Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: The child cries and fusses frequently. They are restless all day and cannot sit quietly alone for more than 5 minutes. They are particularly active, and children of similar age do not behave this way. What are the symptoms of ADHD?Doctor's answer:
The psychological characteristics of children are competitive, curious, active, imitative, and imaginative, with activity being particularly prominent.Some parents view a child's activity as dishonest, mischievous, or undisciplined and impose various restrictions on them. This approach contradicts the psychological traits of children. A child's activity is a manifestation of vitality and physical and mental health. Only children with malnutrition, severe anemia, or other congenital diseases are inactive. Activity is also a way for children to explore nature and society. They touch, move, and look at everything, and they ask all kinds of questions, showing curiosity and a lack of understanding of the surrounding world. However, some parents mistakenly label the normal activity of children as "attention deficit hyperactivity disorder" (ADHD).
The main differences between normal activity and ADHD are as follows:
(1) While children with normal activity may also show signs of inattention, they can concentrate on things that interest them and rarely get distracted. Children with ADHD cannot do this.
(2) Although normal children may appear restless, such as fidgeting in class or even causing disturbances, they can control themselves when they realize they need to. Children with ADHD, however, cannot control themselves.
(3) Normal children perform rapid, repetitive, and alternating movements with flexibility and ease. Children with ADHD, on the other hand, perform these movements clumsily.
(4) Central nervous system stimulants can make normal children more alert. However, when children with ADHD take them, they quickly become calm, less active, and more focused.