire. There are versions for parents, teachers.
• Parental symptomatic questionnaire of ADHD manifestations;
• Structured questionnaire Conners.

• Violation of adaptation. It is expressed by a discrepancy with the characteristics normal for this age;
• Violation of attention, when the child cannot focus his attention on one subject;
• impulsivity and hyperactivity;
• The development of the first symptoms before the age of 7 years;
• Adaptation disorder manifests itself in different situations(in kindergarten, school, at home), while the intellectual development of the child corresponds to the age;
• These symptoms persist for 6 months or more.

Signs of inattention

• Doesn't pay attention to details. In his work, he makes a large number of errors due to negligence and frivolity.
• Easily distracted.
• Difficulty concentrating when playing and performing tasks.
• Does not listen to speech addressed to him.
• Unable to complete the task, do homework. Can't follow instructions.
• Has difficulty doing independent work. Needs guidance and supervision from an adult.
• Resists performing tasks that require prolonged mental effort: homework, tasks of a teacher or psychologist. Avoids such work under various reasons, shows dissatisfaction.
• Often loses things.
• In daily activities shows forgetfulness and absent-mindedness.

Signs of impulsivity and hyperactivity

• Makes a lot of unnecessary movements. Cannot sit comfortably in a chair. Spins, makes movements, with feet, hands, head.
• Cannot sit or remain still in situations where it is necessary to do this - in a lesson, at a concert, in transport.
• Shows thoughtless motor activity in situations where this is unacceptable. He gets up, runs, spins, takes things without asking, tries to climb somewhere.
• Can't play well.
• Overly mobile.
• Too talkative.
• He answers without listening to the end of the question. Doesn't think before answering.
• Impatient. Hardly waiting for his turn.
• Interferes with others, sticks to people. Intervenes in a game or conversation.

1. Neuropsychological examination for ADHD

1. Pediatrician's consultation

• Minimal brain dysfunction(MMD) - mild neurological disorders that cause disturbances in motor functions, speech, behavior;
• Increased intracranial pressure(ICP) - high blood pressure CSF (cerebrospinal fluid), which is located in the ventricles of the brain, around it and in the spinal canal.
• Perinatal CNS damage- damage to the nervous system that occurred during pregnancy, childbirth or in the first days of life.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a child, treatment

1. Medication treatment for ADHD

1. Physical therapy and massage for ADHD

• Physiotherapy aimed at strengthening the muscles of the neck and shoulder girdle. Must be done daily.
• Collar zone massage courses of 10 procedures 2-3 times a year.
• Physiotherapy. Apply infrared irradiation (heating) spasmodic muscles using infrared rays. Paraffin heating is also used. 15-20 procedures 2 times a year. These procedures are well combined with massage of the collar zone.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a child, behavior correction

1. BOS-therapy (biofeedback method)

biofeedback therapy

The human brain generates electrical impulses. They are divided depending on the frequency of oscillations per second and the amplitude of oscillations. The main ones are: alpha, beta, gamma, delta and theta waves. With ADHD, the activity of beta waves (beta rhythm) is reduced, which are associated with focusing attention, memory, and information processing. At the same time, the activity of theta waves (theta rhythm) increases, which indicate emotional stress, fatigue, aggressiveness and imbalance. There is a version that the theta rhythm contributes to the rapid assimilation of information and the development of creativity.

The task of biofeedback therapy is to normalize the bioelectrical oscillations of the brain - to stimulate the beta rhythm and reduce the theta rhythm to normal. For this, a specially developed hardware-software complex "BOS-LAB" is used.
Sensors are attached to certain places on the child's body. On the monitor, the child sees how his biorhythms behave and tries to change them arbitrarily. Also, biorhythms change during the performance of computer exercises. If the task is done correctly, then a sound signal sounds or a picture appears, which are an element of feedback. The procedure is painless, interesting and well tolerated by the child.
The effect of the procedure is increased attention, reduced impulsivity and hyperactivity. Improved performance and relationships with others.

The course consists of 15-25 sessions. Progress is noticeable after 3-4 procedures. The effectiveness of treatment reaches 95%. The effect persists for a long time, for 10 years or more. In some patients, biofeedback therapy completely eliminates the manifestations of the disease. Has no side effects.

