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Children are known for characteristically being playful and energetic—two of the wonderful things about being young! However, if your child seems to be too playful and energetic in school, and unable to focus on their schoolwork, you may be worried about Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
ADHD may make it difficult for your child to learn and pay attention.
Should you be worried? Is your child just being a lively, or are they unable to focus even when they try? Are their grades dropping? These are many questions parents consider when wondering if their child may have a developmental disability. Continue reading to learn more about ADHD, and when to worry about possible symptoms.
What is ADHD?
ADHD is a developmental disability that is characterized as difficulty in focusing and paying attention, therefore making it difficult to learn. According to recent surveys from the CDC, “Approximately 11% of children 4-17 years of age (6.4 million) have been diagnosed with ADHD as of 2011.” And that number is increasing by the year, making it one of the most common developmental disabilities. ADHD often lasts into adulthood, but lucky, it has many options for treatment that make it easily-manageable.
What are the signs?
An important thing to remember is that many children are very active with a lot of energy, and this does not automatically mean they have ADHD or a developmental disability. A child with ADHD will exhibit many more signs other than being very active and sometimes having trouble focusing. Look out for:
- losing things or forgetting things frequently
- constant squirming or fidgeting when asked to be still
- excessive talking
- repetitive mistakes or impulsive behavior
- frequent daydreaming or instances of distraction
If you notice many of the above symptoms in your child, and they seem unable to keep good grades in their schoolwork, it’s a good idea to bring these things up to a medical professional. There are steps they can take to diagnose a developmental disability such as ADHD if you believe your child may be affected by it. And if it turns out they are just playful and excitable, and they are not diagnosed with ADHD or another developmental disability, don’t worry! Help them sit down with their schoolwork, and you’ll see improvements.
Suspect Your Child has ADHD? Talk to us.
Family Service Foundation, Inc. has been serving the greater Maryland area since 1936. This nonprofit organization helps Maryland residents across a span of different areas such as mental health, developmental disabilities, and substance abuse, and provides interpretation for deaf and deaf-blind individuals. To learn more about ADHD treatment, visit here. Do you “Follow” and “Like?” Be sure to stay active on our official pages for Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Pinterest today!
