Hyperactive child: signs, symptoms, treatment

Life has given you a gift - you have become a parent. The baby grows up, delights with new achievements, but often becomes capricious for no apparent reason and sleeps restlessly. He learned to walk, makes his first attempts to assemble a pyramid or add cubes, you look at colorful books together. But you notice that the child does not walk, but runs, not seeing any obstacles in his path; cannot finish listening to a fairy tale or putting together simple puzzles. These are the first signs that you have a hyperactive child growing up, what should parents do and whether they need advice from a psychologist? Let’s figure it out one by one.

How to recognize a hyperactive child?

Mothers call their fidgety children hyperactive children. In fact, there is a substitution of concepts. Normally developing children should be active and inquisitive. And the prefix “hyper” means that activity is above normal. Observe your baby, if you find similar signs in your child, seek advice from a specialist.

1. You can recognize a child with hyperactivity in infancy. You should be alert to the following symptoms:

• severe muscle tension that persists for a long time (it is difficult to straighten the baby’s fingers);
• repeated regurgitation, sometimes vomiting;
• excessive reaction to external stimuli (noise, light);
• A hyperactive baby's sleep is shallow, fitful, the child shudders, wakes up, and often cries.

1. As it grows, the following signs appear:

• does not fall asleep for a long time;
• does not play with one toy;
• does not sit still;
• cannot concentrate on one type of activity;
• absent-minded attention;
• the desire to run somewhere.

A hyperactive child is unable to occupy himself; it is difficult for him to watch even a short cartoon, assemble a construction set, or listen to a fairy tale.

1. In older preschool and primary school age, the following symptoms are added:

• involuntary twitching of legs or arms;
• head shaking;
• rocking while standing;
• playing a repetitive sound.

These signs are especially evident when the child is answering a lesson or doing something enthusiastically.

Irritability, short temper and rapid mood swings are added. The baby gets tired quickly and cannot concentrate on completing the task. At night, it is not possible to get a full night's sleep, because at first he cannot fall asleep, and during the night he wakes up several times. It is difficult for him to establish relationships with peers, he is not aware of his behavior (he can get up and walk without asking, shouts out from his seat, interferes in the conversation).

1. As a hyperactive child grows up, he develops an understanding of the rules of behavior, but hyperactivity also manifests itself in adolescence:

• difficult to sit through a lesson;
• difficult to concentrate on the task at hand;
• loss of interest in the task;
• quick, thoughtless responses;
• difficulty in retelling the text;
• inability to plan your day;
• conflict with teachers and classmates.

This affects academic performance and results in unsatisfactory behavior. What to do if a child is hyperactive, let's turn to specialists.

How to deal with a hyperactive student

Everyone understands how difficult it is to teach a child with ADHD, because he simply cannot sit still for a long time and has little understanding of rules and norms of behavior. But nothing is impossible. It is important to approach the solution to the problem thoroughly.

1. Visit a psychologist or psychotherapist regularly.
2. Always check your homework.
3. Stick to a daily routine.
4. Let's take some time to rest. For hyperactive children, this is an integral part of treatment, because it is necessary to remove nervous tension and not cause the feeling that studying only brings discomfort.

Article on the topic: A child with ADHD at school - tips for teachers

Memo for parents:

You should not put pressure on your child and force him to study around the clock if he lags behind other students in his academic performance. Be calm and reasonable.

Is treatment for a hyperactive child necessary?

With regular medical examinations, specialists at the clinic can identify signs of hyperactivity at an early stage. You cannot neglect their recommendations, referring to the child’s character or heredity (the spitting image of dad or mom). You need to understand that excessive activity has a scientific name, it is a diagnosis that, first of all, needs to be established or refuted. The sooner you do this, the easier it will be to correct this deviation.

The diagnosis is made by a pediatric neurologist based on an examination, which includes:

• collecting information about the child;
• interviewing the mother about the course of pregnancy and childbirth;
• identification of heredity;
• child testing (from the age of 5 years);
• Carrying out brain diagnostics (an electroencephalogram is performed).

After a comprehensive examination, the specialist makes his verdict.

If your fears are confirmed and your child is diagnosed with ADHD - attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, the first thing you should do is calm down.

Manifestations of the disease

How to recognize a disease at the earliest stage of its development? In young children, signs up to one year of age manifest themselves in an overly violent reaction to light, sound, toys, relatives and strangers. The baby is very active in the cradle, he is restless, sleeps poorly, often cries, bright toys captivate his attention for only a short time.

A hyperactive child at 2 years old has the following signs:

• forgetfulness; • absent-mindedness; • disobedience to elders; • difficulty in mastering speech; • constant talkativeness; • moodiness; • a large number of movements; • motor awkwardness.

At the age of 2-3 years, it is very difficult to interest a hyperactive child in anything. He cannot play children's games (he is constantly distracted), he often cries, is restless, it is difficult for him to learn rhymes, he does not listen to his mother's songs, he makes noise, and “does not accept” comments addressed to him.

