Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD may be defined as a condition that affects children and often continues into adulthood, which includes a combination of persistent problems such as difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.
ADHD is usually diagnosed by pediatricians or child psychiatrists using clear criteria, whereas the symptoms need to have lasted for more than 6 months, have been present before the age of 12 and have caused serious impairment at school, at home and socially.
The condition symptoms may be categorized into two types of behavioral problems, namely: inattentiveness and hyperactivity. The main signs of inattentiveness include: having a short attention span and being easily distracted, making careless mistakes, appearing forgetful or losing things, being unable to stick to tasks that are tedious or time-consuming, appearing to be unable to listen to or carry out instructions, constantly changing activity or task and having difficulty organizing tasks. While the main signs of hyperactivity and impulsiveness include: being unable to sit still, especially in calm or quiet surroundings, constantly fidgeting, being unable to concentrate on tasks, excessive physical movement, excessive talking, being unable to wait their turn, acting without thinking, interrupting conversations and little or no sense of danger.
ADHD can be treated using medications or therapy, while a combination of both is often best, which can help relieve the symptoms and make the condition much less of a problem in daily life.
The Department of Pediatrics at Al Salam Hospital provide the best exceptional care through a multidisciplinary approach in order to maintain your child's physical wellbeing at each stage of their life; whereas the department services include normal newborn screening, growth and development follow-up, preschool routine check-up, routine childhood immunization according to the Saudi Schedule. Specialized pediatric experts and medical staff in the Department focus on providing the most advanced pediatric primary and subspecialty care to infants and children; including general pediatric, infectious diseases, gastroenterology, nephrology, pulmonology, endocrinology, neurology and intensive care.
References:
- NHS
- Child Mind Institute
- Cleveland Clinic