1. Psychotherapeutic methods

The effectiveness of psychotherapy is significant, but progress may take from 2 months to several years. You can improve the result by combining various psychotherapeutic techniques, pedagogical measures of parents and teachers, physiotherapeutic methods and adherence to the daily routine.

1. Cognitive Behavioral Methods

• Anger management skills and expressing your emotions in an acceptable way. What do you feel? What do you want? Now say it politely. What we can do?
• Constructive conflict resolution. The child is taught to negotiate, seek compromise, avoid quarrels or get out of them in a civilized manner. (If you don’t want to share - offer another toy. You are not accepted into the game - come up with an interesting activity and offer it to others). It is important to teach the child to speak calmly, to listen to the interlocutor, to clearly articulate what he wants.
• Appropriate ways of communicating with the teacher and with peers. As a rule, the child knows the rules of behavior, but does not follow them because of impulsiveness. Under the guidance of a psychologist in the game, the child improves communication skills.
• Correct methods of behavior in public places - in kindergarten, at the lesson, in the store, at the doctor's office, etc. mastered in the form of "theater".

1. play therapy

• Games for the development of attention. Find 5 differences in the picture. Define the scent. Identify the object by touch with your eyes closed. Broken phone.
• Games for the development of perseverance and the fight against disinhibition. Hide and Seek. Silence. Sort items by color/size/shape.
• Games for the control of motor activity. Throwing the ball at a set pace that gradually increases. Siamese twins, when children in a pair, hugging each other by the waist, must complete tasks - clap their hands, run.
• Withdrawal games muscle clamps and emotional stress. Aimed at the physical and emotional relaxation of the child. "Humpty Dumpty" for alternate relaxation of various muscle groups.
• Games for the development of memory and overcoming impulsivity."Speak!" - the facilitator asks simple questions. But you can answer them only after the command “Speak!”, Before which he pauses for a few seconds.
• Computer games, which simultaneously develop perseverance, attention and restraint.

1. Art therapy

By interpreting the results of the child's work, the psychologist gets an idea of ​​his inner world, emotional conflicts and problems.

• Drawing colored pencils, finger paints or watercolors. Sheets of paper are used different sizes. The child can choose the plot of the drawing himself or the psychologist can suggest a topic - “At school”, “My family”.
• sand therapy. You need a sandbox with clean, moistened sand and a set of various molds, including human figures, vehicles, houses, etc. The child himself decides what exactly he wants to reproduce. Often he plays up stories that disturb him unconsciously, but he cannot convey this to adults.
• Modeling from clay or plasticine. The child sculpts figurines from plasticine on given topic- funny animals, my friend, my pet. classes contribute to the development fine motor skills and brain functions.
• Listening to music and playing musical instruments. Rhythmic dance music is recommended for girls, and marching music for boys. Music takes off emotional stress, increases perseverance and attention.

1. Family therapy and work with teachers.

1. Pedagogical measures

Proper parenting is the main way to deal with the symptoms of ADHD. Whether the child “outgrows” this problem and how successful it will be in adulthood depends on the behavior of the parents.

