Experts urge parents in Bahrain to look for signs of ADHD in children
TDT | Manama
The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com
Reported by Zahra Ayaz
With the increasing number of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) cases in the Kingdom of Bahrain, psychologists believe it is imperative for parents to pay attention to their child’s behaviour at home.
ADHD is one of the most common neurodevelopmental disorders among children often persists into adulthood. It manifests in childhood with symptoms of hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention; the symptoms affect cognitive, academic, behavioural, emotional and social functioning.
Speaking to The Daily Tribune, Jaseela Mujeeb, a counselor and psychotherapist said: “ADHD cases are recognised mostly when children are between 6 and 12 years old. Some school teachers may complain about the child’s inattention in class and the parents may have to go for a clinical consultation.
“These ADHD cases are more likely to be diagnosed and treated in boys than in girls. Of course, raising a child with ADHD is a little difficult for parents. Normal household routines and management can become almost impossible depending on your child’s symptoms.
“Parents must accept the fact that these children are functionally different from normal children.” “Children with ADHD experience the same emotion as do other children but their feelings are more frequent, intense and long lasting thus they have a tough time self-soothing, they need more time to calm down and get over their mood swings.
“It needs a lot of patience and understanding from parents and other family members while dealing with children with ADHD,” she added. She highlighted, “The children welcome easily accessible distractions for instance TV, computer games and mobile phones which encourage their impulsive behavior and should be regulated.
“By decreasing screen time and engaging in activities outside the house, the child will have an outlet for buildup energy. Physical activity burns excessive energy in healthy ways, this decreases impulsiveness.
“Lack of sleep causes inattention, hyperactivity and recklessness. Helping your child to get better sleep is important. For this, eliminate stimulants like sugar and caffeine and decrease screen time. Establish a healthy, calming bedtime routine.
“ADHD typically doesn’t get worse with age, if the person is aware of his symptoms and knows how to manage them. Some people receive a diagnosis of ADHD when they are adults, as their parents or caregivers may not have recognized their symptoms when they were children.
“Untreated ADHD could place a person at higher risk of developing mental health conditions such as depression,” Jaseela pointed out. It could also result in them having issues in maintaining relationships and succeeding in their jobs.
Children with ADHD and autism may share the same symptoms but are two distinct conditions. Children with autism struggle to focus on things that they don’t like, for instance reading a book, but they may like playing with a particular toy whereas kids with ADHD often dislike and avoid things they’ll have to concentrate on.
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