Are you worried about your child’s behaviour? A Parent’s Guide to ADHD
All children misbehave at times. Impulsive behaviour, inattention and fidgeting are all perfectly natural in young children and you will often be reassured that they’ll “grow out of it”.
But what if they don’t? What if you still dread picking them up from school everyday – partly because you’re worried that their teacher will want a word with you AGAIN and partly because you just don’t know how you’ll cope with them when you get home?
Well firstly, you should not blame yourself. There can be many reasons for a child’s extreme behaviour but “bad parenting” is not usually one of them. And secondly, it may be useful to get some help. Behaviour problems in children can have a number of causes which your doctor will be able to discuss with you in more detail. One such cause could be a medical condition known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
This is a relatively common condition which affects about 1 in 20 children and, once diagnosed, there are a number of treatments available. If you are in any way concerned about your child’s behaviour it is always worth speaking to your doctor about it. They will be able to give you a realistic idea of what is considered normal behaviour for that age group, put you in touch with a local parenting groups and also refer you to a specialist if they suspect that your child may have ADHD or any other type of behavioural disorder.
Will They Grow Out of It?
If ADHD remains undiagnosed and untreated it can impact upon your child’s education, their emotional development and social life, and also the lives of other families and friends.
Parents of children with ADHD often feel that they are being criticised for their child’s behaviour and this can lead to tensions in their relationships. Also siblings may feel that they miss out because their parent’s attention is frequently directed towards dealing with their sibling. Children with ADHD tend to have fewer friends as they struggle to interact with other children during play and leisure activities. They may also experience teasing and bullying at school.
Untreated ADHD can also lead to educational problems as children find it difficult to sustain attention at school and during homework. Persistently disruptive children are often sent out of their classrooms and can end up being excluded from school altogether.
Antisocial behaviour and an increased tendency to break rules or get in trouble with the law later in life can also be associated with untreated ADHD. The good news is that ADHD is now much more widely recognised and there are a number of treatments and support services available to help you and your child to cope with the condition.