• Be patient, keep self-control. Avoid criticism. Peculiarities in the behavior of the child are not his fault and not yours. Insults and physical violence are unacceptable.
• Communicate expressively with your child. Expressions of emotion in facial expressions and voice will help to keep his attention. For the same reason, it is important to look into the eyes of the child.
• Use physical contact. Hold the hand, stroke, hug, use massage elements when communicating with the child. It has a calming effect and helps to focus.
• Provide clear control of the execution of tasks. The child does not have sufficient willpower to complete what he started, he is tempted to stop halfway. Knowing that an adult will supervise the task will help him see it through to the end. Will provide discipline and self-control in the future.
• Set challenging tasks for your child. If he is not up to the task that you have set for him, then next time simplify it. If yesterday he did not have the patience to put away all the toys, then today ask him only to collect the cubes in a box.
• Set the child a task in the form of short instructions. Give one task at a time: "Brush your teeth." When this is completed, ask to wash.
• Take breaks of a few minutes between each activity. Collected toys, rested for 5 minutes, went to wash.
• Allow your child to be physically active during class. If he waves his legs, twists various objects in his hands, shifts near the table, this improves his thought process. If you limit this small activity, then the child's brain will fall into a stupor and will not be able to perceive information.
• Praise for every success. Do it one on one and with your family. The child has low self-esteem. He often hears how bad he is. Therefore, praise is vital to him. It encourages the child to be disciplined, to put even more effort and perseverance in completing tasks. Well, if the praise is visual. These can be chips, tokens, stickers, cards that the child can count at the end of the day. Change "rewards" from time to time. Removal of the award effective method punishment. He must follow immediately after the offense.
• Be consistent in your requirements. If you can not watch TV for a long time, then do not make exceptions when you have guests or your mother is tired.
• Warn your child about what's to come. It is difficult for him to interrupt activities that are interesting. Therefore, 5-10 minutes before the end of the game, warn that he will soon finish playing and collect toys.
• Learn to plan. Together, make a list of tasks that need to be done today, and then cross off what you have done.
• Make a daily routine and stick to it. This will teach the child to plan, distribute their time and anticipate what will happen in the near future. This develops the work of the frontal lobes and creates a sense of security.
• Encourage your child to play sports. Martial arts, swimming, Athletics, cycling. They will direct the activity of the child in the right useful direction. Team sports (football, volleyball) can be difficult. Traumatic sports (judo, boxing) can increase the level of aggressiveness.
• Try different kinds classes. The more you offer your child, the higher the chance that he will find his hobby, which will help him become more diligent and attentive. This will build his self-esteem and improve relationships with peers.
• Protect from prolonged viewing TV and computer seats. The approximate norm is 10 minutes for each year of life. So a 6-year-old child should not watch TV for more than an hour.

Often children with ADHD have high IQs and are referred to as "indigo children". If a child becomes interested in something specific in adolescence, then he will direct all his energy to it and bring it to perfection. If this hobby develops into a profession, then success is guaranteed. This is proved by the fact that most of the big businessmen and prominent scientists in childhood suffered from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

The concept of childhood hyperactivity still causes a lot of controversy and controversy among pediatricians.

It is difficult to determine which child really has behavioral problems that can negatively affect his future, and which simply has a bright temperament.

Often parents complain about their child because they cannot or do not want to find an approach to him. There are also cases when dangerous symptoms are ignored, and the child's real hyperactivity develops into more serious problems with his social adaptation in kindergarten, then at school and then in public life.

In this article, we will tell you how to recognize a hyperactive child from infancy and how to find the right approach to him. But first, let's understand the basic concepts.

Hyperactivity from a medical point of view

This term refers not only to excessive mobility, inattention and capriciousness of the baby, as many mothers think. This is mainly a special state of the nervous system and the cerebral cortex, when its cells form nerve impulses too actively.

These processes do not allow the baby to sit still, interfere with focusing, switching from tantrums, calming down, and falling asleep.

True hyperactivity can only be seen or suspected by a neurologist, so do not try to make such diagnoses for your baby on your own.

And it is also important that a hyperactive baby can be not only at such a difficult age as 3-4 years old, but also from infancy.

The sooner you recognize these features of the nervous system in a child and begin to take action, the less difficulties you will have in the future.

7 signs of a hyperactive child

Hyperactivity is also called motor disinhibition, but should not be confused with the healthy activity of normal children. A perfectly healthy baby can also be very mobile, scream and talk loudly, thus expressing his emotions. He can even often be capricious and insistently demand his own.

How to distinguish the individual characteristics of your child from a neurological problem? Here are 7 signs that should alert you to the behavior of an infant:

1 Hyperactive babies are well developed physically, they begin to roll over, sit down, crawl and walk faster than their peers. Because of this, they cause a lot of admiration from their parents and relatives.

But often such unexpected and rapid developmental leaps lead to falls from sofas and other troubles, for which even the most vigilant parents are simply not ready.

They don’t know whether to rejoice at him or cry when the child is already crawling and naughty with might and main, while his peers, meanwhile, lie peacefully in the crib.

There can still be two options here: either your child is just developing very quickly, or this is one of the signs of hyperactivity. In the second case, the problem will still make itself felt in the future and will manifest itself in other signs.

2 Children often act up when their strength is running out and it's time for them to sleep. They seem to become even more active, their excitability increases, and only mother's hands or motion sickness can, after much torment, help put him to sleep.

