2.
General Description of a Child with ADHD
Studies now indicate that ADHD can
be diagnosed in children by age four. Parents may notice
symptoms even earlier. (One mother reported that three days
after delivery, nurses were referring to her ADHD son as
"Wild Willie.") Even before the "terrible
two's," impulsive behavior is often apparent; the toddler
may gleefully exhibit erratic and aggressive gestures, hair
pulling, pinching, hitting. Temper tantrums, normal in children
after two, are usually exaggerated and not necessarily linked
to a specific negative event in the life of an ADHD child.
One of the most painful events a parent may experience is
an abrupt and aggressive attack that may occur after cuddling
a young ADHD child. Often this reaction seems to be caused
not by anger, but by the child's apparent inability to endure
overstimulation, even displays of physical affection. In
a busy environment, such as a class room or a crowded store,
ADHD children often become distracted and react by pulling
items off the shelves, hitting people, or spinning out of
control into erratic, silly, or strange behavior. As ADHD
children grow and develop, parents discover that these children
have a very difficult time adapting to even minor changes
in routines, such as getting up in the morning, putting
on shoes, eating new foods, or going to bed. Any shift in
a situation can precipitate a strong and noisy negative
response. ADHD children are often hypersensitive to sights,
sounds, and touch and complain excessively about stimuli
that seem low key or bland to others. Sleeping problems
usually occur well after the point at which most small children
sleep through the night. In one study, 63% of children with
ADHD had trouble sleeping. <SEE
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© 2003 The Kids Clinic
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