Hyperactivity in a 3-6 year old preschooler can be noticed by a kindergarten teacher. The teacher cannot keep him busy, the reaction to the instructions of elders is too impulsive, the child cannot sleep at nap time, does not delve into the educational process, during classes he is carried away by his own affairs, he lives “in his own little world of his own invention.” At the same age, the first selfish traits appear, the child tries to dominate his peers in games, provokes conflict situations, interferes with everyone, interferes in adult conversations, violently expresses his emotions in the most inappropriate environment, ignores and does not accept criticism.

Preventive and corrective work with hyperactive children in kindergarten is carried out by specialist psychologists. Parents are advised to listen to their advice and, if necessary, visit a neurologist for consultation.

Hyperactivity and ADHD are on the rise in schoolchildren Strict school regulations on behavior and requirements for students are a real test for children and adolescents; their nervous system cannot cope with mental and physical overload.

During this period the symptoms predominate:

• Lack of concentration; • Inability to sit in class (the child can sit quietly at a desk for no more than 15 minutes); • Nervous tic; • Low self-esteem; • Difficulty in assimilation of educational material; • Development of all kinds of phobias; • Frequent loss of personal belongings.

A hyperactive child often has high intelligence, but a low concentration of attention does not allow them to take full advantage of it. Increased emotional excitability does not allow the student to fully communicate with classmates: he tries to attract attention, teases, fights, without realizing the consequences of such behavior.

Hyperactive children have virtually no sense of fear: they jump from any height, can jump out onto the road right in front of a speeding car, not knowing how to swim, and can jump into deep water.

Hyperactive teenagers do not want to go to school, do tests and homework. They often drop out before completing secondary education.

Hyperactive child: advice from a psychologist and recommendations for parents

After the first worries from the information that has fallen on you have passed, we begin to act. To achieve the goal, you will have to accumulate all your best qualities as a parent. What to do with a hyperactive child, advice from a psychologist comes to the rescue.

First, let's try to understand why your child has this feature. There are many reasons, but most of them occur during conception and gestation.

1. The future mother's use of alcohol, potent substances - drugs or medications that are contraindicated for pregnant women.
2. Various infectious diseases suffered during pregnancy.
3. Injuries caused to the fetus during gestation or at the time of birth.
4. Oxygen starvation of the fetus.
5. Poor nutrition for the mother while carrying the baby.
6. Living in an environmentally unfavorable area.
7. Head injuries sustained in infancy.
8. Incompatible Rh factor of parents.
9. Unwanted pregnancy (unsuccessful attempt to terminate it).
10. Severe manifestations of toxicosis.
11. Influence on the process of labor (induction of labor).
12. Deviation from the due date (premature or very late).

Forewarned is forearmed. Knowing about these consequences, every reasonable woman would make attempts to avoid or mitigate external factors. But now the question is what to do when the diagnosis is made.

The neurologist will give his recommendations that need to be followed, including drug treatment, but this is not enough, we involve psychological help:

1. We bring ourselves to our senses, calm down, the diagnosis we heard is not a death sentence, everything is fixable and can be corrected.
2. We warn the adult environment (including teachers) of the child about his characteristics (not all elders understand that the child is not poorly brought up, but these are the consequences of the event he suffered).
3. We establish friendly, favorable, warm relationships in the family (if you quarrel with your spouse, do it without the presence of the child), by the way, this will help improve your marital relationship.
4. We praise the baby for a reason and just like that, he is the best.
5. We establish tactile communication (hug, kiss, pat on the head).

Reasons for appearance

The primary causes of hyperactivity can be:

• Intrauterine or acquired infectious diseases; • Early or late labor, difficult labor; • Excessive physical activity during the mother's pregnancy; • Severe poisoning; • Poor nutrition and disrupted daily routine; • Hereditary factor (congenital deviations from the norm of some brain systems); • Immaturity of the nervous system of a newborn baby; • Bad ecology.

Hyperactivity is more common in boys than in girls. ADHD is often accompanied by sleep disturbances, enuresis, and cardiac disorders.

Features of raising a hyperactive child: advice to parents

The listed features of your child refer to negative qualities, but you know that your child is not only a bundle of negative energy. Hyperactive children have creative thinking, they are great inventors of everything unusual, out-of-the-box thinkers, and with leadership abilities. By directing their energy in the right direction, correcting behavior in a timely manner, such a child will turn into a successful, creative, energetic person. But that comes later. And now let’s be patient, everyday work lies ahead, called the educational process.

You will have to start your education with yourself. Learn to speak in a calm tone, plan your day taking into account the routine of your son or daughter, study and learn to apply psychological and pedagogical techniques. Preschool institutions and school will influence the upbringing of your child, but the main burden will fall on you. To make it easier to enter this process, seek advice from a specialist.

