Many parents fear hearing that their child has ADHD. Unlike other disorders and other problems, this one can be one that bears both psychological and social impacts on virtually everyone who has anything to do with the child. ADHD, or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a neurological disorder. It is characterized by forgetfulness, hyperactivity, and mood shifts. Children and adults can be effected and as many as 5 to 8 percent of all children have this condition. Many go undiagnosed each year.

So, What Is It?

ADHD is a condition in which individuals find themselves distracted, unaware of what is happening around them, or very full of energy. Most cases in children are developed before the age of 7. The diagnosis comes when there are problems in their development. For example, they may show behavior that is inappropriate in attention or they may be so impulsive that the condition leads to other problems. Common places that this can be seen are in education, occupational, family and peer relations, and in social skills. When there is a lacking in these areas, it is necessary for a parent to seek out the help of a pediatrician.

ADHD Symptoms

There are three types of ADHD. These include predominantly inattentive, predominantly hyperactive-impulsive and a combined type. Here are some symptoms of ADHD.

• Destructiveness
• Impulsive behavior which includes excessive talking, blurting out answers before the question should be answered, and interrupting others. Also, individuals with the condition often feel the need to speak their mind and this often comes with making statements without thinking about what the consequences for them are. Children may feel the need to respond to a dare.
• Restlessness
• Inattentiveness which can be both a difficulty with sustaining attention or with persisting towards activities.
• Difficultness in reengaging a previous task is also evident.
• Hyperactivity happens mostly in early and middle school age children and often decreases as the child ages.
• In adulthood, restlessness, as well as a need to stay physically busy is evident.

• Daydreaming
• Sluggish behavior
• Confused behavior
• Staring frequently
• Hypo active.

For many parents, this comes as a wake up call. Yes, this can explain why your child is misbehaving and getting on your last nerve. And, it does mean that you are not a bad parent but that your child has a disorder that is causing them to behave as they are. But, what do you do? The first thing that you