ADHD most often concerns boys.
ADHD concerns around 5 % of children. “The first symptoms generally appear around the age of 5 or 6informs us the PRE Diane Purper, psychiatrist and specialist in psychological medicine of the child and the adolescent at the CHU de Montpellier. ADHD most often concerns boys (about 3 to 4 boys for a girl, but these differences are reduced in adults). Girls generally receive a diagnosis later, as their symptoms are often less invasive and can go unnoticed. “
In girls as in boys, hyperactivity deficit disorder results in impulsiveness, hyperactivity and inattention. In terms of attention, the child has organizational difficulties, he forgets the instructions, does not finish what he started, fails to automate routines such as dressing or brushing of teeth. The child has difficulty storing his room, putting order in his environment and sequenced activities. Hyperactivity generates a constant need to move, superior to children of the same age.
According to the specialist, “The first index of ADHD is the duration of behavior or signs identified. The symptoms are present over time, they are durable and persistent. These are not occasional or isolated behavior. They take place in several life environments: at home, at school, during extra-curricular activities, etc.”. Children who have ADHD find it difficult to wait, to wait for their turn to speak “or to raise your hand to school “. In class “They tend to cut off or be invasive in the group” details the pureper.
Teachers often give the alert to parents. Depending on the age of the child, a consultation in PMI, the attending physician or the pediatrician is recommended. “”Current diagnostic criteria require symptoms to be occurred before the age of 12. ” If the disorder is confirmed, the management continues with a psychiatrist. A program based on cognitive behavioral therapies (TCC) is offered to evolve in a benevolent setting. Psychoeducation is also part of the treatment. Drugs are useful to improve symptoms, in particular to avoid risks and complications such as anxiety, risky pipes or other disorders. They allow a significant improvement in symptoms in 80% of the people affected by ADHD.
