What is ADHD?

ADHD stands for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. It’s thought to be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain that affects the parts controlling attention, concentration and impulsivity, which means a child’s behaviour can be anything from being unable to pay attention through to being hyperactive. A person with ADHD has difficulty filtering out all the information coming into his brain, so he’s easily distracted, tends to respond before he has considered things properly and doesn’t know when to stop.

A child with ADHD will take longer to settle and concentrate than a child without, and may have problems following instructions. Children with ADHD often have above-average intelligence but find it hard to learn. They often also have problems socialising. The condition is long term and can continue through adult life. There is a genetic component, and children with ADHD often have relatives (frequently male) with ADHD.

Symptoms of ADHD

The three major symptoms of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, impulsivity.
Symptoms of inattention include failure to give close attention to details or making careless mistakes in schoolwork or other activities, not listening when spoken to directly, having difficulty organizing tasks and activities, is very forgetful and keeps losing things. Symptoms of hyperactivity include fidgeting, being restless, running about unnecessarily, talking excessively. Symptoms of impulsivity include blurting out answers to questions before they are finished, interrupting conversations and games and having difficulty awaiting turns.

Your child must also not have another disorder, anxiety or personality that could cause the same symptoms. In general, boys tend to show more symptoms of hyperactivity and girls tend to show more symptoms of inattention. In adults, symptoms are very similar but the hyperactivity tends to become a feeling of restlessness, fidgeting, difficulty in relaxing or feeling ‘on edge’ all the time.

Causes of ADHD

ADHD is partly due to an imbalance of chemicals that transmit messages to the brain and partly because the areas of the brain that affect behaviour aren’t working properly.

The main factors are the child’s temperament which affects attitude and personality, a genetic link - recent studies show that 80-90 per cent of the risk for ADHD is genetic. This is why ADHD tends to run in families. Brain injury, either pre-birth or due to trauma during birth (this is a small percentage of cases) can also contribute to ADHD. It isn’t clear if these factors can cause ADHD. They may just increase the likelihood that ADHD will develop in a child who is already genetically prone to it.

ADHD is not caused by poor parenting. Parenting styles can affect your child’s behaviour though and, in turn, can affect your ability to manage difficult behaviour.

Natural remedies for ADHD

Natural remedies for ADHD include the use of Ginkgo Biloba, Scuttelaria (also known as Skullcap), German Chamomile, Gotu Kola, Avena Sativa (Oatstraw), Rooibos, Lemon Balm, Valerian, Lobelia, and Hawthorn in applications, ointments and decoctions.