UAE: Psychologists urge parents to look out for signs of ADHD in children

Experts say that it is necessary for parents to pay attention to a child's behaviour at home

By SM Ayaz Zakir

What is ADHD?

“Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a condition that affects people's behaviour. People with ADHD can seem restless, may have trouble concentrating and may act on impulse,” said Dr Shaju George, psychiatrist at Medeor Hospital, Dubai.

Dr Shaju George

Experts say that it is necessary for parents to watch a child's behaviour at home. “Primarily parents should pay attention to the attention span of the child. Children with ADHD have a short attention span and get distracted easily,” said Banu.

“Most of the parents bring their children to us after being referred from school due to academic deterioration or behavioural disturbance. It is after detailed examination that we diagnose the child with ADHD,” added Banu.

Children diagnosed with the disorder often have trouble focusing on a task, fidget, squirm, or are restless. “Children with ADHD keep constantly moving or running around and they get bored easily,” said Banu.

Psychologists in the country say that ADHD affects many children here. They add that children suffering from the disorder must get medical attention.

Signs and symptoms:

Inattentiveness :

Having a short attention span and being easily distracted
Making careless mistakes
Unable to stick to tasks that are tedious or time-consuming
Appearing like they are unable to listen to or carry out instructions
Constantly changing activity or task at hand
Having difficulty organising tasks

Hyper-activeness & Impulsiveness:

Unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings
Constantly fidgeting, unable to concentrate on tasks
Excessive physical movement, excessive talking
Unable to wait their turn, acting without thinking
Interrupting conversations
Little or no sense of danger

Social communication deficits:

Decreased sharing of interests with others
Difficulty appreciating their own & others’ emotions
Aversion to maintaining eye contact
Lack of proficiency with use of non-verbal gestures
Stilted or scripted speech
Interpreting abstract ideas literally
Difficulty making friends or keeping them

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Restricted interests and repetitive behaviours:

Inflexibility of behaviour, extreme difficulty coping with change
Being overly focused on niche subjects to the exclusion of others
Expecting others to be equally interested in those subjects
Difficulty tolerating changes in routine and new experiences
Sensory hypersensitivity, like, aversion to loud noises
Stereotypical movements such as hand flapping, rocking, spinning
Arranging things, often toys, in a very particular manner

Issues that trigger ADHD in children

Experts say that triggers may include stress, poor sleep, certain foods and additives, overstimulation, and technology.

"Once you recognize what triggers ADHD symptoms, you can make the necessary lifestyle changes to control episodes in a better way,” Dr Banu said.

Advice to parents on parenting children with ADHD

Value and embrace your child's uniqueness
Follow a healthy lifestyle
Help your child eliminate distractions and manage time
Be specific when giving instructions
Use positive feedback
Do not punish or compare your child with any other child
Try to analyse and control triggers
Acknowledge the child when they behave well

Treatment

“Once the child is brought to the psychologist, we do a detailed evaluation and assessment of the condition of the child. The therapy model is framed, parents are Psycho-educated and necessary referrals are made if the child requires any medication or any other intervention along with behaviour therapy,” Dr Banu said.

ayaz@khaleejtimes.com