Is ADD Different In Children?

ADD in children is particularly heartbreaking because those children have a hard time just things normal kids should be able to do. They can’t concentrate, which means they struggle to complete assignments in school and they often fall behind. They have a hard time sitting still as well so they can often become a problem for their teachers even when they don’t mean to. ADD in children is tough for everyone involved to deal with but there are ways to cope with it.

What Is Add in Children?

ADD stands for Attention Deficit Disorder. It’s a developmental disorder that is believed to affect 3 to 5% of children globally. Typically, symptoms of ADD begin before age 7 and can continue far into adulthood.

Recognizing The Signs Of ADD In Children

In children, ADD manifests itself in different ways. However, there are two kinds of symptoms you should watch for if you’re looking for ADD in children: impulsiveness and difficulty concentrating. All children are impulsive from time to time and most kids go through days where they have a very time concentrating. But in children with ADD, these symptoms continue on for very long periods of time.

With ADD in children, a child will have an ongoing problem maintaining concentration about anything. They will have a hard time completing assignments on time or at all not because they don’t want to but because they are actually unable to. It’s very difficult to get them to just sit and finish an assignment.

Another hallmark of ADD in children is their inability to sit still. Not only does this tie in with their inability to complete schoolwork, it also affects the children around them because they will often draw others in because they are bored and want to do something fun. All of these things are benchmarks for ADD in children. If a child exhibits these kinds of symptoms they probably have ADD and will require treatment for it.

Coping With ADD In Children

Luckily, while ADD in children has become more common there have also been many breakthroughs in treatment for it.

Most doctors will prefer to start with behavioral modification techniques before they prescribe medication. These therapies are effective when dealing with ADD in children because they teach a child how to cope with their own illnesses. The treatment includes teaching a child how to control their impulses so they can finish assignments and listen in class. They also teach parents how to intervene and help their child cope with ADD.