3 Babies with signs of hyperactivity sleep surprisingly little, even in their first months of life. While their peers are sleeping more than they are awake, these children may also play for periods cry for about 4-5 hours straight.

Interesting! What to give a child: a piggy bank of ideas

4 The child cannot fall asleep for a long time, requires motion sickness, and his sleep is very sensitive. The kid is sensitive to every rustle, he can suddenly wake up and fall asleep heavily again.

5 The baby reacts very violently to a change of scenery, new faces and loud noises. All this can lead him to a real delight, and, at the same time, makes him even more capricious and attract your attention.

The more people in the room with the child, the more capricious he becomes.

6 Children do not know how to focus their attention on something for a long time. This can be seen even at a very early age: it is easy to lure a baby with a new toy, but he quickly gets bored with it. He seems to shift his attention from one subject to another even faster.

7 A characteristic feature of hyperactive children, in total with all of the above, is their attachment to their mother and at the same time fear of strangers. They find it difficult to get along with the guests, reluctantly go into their arms and, as it were, hide behind their mother. They can also be jealous of their mother for other people's children, take away their toys and turn any conflict into a tantrum.

We have not listed the unconditional signs of hyperactive children, but only those distinctive features that can alert you and make you go to an appointment with a pediatric neurologist.

But in order not to be mistaken and not to worry in vain, we will describe the behavior of a healthy normal child who may have some of the above characteristics due to his innate temperament.

Temperamentally healthy children differ from their hyperactive peers in the following ways:

1 They like to run or otherwise be active, but after that they come to lie down or sit quietly, for example, watching cartoons. Thus, they are able to calm down on their own. But here we are talking about older children, closer to the age of one.

2 They have little to no sleep problems, falling asleep quickly and sleeping for their age.

3 Night sleep is usually long and restful. If we talk about babies 2-3 months old, then they can wake up for night feedings, but they also fall asleep easily and do not cry in the middle of the night.

4 Children quickly understand where the danger is and may experience a sense of fear. Subsequently, they do not seek to climb into a dangerous place again.

5 Easily learn the word "no", which allows you to quickly communicate with the child in the future.

6 Children are easily distracted from the tantrum by a new object or story, they are able to switch and immediately stop crying.

7 They are almost never aggressive towards you or other children. They let me play with their toys, sometimes after my mother's persuasion.

8 Of course, the character of the parents is passed on to their child. It is possible that the mother or father of an active child has a bright temperament and was the same fidget in childhood. But remember that such features could be transmitted not only from parents, but also from grandparents, as well as from other relatives, great-grandparents.

Causes of hyperactivity

Changes in brain cells that cause hyperactivity do not remain for life if parents choose the right tactics for behavior and upbringing of their baby. Therefore, this condition cannot be called a disease and cannot be cured, but can only contribute to the speedy "outgrowth" of childhood hyperactivity.

And this condition occurs, as a rule, as a result of one of the following reasons:

• birth of a baby by caesarean section,
• difficult childbirth, with a long anhydrous period, hypoxia of the child, or using forceps,
• baby's birth ahead of schedule or light weight
• the nervous system of the child could undergo changes even at the stage of intrauterine development due to bad habits, past illness or other adverse environmental factors.

Interesting! Behavior Correction in Hyperactive Children

Raising a hyperactive toddler

The upbringing and daily routine of such a child should be given special attention if you do not want his condition to worsen. Leaving the problem unattended can lead to many problems in the future, when the child grows up and he will have to adapt to society on his own.

Since the baby's nervous system is very vulnerable, it cannot be tested again.

This means that any whim and hysteria must be stopped at the very beginning, not trying to punish the child as an educational moment. At the same time, try not to indulge these whims and not follow the child's lead on every occasion, but discreetly distract him and switch attention. Yes, this may require a lot of patience and resourcefulness from parents, but it will not allow you to spoil the little tomboy too much. After all, he is already at a very early age smart enough to understand how to achieve his goal. Explain to the baby the meaning of the word "no", gently and persistently.

In all these endeavors, you will need to curb your own character and exclude all negative emotions from communication with the child.

During the day, try not to expose your baby unnecessarily vivid impressions and avoid unexpected situations.

Noisy companies, unexpected and numerous guests, crowds of people on the street should not disturb your baby and loosen his nervous system.

