My Child Is Moved And Has Trouble Concentrating. Does He Have Adhd?

Many parents come to the office today because they perceive that their child moves a lot, not standing still, at school it is difficult for him to concentrate and is easily bored. These parents wonder if their child will not have Attention Deficit Disorder with / without Hyperactivity.

Making a diagnosis of said disorder is somewhat complicated, since there are no organic symptoms or specific neurological indicators and, in addition, the psycho-socio-emotional and family history of the child must be taken into account.

Signs that may indicate attention deficit hyperactivity

Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are primarily inattentive and hyperactive. the inattentionIt is reflected in the fact that the grades are lowered for silly mistakes, for overlooking small details, leaving questions unanswered or exercises without doing because they have not been seen. They also find it difficult to read or hold very long conversations, so sometimes it seems that while we are talking to them they have their heads elsewhere. They tend to get distracted by anything and that often causes them to lose school supplies or not remember where they left the soccer jersey. As they have difficulties when it comes to organizing and managing time, it is likely that they will get caught up in preparing for exams or that it is difficult for them to anticipate the consequences of their actions and decisions.

Regarding hyperactivity, it should be noted that it is very commonly associated with impulsivity . This translates into children who feel that they cannot stop moving (they are constantly tapping with their hands or feet), that they change their game, that it is difficult for them to wait their turn, they speak without stopping or respond before you finish the question.

All of this significantly interferes in the child’s life, often leading to low self-esteem, symptoms of sadness and anxiety, and low school and personal motivation.

For this reason, it is important when in doubt to consult with those professionals who can make such a diagnosis (psychiatrist, neurologist and pediatrician, among others) and carry out multidisciplinary treatment.

My child has ADD. How do I help him?

When your child is diagnosed with Attention Deficit with or without Hyperactivity, you feel lost in those first moments. Simple things like talking to him and having him understand what you want to say becomes a daunting task. Here are some tips for the road?

At school

• Buy him an agenda where you remind him every day that he has to write down his tasks through drawings.
• Always do your homework at the table in your room with as few distractions as possible and have a timer to help you regulate yourself.
• Help him organize his tasks: what tasks do you have, how long do you think it will take for each one, which one will you start with. Once this is clear, leave the room and come when the estimated time to finish the task is up, to ask how it is going, if it needs help and to remind it to move on to the next one.
• On a calendar, write down the exams you are going to have to help you organize the day you are going to start studying each of them.

At home

• Set known routines and limits, in this way the world will be more predictable and the child will feel that they have more control: that the meal times are always the same, the child knowing what to do before or after meals and extracurricular activities . For example, I know that on Mondays I go out to school at 5:00 p.m. and that later my father comes to get me to take me to gymnastics. After gymnastics I go home, have a snack and do my homework. After homework comes a bath and dinner. Finally mom reads me a story and I go to sleep. Knowing all this I will feel calmer and more secure, because I can anticipate what is going to happen.
• Use simple and direct language: always say things in the same way (even if you have to repeat them) and with a friendly and calm tone.
• Highlight their qualities, do not make judgments or use labels. Try changing “you’re messy” to “the room is messy and I’d like you to tidy it up.”
• Do things with him that he likes and finds attractive, if he is successful at them, much better!

All this must be done in the most natural way possible and taking into account the age of the child. The goal is for them to gradually internalize these strategies and be able to self-regulate, so that they become more autonomous.