A lot of parents are facing problems with their children related to their level of academic achievements or their social interactions. These problems may be attention difficulties in children in classroom, or inability to comply with the rules they listen to or others. 

Those problems may affect the academic and social life of the children, and their relation with others. In this article we are going to discuss the attention difficulties in children, and the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in relation to the difference between them, their diagnosis, and their treatment.

What are the attention difficulties in children? And what is the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder?

Attention difficulties in children are types of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), which is characterised by inattention, disorganisation, inability to comply with rules, inability to pay attention to details, and forgetfulness.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a syndrome that contains groups of behavioural disorders. The child with ADHD may have the attention deficit type of the syndrome with behavioural disorders of inattention, or may have the hyperactivity type of the syndrome and being highly physically active, or may have both types.

What is the difference between attention difficulties in children, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder? 

Previously, the attention difficulties in children and the hyperactivity disorders were considered  separate problems, but since 1994, those problems have been considered the same and become the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder ADHD. 

The attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder is divided into two types as follows:

• The attention deficit type. The attention difficulties in children symptoms can be:
  • Inattention and continuous daydreaming, attention difficulties in the classroom especially is a continous observation.
  • Inability to finish his tasks.
  • Forgetfulness.
  • Losing things usually.
  • Inability to perform tasks that require mental activity.
  • Easily distracted.
  • Inability to pay close attention to details.
• The hyperactivity type, which has the following symptoms:
  • Has a high degree of physical activity, and can not stay quiet for a long time.
  • Talks too much, and can not listen to others for a long time.
  • Inability to work in a group
  • Has the inability to wait for a long time, for example he can not wait for his turn for a long time.
• The third type of the attention deficit hyperactivity disorder has the behavioural abnormalities of both types, and so has the classical shape of the syndrome.

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Attention difficulties diagnosis

Attention difficulties in children could be diagnosed by observation of some behavioural abnormalities. The child could be diagnosed with the attention deficit type of the ADHD if he is under 16 years old, and has 6 or more of the following abnormalities, or he is 16 years old or more, and has 5 or more of the following behavioural abnormalities as follows:

1. Attention difficulties in children, easy distraction, and could not pay attention when spoken to.
2. Inability or dislike to perform long mental activities, like doing homework or working on school projects.
3. Inability to perform the same activity for a long time.
4. Disorganisation
5. Forgetfulness, and loses his belongings usually.
6. Does not pay attention to close details.
7. Makes careless mistakes due to inattention.
8. Can not listen to the others for a long time, and may interrupt others while they are speaking.
9. Does not like complying with the rules.

Diagnosis of hyperactivity type of the ADHD

The diagnosis of hyperactivity type of the ADHD could be achieved by observation of some behavioural abnormalities related to hyperactivity. The child could be diagnosed with the hyperactivity type of the ADHD if he is under 16 years old, and has 6 or more of the following abnormalities, or he is 16 years old or more, and has 5 or more of the following:

1. Talks too much, and interrupts the others while they are speaking.
2. Inability to wait for anything, and impatience.
3. Can not play quite, and only likes to play games that need high physical activity.
4. Usually ready to go even in unsuitable situations.
5. Can not stay quiet for a long time, this usually appears in the classroom and when he is doing homework.
6. Usually climbs or runs even in inappropriate situations.
7.  Fidgeting and squirming usually.

Treatment of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder

The following approach in the treatment of attention deficit and hyperactivity syndrome is to take two ways, the first one is the medicinal treatment, and the second one is the behavioural therapy. The psychiatrist should see your child to evaluate his degree of ADHD, and design the best treatment program.

ADHD is a common syndrome in the children that needs early diagnosis, and early treatment, to achieve the best results, and help your child to achieve a good results in his academic and social life.