Between 3% and 7% of the child, the population suffers from hyperactivity, a disorder that usually brings parents, relatives, and teachers on their toes. Learn about its symptoms and how to help those affected.
ADHD or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is characterized by difficulty in sustaining attention, overactivity, and impulsivity. Due to its complexity, it would be more correct to call it a syndrome than a disorder since it encompasses these three alterations.
Although this disorder’s main element is inattention, it is also described as a deficit in motivation. This is because children with ADHD seem to maintain attention for long periods for certain activities that might be interesting for them. It is usually accompanied by other disorders, such as difficulties in affectivity, anxiety, antisocial behaviors, and school development disturbances. These alterations often mark the prognosis of the disease and define the treatment.
The origin of the picture can be acquired, being more frequently hereditary (75%). In the latter case, it will be the result of a brain alteration between dopamine and norepinephrine. For its diagnosis, especially in cases in which hyperactivity predominates, it will suffice with observation for a few minutes by the professional.
ADHD is slightly more common in boys. Its prevalence is estimated in recent years between 10 and 20%. It is not an exclusive entity of children and adolescents, but it can also appear in adulthood. Between three and seven out of every 100 children suffer from hyperactivity, a disorder that often brings parents, relatives, and teachers on their toes. Learn about its symptoms and how to help those affected.
Stages of hyperactivity or ADHD
Hyperactivity can go through various stages. Although it is usually seen in children, it can also extend into adolescence and adulthood, developing various symptoms and associated problems.
ADHD in children
The prevalence of hyperactivity disorder in school-age children is 3-7%, being more frequent in boys than in girls. This disorder generates school and social problems in children. It affects children and adolescents at school in lower test scores, grade repetition, and difficulties in applying knowledge to personal and school tasks.
Approximately 50-60% of children with untreated ADHD are expelled from the class, and 10-30% of adolescents drop out or fail to finish high school. Only 5% of teens with ADHD finish college. Although their academic performance is low, because many children with ADHD have learning problems inherent to the disorder, it has been found that their intelligence is equal to or higher than the average (including gifted ).
In many cases, bad behavior and social problems are reported. These problems often stem from the way other people judge and interact with children with ADHD. Other children may find them annoying, noisy, and unhappy; they tend to be unfriendly and reject them. Meanwhile, parents and teachers tend to be more authoritarian, controlling, and invasive with children with ADHD compared to normal children. Therefore, even when children with ADHD are not aggressive or disobedient, due to their characteristics, they can suffer negative interpersonal experiences, which in the long run have repercussions on the development of various social problems.
ADHD in adolescents and adults
Today it is known that hyperactivity does not disappear after childhood as was previously believed. Between 50 and 80 percent of children with ADHD continue to show problems in adolescence. The problem of hyperactivity could decrease in a large number of cases. However, children have been followed up to adulthood, and it has been seen that in a high proportion, the main problems of the disorder still manifest in different ways, such as a deterioration in social relationships, depression, low self-esteem, antisocial behaviors, emotional problems, drug use, and a school or work disadvantage.
Many adults with ADHD are employed and financially independent, but their employment history is somewhat unstable, and their professional status is very low.
Not receiving adequate treatment for this disease can harm the patient’s health and safety since they suffer more injuries by accident and more health problems than the rest of the population. For example, traffic accidents are higher for teenage drivers with untreated ADHD than for other teenage drivers (57% vs. 39%).