Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (also known as ADHD and previously known as ADD) is the most common neurobehavioral disorder in youth to date, affecting about 6-8% of children and teens worldwide, including South Asians. With proper treatment, people living with ADHD can live a full, happy, healthy and successful life with minimal life impairment.
In recent years, however, ADHD has not been always diagnosed properly and has become the scapegoat diagnosis for any child who is difficult to manage. While ADHD is a real diagnosis, it is often confused with numerous other disorders that affect children and have a similar presentation of symptoms.
Sleep Disorders: Children, just like adults, can be plagued with difficulties sleeping. Insomnia, hypersomnia snoring, sleep apnea especially in people who are overweight, or sleepwalking are all examples of sleep disorders that can affect children, teens and adults. Sometimes these disorders are a side effect of medications that a person is taking, other times it can be inherent to their physiology. Without a full night of sleep, people can be agitated, irritated, unfocused, and even hyperactive, all symptoms of ADHD as well.
Learning Disorders: Also known as learning disabilities, these disorders are not a sign of impaired intellect or motivation. Instead, these highly genetic disorders are due to physical changes in the brain. Learning disorders can include difficulties with reading, math, writing, reasoning, listening or speaking. Children, teens and adults with learning disabilities that are undiagnosed will be frustrated, anxious and bored in school or during activities that require skills they struggle with. The most common expression of frustration, anxiety and boredom in children as well as adults is restlessness, agitation, excessive movement and difficulty focusing.
Anxiety: Children and teens are not exempt from feeling anxious or stressed. Sources of anxiety can include academic pressure, social isolation, family troubles, difficulty adjusting to change, and financial or marital stress. Signs of anxiety in children can be similar to adults: increased movement, restlessness, difficulty sitting still, inability to focus on a task and diminished ability to concentrate. These symptoms can become disruptive when a a child or adult is required to complete a task or meet a deadline.
Depression: Similar to anxiety, people who are depressed are unable to concentrate, can be indecisive and may seem as if they are not paying attention when they are spoken to. Having trouble completing tasks, people with depression are very often mistaken as having ADHD, especially the inattentive type.
Seizures: Mistaking seizure disorders for ADHD not only is a mistake in diagnosis but can create significant trouble for the patient if they are given ADHD medications as stimulants can exacerbate seizures. During a seizure which can last for a few seconds, the face may go blank, eyes may wander and the person may have some involuntary movements. If this occurs several times a day, it may be mistaken for daydreaming or lack of focus by teachers, partners or superiors at work.
Family Conflicts/Crisis: Most behavior problems that occur in children are a reflection of the emotional state at home. Unhealthy marriages, parents being in the middle of a divorce, living with a sibling who has special needs, death in the family, sudden move to a new location or constant arguments at home are all examples of reasons why children and teens may have behavior problems at school. Being impatient and impulsive, having difficulty paying attention in class, making careless mistakes, or fidgeting are all common behavior issues in children, teens or adults who experience high levels of family conflict or a crisis at home. They are also symptoms of ADHD.
Poor Nutrition: When people are not given enough food or the right type of food, their sugar levels might have too many swings or they may be exhausted from hunger. Naturally, children and adults who do not eat properly will have trouble paying attention, completing tasks and will be forgetful, all symptoms of ADHD.
Hearing or Vision Impairments: When anyone cannot hear or see properly, daily activities at home, at school , at work and otherwise can pose a significant challenge. Especially in school or at work, children and adults will seem like they are daydreaming or not focusing. Since their attention cannot be grabbed by the teacher or the supervisor, they may become bored and begin squirming or looking for other avenues to keep their interest making it seem as if they have attention problems.
ADHD is a real and serious disorder that must be taken seriously. However, parents and partners should be aware of the symptoms of the disorder and how they differ from the numerous other causes for similar symptoms. If you believe your loved one has problems regulating attention that is affecting their daily life or academic achievement, have them undergo a complete diagnostic workup so that if there is an underlying condition, it can be diagnosed properly and treated accordingly. Although many of the disorders above cannot be cured, all of them, including ADHD, can be managed effectively so that your loved one can still be successful in life.
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