But the most the best way rest for him will be a trip to nature in a narrow circle of the family, where he can throw out his energy. After such a rest, your baby will peacefully and easily fall asleep soundly.

Hyperactivity is a new trend of modern children. The diagnosis of ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is made by pediatric neurologists to almost every second child. How to determine where the super-excitable child is, and where is the usual active creature? This question occupies many parents.

Hyperactivity

new trend of modern children. ADHD diagnosis ( attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) is exhibited by pediatric neurologists to almost every second child. How to determine where the super-excitable child is, and where is the usual active creature? This question occupies many parents.

These children are very active, mobile, their energy is in full swing, thereby introducing the environment into an irritable state. This is not a pathology, you need to learn how to live with such children, understand them, try to adjust their behavior to the limits of society. After all, it is the perception or non-perception of such children in society that can affect further development hyperactivity.

Previously, such children were diagnosed with "pedagogical neglect", now doctors have recognized the syndrome of hyperactivity due to the special work of the nervous system. Parents face a difficult task: to distinguish an ordinary fidget from a hyperactive baby.

They have to figure out when uncontrollability in behavior is a lack of education, and when it is physiology. It is these children who need increased attention, otherwise there is a huge risk of becoming outcasts in society. They need to be helped not only to socialize, but also to master the general education program to the required extent.

Signs of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in a child under one year old.

ADHD in newborns is quite difficult to determine, due to vague symptoms. The most accurate diagnosis is made no earlier than three years. In infants, the following signs may indicate the disease.

• Pretty early development of psychomotor. The child faster than peers begins to roll over, crawl, stand up. He develops a grasping reflex.
• The limbs are in constant motion. The baby seems to be running somewhere.
• Clumsiness. With developed mobility, coordination disorders are visible.
• Repetitive movements, such as swinging legs, stepping over.
• Bad dream. The child confuses day with night.
• Anxiety, constant causeless crying, unwillingness to swaddle. Any clothing that constrains movement interferes with them.
• Early refusal of daytime sleep. Even a tired child resists sleep.
• Increased muscle tone.
• Profuse regurgitation after eating.
• Stronger reaction to sharp sounds, bright light.

Of course, such symptoms occur in healthy children, but they appear periodically. Hyper active child stays in this state forever.

Hyperactive child in kindergarten, 3 years old.

The main misunderstandings start in children when they start attending Kindergarten. Why exactly there? This is due to the fact that the child is required to obey the established rules, to keep his emotions under control. In addition, there is a sharp change of scenery, big team All this has a negative impact on the psychological state of the child. He experiences stress that the child cannot cope with without the help of adults.

In the team of children, the baby for the first time in his life falls into the mainstream of life. There, everyone is required to have self-control, the ability to do something, he must sit quietly, listen to the teacher, obey the requirements. This is alien to him, he does not know how to do things that other children can do. It's not his fault.

The baby wears out clothes and shoes the fastest. Everything on it is on fire. He climbs into all matters, bullies himself, chatting for a minute without stopping, constantly arguing, trying to prove his case. Such children are hard to adapt to the children's team, they are notorious, irritable, withdraw into themselves.

There are, on the contrary, when overactive children become leaders, put together a team around them. These children have no sense of danger, fear. Sometimes they feel pain dull, not bright. They constantly start dangerous games, and exposing not only themselves, but also others to an extreme situation. They either jump from trees or end up on highways.

Signs of hyperactivity:

Famous American psychologists divide the signs of ADHD into three groups:

Lack of attention:

• Difficulty in maintaining attention.
• The child does not listen to the appeal.
• Starts a quest, but doesn't have enough energy to finish it.
• He constantly loses his things, suffers from forgetfulness.
• Does not perform tasks that require mental effort from him.

Motor disinhibition.

• He fidgets in place, drumming his fingers.
• Doesn't sleep during the day.
• He talks a lot.

Impulsiveness.

• Starts answering a question without hearing it to the end.
• Interrupts other people's conversations.
• Difficulty focusing attention.
• He can hardly wait for the gift.
• There is no proper control over their actions.
• In the classroom, the results can be completely opposite.

According to American psychology, if a child under seven years of age shows similar signs every day, then a hypothesis can be put forward about the baby's hyperactivity.

