Help, my son is driving me crazy

Question:

Dear Dr. Donya,

My six-year-old son has been unusually active since he was born. He is now in his third year in kindergarten. The problem is he has very short attention span. Only very recently has he begun to improve. Unlike in the past, now he will do his homework, learn to read and color in pictures on his own initiative. But what worries me is that he is still uncooperative, demanding and verbally aggressive.

1. What is probably going wrong with my son's mental/intellectual growth?

2. What can I do to help him improve his attention span so that he can study "normally?"

Thank you,

Suprih M.

Answer:

There is a condition called Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD) which is a behavioral disorder found in 3 percent to 5 percent of school aged children. One symptom is the inability to sit still or pay attention in class.

There a three particular symptoms of ADHD: inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity.

Inattention means he often fails to give close attention to details, makes careless mistakes, has difficulty organizing tasks or play and does not listen even when being directly spoken to.

Hyperactivity is when a child is often "on the go" or acts as if he is being "driven by a motor". He fidgets, squirms, runs and climbs in situations where being seated is expected.

Impulsivity is demonstrated by displaying difficulty in awaiting his turn, interrupting and intruding on others.

What causes ADHD and how do we treat it? ADHD is a developmental and physiologic disorder. Studies suggest a genetic factor could be involved as well as brain injury, exposure to toxins and high fever.

Parental education is the most important treatment because there is no single medication for a cure. I strongly recommend that you take your son to see a pediatric psychiatrist for evaluation, diagnosis and possible treatment.