By: Roukia Hamoud
Imagine your child talking non-stop, even during the night time hours. Imagine them moving excessively and touching everything around them. You start to question what they ate and if he had a little too much sugar. When you ask them to clean up their toys, they wander off and don’t finish the job. You start to wonder if there is a bigger issue other than “normal child behavior”.
ADHD, also known as, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, is a brain disorder that makes it difficult for one to pay attention and interferes with their performance. For ADHD to be diagnosed, the symptoms must be chronic and ust impair one’s development. Symptoms appear as early as 3 years of age and can continue through adulthood. In young children, hyperactivity is the main symptom. Children who are hyperactive have a tough time staying still. They are constantly squirming around and cannot relax for a moment. Children that are hyperactive may also have a quick temper.
However, not all children diagnosed with ADHD are hyperactive. There are many children with ADHD who are quiet and calm. Children with only inattentive symptoms of ADHD are often ignored. Children that are inattentive have trouble staying focused and are easily distracted when doing a task. They have trouble listening when spoken to and have a hard time recollecting or following instructions.
Some children with ADHD are also impulsive, which can cause problems with self-control. This can also cause children to interrupt conversations and/or ask personal questions. Other signs of impulsiveness in shown when a child invades other people’s space or asking questions that aren't relevant to the conversation. In these cases, however, telling a child to “be patient” or “settle down” is a very tough thing to ask.
Many parents think that children will eventually grow out of ADHD, which is a common misconception. ADHD will often continue into adulthood if it is not caught earlier on. This is common because it is difficult to distinguish ADHD signs for normal child behavior. Many mistaken ADHD for emotional problems which then leads to a delay in the diagnosis. When recognized, however, parents and teachers can play an integral role in child’s development. This can be done by creating a routine regiment, teaching the child organization skills, and creating a rewards system.
Arab in particular sometimes misdiagnose ADHD for misbehavior. There are also many Arab that find it offensive to say their child has such symptoms or an issue. About 0.5% to 14.9% of Arab children are diagnosed with ADHD each year. This low percentage/huge gap derives from the lack of studies that actually address behavioral problems found in children in the Arab world. ADHD is a developmental disorder that is not culturally recognized. Since behavior is associated with ADHD, families view the child as misbehaving instead of a problem needing medical attention. Since behavior is a huge issue in Arab culture, parents of a child with ADHD will punish him/her for misbehaving instead of realizing they has a problem. Informing Arab about this disorder can prevent this issue from continuing into adulthood, by getting the child proper resources and help.