Arab Canada News
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Published: March 19, 2023
Some families do not pay attention to understanding the behaviors of their children with hyperactivity, and whether it is a temporary condition due to their young age, or a pathological condition that may affect their mental abilities.
Dr. Mona Hamdi, a specialist in mental health, provides a simple explanation of how to determine when a child's excess activity reaches a "pathological condition," and when parents should intervene, in a way that does not affect their child’s psyche, nor cause them to lose self-confidence.
3 types of this disorder:
According to the psychological consultant, there are "3 types of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)":
• "Simple hyperactivity," which is related to the child's excessive motor activity and impulsiveness.
• "Deep hyperactivity," which is characterized by deficiency, impairment, and attention deficit, with inability to concentrate and complete tasks.
• "Complex hyperactivity," so called because it combines the previous two types, simple and deep, and includes ADHD, weak concentration, and difficulty in performing tasks.
Is there a treatment?
There are several treatment methods, which necessarily combine medical and pharmacological intervention, focusing on behavior modification and lifestyle changes alongside medication, according to the psychological consultant’s clarifications.
In this regard, Hamdi says that "behavioral therapy is more efficient in managing ADHD."
But this does not mean placing all responsibility on doctors and mental health specialists, as the mental health specialist points out, but the family must understand its role in treating their child, and they can do the following:
• Understand the nature of the disorder and how to deal with their children during their struggle with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), through consulting specialists.
• Early intervention with this condition.
• Completely avoid blaming, scolding, or punishing the children aggressively.
• The child in these disturbed cases needs compassion and tenderness, but without excess.
• Parents should focus on raising their son's morale and stimulating his self-confidence.
• Choose the appropriate type of activity for the child's condition; for example, it is not suitable to encourage a child with hyperactivity to engage in games that stimulate more motor activity, as this delays treatment.
• Avoid taking the child to gatherings where it is difficult to control him, which increase his activity and impulsiveness (like amusement parks).
• Obtain from specialists the appropriate activities for the child in this condition, which release his energy and movement but without excess activity, and give him the opportunity to communicate with people and develop his social skills without isolation.
• Develop the child's attention and memory by encouraging him to play games and activities that stimulate concentration and increase attention.
• Reduce distractions, especially during studying, reviewing, and practicing activities.
• Parents should practice eye contact with the child as it stimulates his attention.
• Do not mentally exhaust the child with many questions and commands, replace them with short informative sentences and phrases.
• Pay attention to healthy and proper nutrition.
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