For overactive children, it is important to follow a daily routine. How strictly he will adhere to it depends on your discipline in this matter. Communication should take place in a warm, friendly environment. This does not mean that the baby needs to be indulged in everything. But when prohibiting something, do not be categorical, do not use the words “no” and “impossible.” Explain your refusal, but don’t forget about encouragement.

Reviews from parents of hyperactive children about the treatment of the syndrome

Dealing with the disorder is difficult. But it is very important that upon entering adulthood, a child can become a full-fledged member of society and be successful in school and career.

Playing games together is healthy communication

Not everyone is able to completely get rid of symptoms. Sometimes the correction comes with complications and does not give quick results. There are reviews from mothers who raise hyperactive children.

The main thing is the belief that you can help the baby. Below are reviews from mothers who raise hyperactive children.

You can read more reviews here: babyblog.ru.

Conclusion

Don't give up, follow the recommendations on how to behave with a child with ADHD, and actively fight the disorder. Experience shows that effort is always rewarded.

Remember that your baby is special and requires appropriate treatment. There is no need to punish him for something that is not his fault.

Be consistent, attentive and loyal. And after some time you will notice changes in the child’s condition.

Recommendations for parents on correcting the behavior of a hyperactive child

What to do if you have a hyperactive child:

1. Hyperactive children cannot cope with a long process that requires them to memorize a large amount of information. Therefore, divide the task into small blocks. Praise him after every victory, no matter how small.
2. Such hyperactive children have no perception of time. Planning is not their strong point. Their understanding is here and now. To fix this, timed tasks are given using an hourglass; an older child can turn on a timer.
3. An incentive system in the form of tokens encourages you to complete the task and arouses interest. For each task well completed, the hyperactive kid receives a card (token, coin, chip), let him come up with what it will be. The number of cards that need to be accumulated (five or ten) is agreed upon in order to exchange them for some significant gift, material, or a trip to the circus or attractions.
4. Stay less in places with large crowds of people. Replace trips to hypermarkets with walks in the park.
5. Avoid overtiring your hyperactive baby.
6. Participating in sports clubs will be a useful release of energy.
7. Create a cozy corner at home where your hyperactive baby can be alone.

Important: do not use sweets as a reward.

“First aid” when working with a hyperactive child in different situations: important tips

Not everything can be controlled; you cannot be with your child all the time. Attacks of hyperactivity can appear in him, as they say, at the most inopportune moment. We remember that you must be restrained, not raise your voice, your task is to redirect the baby’s attention.

1. Get him interested in something else.
2. Ask him a question, as they say, off topic.
3. Discuss his behavior in a humorous manner; you can compare him to a cartoon character.
4. Listen carefully to what the child tells you, do not neglect his fears and whims.
5. Forget about the commanding tone, the dialogue should be built in the form of a request.
6. If a hyperactive child does not comply with your request the first time, repeat it until you get the desired result. When you ask for something, make sure he hears you.
7. Leave him alone in his room (if it's safe to do so).

Remember: no matter how he behaves, he should feel your support.

How is hyperactivity treated in adults?

If you leave the process of raising a hyperactive child to its own devices and do not engage in treatment, he will grow into a hyperactive adult. In adult life, such a person experiences difficulties in communication, often changes jobs, and rapid fatigue affects the quality of work. He suffers from headaches, suffers from insomnia, and exhibits various kinds of tics. They say about such people that they are impulsive, have a complex character, and do not know how to make friends. At this stage, adjustments are made by the society in which the person is located, and help with disorders can be done with medication and by resorting to specialists - psychologists.

Causes of hyperactivity

Changes in brain cells that cause hyperactivity do not remain for life if parents choose the right tactics for behavior and education of their baby. Therefore, this condition cannot be called a disease and cannot be cured, but can only be promoted to speedily “outgrow” childhood hyperactivity.

This condition usually occurs as a result of one of the following reasons:

• birth of a baby by caesarean section,
• difficult labor, with a long anhydrous period, hypoxia of the child, or using forceps,
• the baby is born prematurely or with low weight,
• the child’s nervous system could have undergone changes even at the stage of intrauterine development due to bad habits, illness or other unfavorable environmental factors.

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Information for parents

Make it a rule to visit specialists who would evaluate the correctness of treatment and the dynamics of changes in the child’s behavior. This will help you adjust your actions in a timely manner.

For children with hyperactivity, a special diet should be chosen. A balanced diet is beneficial for everyone, but for overactive children, it is necessary to enrich their food with foods containing Omega-3 fats, they must receive a complex of vitamins and minerals, so the diet should be varied. And most importantly, scientists have proven a direct connection between sugar consumption and children's excitability. Minimize your consumption of sweets.

Make your own sweets using dried fruits, nuts and honey. You can involve your child in this process. He will happily eat candy made with his own hands. Let the child get sugar from fruits, with the exception of factory-made fruit juices. You can prepare the juice yourself, but your child needs to dilute it half and half with water. Cookies are replaced with crackers, and if you decide to pamper your child with ice cream, give preference to vanilla.

The diet should not contain foods that can cause allergies; carbonated drinks are taboo.