ADHD is one of the most bespoken learning disorders in children and youths. There recently have been many doctors who have said that ADHD does not really exist. That it simply is a term used to address children with a lot of energy or a lot of misbehavior. Yet, there are many doctors, psychiatrists, and even almost all manuals which do recognize ADHD as a disorder. It is thus clear that there are many different opinions. To give you a clearer image of what ADHD entails exactly, we will sum up symptoms in this article, and also name some factors which might make ADHD worse.

ADHD: attention deficit

You often notice in children or adolescents with ADHD that they are easily bored. They have only just started playing and have already grown tired of it. This does not change when they get older. In class, the start to squirm around in their chair or find it difficult to pay attention to that which is being taught. Then, they start to negatively draw the attention of other students or of the teacher. This is what we call attention deficit. This is one of the main symptoms of ADHD. Attention deficit shortly means that children and youths find it difficult to focus their attention on one specific thing for an extended period of time. That which does not seem to be an issue for other children, is something which is problematic for them. They cannot focus for the same amount of time as other children can.

ADHD: hyperactivity

There are different types of ADHD. ADD is the type without the hyperactivity, but the most common type is ADHD. The H stands for hyperactivity in this context. Children with ADD mainly suffer from attention issues, because they find it difficult to continue paying attention to things for extended periods of time. But children with ADHD have issues with both attention and hyperactivity. This means that children with ADHD will find it difficult to sit still, to calmly do something, ... They are hyperactive. This will, together with attention deficit, often make it so that children with ADHD have large difficulties at school.

ADHD: lack of impulse control

Another main characteristic of ADHD is the lack of impulse control. They often say something without thinking about it, or do something without giving it any thought. Something enters their mind and that is what they then do. At a later age this can show itself, for example, in the form of spending a lot of money, or driving in a dangerous way.

ADHD: the other side of ADHD

Another side of ADHD is that these children and youths often enjoy activities. Examples could include sports or a youth movement. Sports are very good for these children because it serves as a way for them to let it all out. They can vent and let go of their hyperactivity. Many children and youths with ADHD do not enjoy hobbies where they have to sit still a lot of where they have to pay attention to one thing for a long time.

ADHD: other characteristics

Because children with ADHD often find it difficult to sit still or are impulsive, it sometimes is difficult for them to make friends. This is rather important for them during their childhood and during puberty. Furthermore, many children with ADHD have issues with school. They namely find it difficult to focus and sit still. This shows itself in generally lower grades. The consequences of their attention deficit, lack of impulse control, or hyperactivity, can often be the cause of stress, anxiety, and sometimes of depression. Sometimes they feel different from all other children and feel like they do not belong anywhere.

ADHD and the online self-help program

The online self-help program by 15 Minutes 4 Me can reduce the symptoms of ADHD because it reduces stress. It can assist children and adolescents with ADHD in dealing with eventual stress, anxiety, and depression, and inform them about certain communication techniques. Children over the age of 12 can follow the program, but might sometimes need some explanation from their parents. However, as an adult it is very important to let the child follow the program on their own and to only assist when he/she lets you know that they require your assistance.

ADHD: take the online stress test!

You can always fill out the online free stress test in order to find out what your stress level is.