In our country, in order to make a diagnosis, the following symptoms are highlighted:

• Anxious and constant movements in the limbs.
• The child is not able to sit for a long time without active movement.
• Difficulty keeping attention on the subject.
• With great difficulty, he observes the order in the game, in classes, excursions, and on holidays.
• Often frivolously answers questions, and he does not have enough strength to listen to them completely.
• When the child is engaged in tasks, the work associated with mental activity, is given with great difficulty.
• Completing tasks, calm games are given with great difficulty.
• The child does not complete one action, begins another.
• Too talkative.
• Doesn't listen to people who talk to him.
• The child often loses his things.
• Performs actions that can lead to dangerous consequences, does not think about the consequences at all.

Russian educators can talk about the possibility of ADHD if the observed child shows eight symptoms from this list within half a year.

Even the presence of these symptoms is not enough to make such a diagnosis. An examination by narrow specialists is required. Unfortunately, in our society, such a label is often hung on any child who is inconvenient in some way or does not obey the established rules.

Important! Not a single teacher or psychologist can independently diagnose ADHD without regular consultations with a qualified neurologist and psychoneurologist.

Parents have the right to refute the diagnosis or doubt the qualifications of a psychologist who independently, after tests, puts the baby "hyperactivity". He has no right to make any diagnoses, but can only advise you to consult a specialist.

The difference between an active child and a hyperactive one.

An active and inquisitive child is a reason for joy for parents. The main indicator of the health of the baby is energy. Only a sick child behaves all the time quietly and sluggishly. An active and healthy baby does not sit in one place for a minute, he is like a perpetual motion machine, he is in constant motion. He is very keenly interested in everything, asks a large number of questions, and answers them himself. It's all very good.

But at the same time, the baby is resting and sleeping well. However, the child does not always behave this way. He understands perfectly well that at a party or in a kindergarten you need to behave differently than at home. He will be perfectly distracted by any proposed occupation and will not become the initiator of scandals.

A hyperactive child is a little different from an active child. He also moves a lot, and continues to do so even after he is tired. Despite his fatigue, he cannot rest and fall asleep, his nervous system does not give him rest. Consequently, the baby throws tantrums and cries.

If an active kid, keenly interested in anything, asks questions and listens to the answers to them, then a child with ADHD rarely listens to these answers to the end. He does not perceive any prohibitions, he does not hear restrictions. Due to his unbridled activity, the baby can be the initiator of quarrels, show aggression. A baby with hyperactivity will behave the same everywhere, regardless of location, and no amount of persuasion can make him change his behavior.

Hyperactive children at school.

Another burst of hyperactivity is the beginning of school activities. Reasons leading to negative consequences:

Often parents are unaware of what is happening to their child, they sincerely do not understand it. Because of their wrong behavior, the child becomes more naughty and irritable. Parents sincerely believe that this is the result of their poor upbringing. They need to find a good specialist who will help them understand the behavior of their child, understand him, help.

There are many methods to help such children adapt to society and socialize. With constant monitoring and treatment by a qualified neurologist, noticeable improvements occur. Children more easily take root in a circle of their own kind, their intellectual development is facilitated. With the right approach, all problems go away by the end of adolescence.

Similar content

is a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), neurological and behavioral disorders that develop in childhood. The behavior of a hyperactive child is characterized by restlessness, distractibility, difficulty concentrating, impulsivity, increased motor activity, etc. A hyperactive child requires a neuropsychological and neurological (EEG, MRI) examination. Help for a hyperactive child involves individual psychological and pedagogical support, psychotherapy, non-drug and drug therapy.

According to the criteria developed by the DSM in 1994, ADHD can be recognized if the child has at least 6 signs of inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity for six months. Therefore, during the initial visit to specialists, the diagnosis of ADHD is not made, but the observation and examination of the child is carried out. In the process of clinical and psychological examination of a hyperactive child, methods of interview, conversation, direct observation are used; obtaining information from teachers and parents using diagnostic questionnaires, neuropsychological testing.

The need for a basic pediatric and neurological examination is due to the fact that various somatic and neurological disorders (hyperthyroidism, anemia, epilepsy, chorea, hearing and visual impairment, etc.) can be hidden behind an ADHD-like syndrome. For the purpose of clarifying the diagnosis of a hyperactive child, consultations of narrow children's specialists (children's endocrinologist, pediatric otolaryngologist, pediatric ophthalmologist, epileptologist), EEG, MRI of the brain, general and biochemical blood tests, etc. writing and outline a plan for corrective work with a hyperactive child.

