Family Life Education Series
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

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"Is our child simply active or suffering from hyperactive problem?"

(This article is supplied by the Welfare Services Group)

The topic of this FLE series now proceeds to the next stage, leaving behind the bedwetting problem, the causes of and the remedy for which were explained by Professor Wong Chung-kwong, Chairman of Positive Living United Services, in an article published in OffBeat issue 719.

Professor Wong in the following article deals with another problem area where anxious parents begin to notice that their energetic child is difficult to control and settle down for his homework. They would then ask: "Is our child suffering from some sort of hyperactive problem? What should we do then?"

Professor Wong explains:

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

Based on worldwide research, a conservative estimate is that two to three per cent of children suffer from Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (or simply ADHD). In the past these children were often misunderstood as being naughty, disobedient or rebellious. In fact upon more careful observation, these children can readily be differentiated from ordinary children.

They show five characteristic symptoms. First, they are overactive in a disorganised manner (whereas normal energetic children can also be very active but their activities have direction and purpose). Second, they have a short attention span even when they are doing indoor activities that they enjoy. It is important to note that normal children may show short attention spans when they are asked to do activities that they do not enjoy. Third, they are distractible, again even when they are engaged in activities that they like. Fourth, they are impulsive, such as they jump into the swimming pool or slide down the slide without first checking whether there are people below. Fifth, they are excitable, in that they often have tantrums and often react severely to seemingly trivial frustrations.

Children with ADHD are very often recognisable during infancy. In infancy, they are often difficult and irritable babies to look after. Many of them do not feed or sleep well. As toddlers they are already clearly overactive. They often suffer from minor accidents because they seem to be oblivious of danger. As preschoolers they are often the source of complaint by their teachers for disrupting classes. As primary pupils they often show the five typical symptoms. Many are underachievers in academic matters.

ADHD often spontaneously improves as children reach adolescence. In other words many of them outgrow the condition. Unfortunately, because they are often misunderstood and hence punished (rather than treated and helped), they often suffer from psychological sequelae such as emotional disturbance, low self-esteem and parent-child discord.

Children with ADHD should receive a combination of treatments including medication, emotional counselling and behavioural treatment which help the child to resolve low self-esteem, parent-child discord, improve proper learning and social behavioural repertoire.

(The full text will soon be uploaded on the Healthy Lifestyle website on POINT)