What are the symptoms of ADHD in children?
Generally, childhood hyperactivity refers to attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity, poor organizational skills, and difficulties in emotional regulation. A detailed analysis is as follows:
1. Inattention
Children with ADHD have certain deficiencies in the brain mechanisms that regulate attention, which may lead to inadequate ability to allocate and sustain attention. Affected children find it difficult to maintain focus on a single task for an extended period. For example, they can be easily distracted by surrounding stimuli in class, frequently lose focus, fail to concentrate during lectures, and often play while doing homework, leading to carelessness and frequent mistakes.
2. Hyperactivity
Due to abnormal development in areas of the brain responsible for motor control, children with ADHD exhibit reduced inhibition of their own movements. This manifests as excessive small movements of the hands and feet, inability to sit still, and constant squirming in their seats.
3. Impulsivity
The prefrontal cortex of the brain, which is primarily responsible for inhibiting impulsive responses and planning behaviors, develops more slowly in children with ADHD. The underdeveloped functionality makes it difficult for these children to control impulsive behaviors. They often act without thinking, such as rushing to answer questions before their turn during group activities or interrupting others while they are speaking.
4. Poor organizational skills
Children with ADHD experience difficulties in organizing and processing information within the brain, which affects their ability to maintain orderliness in daily life and academic activities. They struggle to organize their school supplies, toys, and often have messy, disordered backpacks.
5. Emotional regulation difficulties
Problems exist in the neural connections and functional coordination between the brain regions responsible for emotional regulation and other areas of the brain, which may lead to weaker self-regulation of emotions. Compared to peers, children with ADHD are more prone to emotional fluctuations, such as frequent temper tantrums and irritability. When faced with frustration, they tend to have lower tolerance and may react intensely and quickly.
In daily life, parents should create a structured and orderly living environment to help children develop good habits and a sense of time, which can enhance the child's self-management abilities.