Hyperactivity in children should be differentiated from fetal alcohol syndrome, post-traumatic CNS damage, chronic lead poisoning, manifestations of individual temperament characteristics, pedagogical neglect, mental retardation, etc.

ADHD correction

A hyperactive child needs complex individualized support, including psychological and pedagogical correction, psychotherapy, non-drug and drug correction.

A hyperactive child is recommended a sparing training regimen (small class, reduced lessons, dosed tasks), sufficient sleep, good nutrition, long walks, sufficient physical activity. Due to increased excitability, the participation of hyperactive children in mass events should be limited. Under the guidance of a child psychologist and psychotherapist, autogenic training, individual, group, family and behavioral psychotherapy, body-oriented therapy, biofeedback technologies are carried out. AT correcting ADHD the whole environment of a hyperactive child should be actively involved: parents, educators, school teachers.

Pharmacotherapy is an auxiliary method of ADHD correction. It involves the appointment of atomoxetine hydrochloride, which blocks the reuptake of norepinephrine and improves synaptic transmission in various brain structures; nootropic drugs (pyritinol, cortexin, choline alfoscerate, phenibut, hopantenic acid); micronutrients (magnesium, pyridoxine), etc. In some cases, a good effect is achieved using kinesiotherapy, massage of the cervical spine, manual therapy.

The elimination of violations of written speech is carried out within the framework of targeted speech therapy classes for the correction of dysgraphia and dyslexia.

Forecast and prevention of ADHD

Timely and comprehensive corrective work allows a hyperactive child to learn how to build relationships with peers and adults, control their own behavior, and prevent difficulties in social adaptation. Psychological and pedagogical support of a hyperactive child contributes to the formation of socially acceptable behavior. With no attention to ADHD problems in adolescence and adulthood, the risk of social maladaptation, alcoholism and drug addiction increases.

Prevention of hyperactivity disorder and attention deficit should begin long before the birth of a child and provide for the provision of conditions for the normal course of pregnancy and childbirth, care for the health of children, and the creation of a favorable microclimate in the family and children's team.

Hyperactivity is a phenomenon that manifests itself in many children, interfering with their full adaptation in society. According to various statistics, from 2.5 to 18 percent of children suffer from it. Such children, regardless of the situation, run all the time, fuss, move aimlessly, and in some cases are also unable to keep their attention on objects for a long time. What is child hyperactivity, how to deal with it and what should you absolutely not do?

The concept of hyperactivity

Back in the sixties of the last century, doctors defined excessive motor activity as a pathological condition caused by minimal disorders of brain functions. In the eighties, hyperactivity began to be classified as an independent disease.

On the this moment the concept of hyperactivity is interpreted as a state in which the excitability and activity of a person significantly exceed the norm. If such behavior becomes a problem for others, excessive activity is classified as a mental disorder.

If the phenomenon is accompanied by impaired attention, the disease is called ADHD - "Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder".

Who is at risk for hyperactivity?

This condition is most commonly seen in children or

Because it is caused by emotions. At the same time, boys suffer from hyperactivity 4-5 times more often than girls. This is due to the fact that guys are born larger and their brains mature later, which creates the preconditions for birth or intrauterine injuries.

Symptoms usually begin to appear between two and three years of age. However average age child, when parents decide to see a doctor, is 8-10 years old. The reason for this lies in the fact that if in the first years of life the crumbs do not require responsibility and hyperactivity is easily confused with children's activity and inattention, then at the age of ten, housework and study already require concentration and independence from the child.

Active and hyperactive children - what's the difference?

Too obedient and calm kids are frightening - thoughts like “It seems that something is wrong with him” immediately appear. However, excessive activity, when a child jumps twenty-four hours a day, is not normal. So where is the line between the norm and outright "brute force"?

The hyperactivity test is something like a game of "Find the five differences." For example, an active child does not sit still for most of the day, prefers active activities to passive ones, but if necessary, he can read a book with his mother or devote an hour and a half to folding puzzles. A hyperactive child is not capable of this - he is in constant motion, even if he is tired of it, and when he is completely exhausted, he begins to chafe and cry.

An active kid asks a lot of questions out of curiosity, and a hyperactive one simply because he cannot do otherwise, he talks a lot and asks without listening to the answers. The activist is calm about the prohibitions and does not show aggression, and the hyperactive child perceives everything “with hostility”.

Causes of childhood hyperactivity

At the moment, there are many theories about what could provoke the manifestation of hyperactivity or DHD in a child, but it cannot be said that the picture is completely obvious. Until now, research is being carried out and specialists are working on a solution to this problem. Nevertheless, many factors can be named today.

The causes of hyperactivity in children may be the following factors:

• Heredity. According to experts, about 57% of parents whose children are prone to increased activity complained of the same symptoms in childhood. True, sometimes other problems are observed in such families, for example, the presence of asocial psychopathy, affective disorders or serious allergic diseases (asthma, eczema), alcohol consumption, smoking.

• intrauterine hypoxia. Oxygen starvation of the fetus leads to organic brain damage.

• Injury during pregnancy. And not only physical, but also psychological.

• Premature or difficult childbirth.

• Birth trauma.

• Serious infections or injuries in the first years of life, chronic diseases.

• Improper or poor nutrition, lead poisoning, nutritional deficiencies.

The main symptoms of hyperactivity are:

• Frequent rises from a place.

• Sharp rises from a place, after which - a quick run.

• The child behaves as if "wound up".

• When excited, the child fidgets in a chair or makes other aimless and intense movements with his arms or legs.

• Inability to participate in peaceful and calm leisure activities.

• Inability to wait in line at a game, during class, etc.

• Interfering with other people's conversations or activities.

• Attempts to answer a question before it has been fully formulated.

• Shouting or other noisy antics in a class, event, etc.

Symptoms of Attention Disorder

Since excessive activity in children is often combined with attention deficit, it is necessary to be able to identify it:

• Reduced selective attention, careless mistakes.

• Inability to focus on a particular subject, as well as its details, for a long time.

• The child is easily distracted by even a slight extraneous noise.

• Lack of assembly in the performance of the task, inability to bring the matter to the end.

• Difficulties with the organization of their own activities.

• Feeling as if the child does not listen when spoken to.

• The child tries to avoid solving problems that require prolonged mental stress.

• Increased forgetfulness.

• Constant loss of things.

Diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder requires six of the nine symptoms described above. If a child has signs from both categories, the child is likely to have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In any case, if the child is suspected of any violations, parents should consult a doctor as soon as possible.

If the child has any of the above symptoms and the doctor has confirmed the fears of the parents, of course, the specialist will deal with the treatment. However, there are things that parents can and must do for a child.

So, here are some tips for moms and dads on how to deal with a hyperactive child:

• The first tip is the “correct” wording of prohibitions. Hyperactive babies, for the most part, react painfully to prohibitions, so parents, in order not to provoke aggression, should avoid denials and the word “no”. For example, instead of "Don't run on the grass!" it's much better to say "Come out on the path, please!".

• The second tip is calmness and once again calmness. When conflict situations you should remain calm, because otherwise it will only increase the painful activity and even provoke the baby’s aggression.

• The third tip is consistency. Since the main hallmark hyperactive kids is inattention, it is not recommended to give them several instructions in a row. For example, having heard from the mother “Change your clothes, wash your hands and come to dinner”, the child is likely to be completely distracted by something else and will not complete a single task.

• The fourth tip is to direct excess energy in the right direction. A hyperactive child will benefit from having a hobby. Choosing it, first of all, you should focus on the interests of the child.

If your child has ADHD, two more tips should be added to the tips above:

• The fifth tip is a clear statement of tasks. Since children with ADHD are characterized by a lack of concentration and poor logical thinking they need to formulate their tasks as simply and clearly as possible. You should speak in short sentences without excessive semantic loads.

• The fifth tip is to follow the daily routine. This is the basis for successfully raising a child with ADHD. Performing the same actions at the appointed time will discipline the baby, and healthy sleep will help to become calmer.

Whatever scheme of upbringing is chosen and no matter what advice parents listen to, the main thing in raising a hyperactive child is a positive model of communication. Praise the baby if he was well done, do not ignore even minor successes, and even more so do not scold him with or without reason. So education will be not only effective, but also enjoyable!