Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, often abbreviated as ADHD, is a developmental psychiatric disorder that affects children and adolescents. ADHD is characterized by a persistent pattern of inattention and hyperactivity, as well as impulsivity. Although ADHD is often associated with hyperactivity, it is not merely a matter of being energetic; these traits must be present in multiple settings and significantly interfere with a child's daily life and relationships. Conversely, a child who is simply energetic does not necessarily have ADHD.
High Energy Child vs. ADHD: Similarities and Differences
Similarities
Both high-energy children and those with ADHD can exhibit behaviors that interfere with daily activities. They may have difficulty sustaining attention, focusing, and controlling impulsive behavior. Symptoms can cause significant distress and social功能障碍.
Differences
- Persistence: Children with ADHD typically exhibit these behaviors in multiple different contexts, making their hyperactive or impulsive traits more persistent.
- Intensity: ADHD symptoms are often described as more intense and pervasive than those of high-energy children, who may only exhibit such behaviors in certain situations.
- Impact: ADHD severely interferes with a child's ability to function at school, at home, and during social interactions, while high-energy behaviors may only affect performance in specific settings.
Diagnosing ADHD
诊断ADHD通常需要医生进行一系列评估。第一步是进行医学检查，以排除其他可能的问题，如听力障碍、视力问题或学习障碍等。此外，医生还会与孩子及其父母讨论孩子的症状，并可能需要从老师或其他在学校环境中与孩子互动的人那里收集信息。
Treatment of ADHD
治疗ADHD的方法包括药物治疗和心理治疗。兴奋剂类药物通常是首选，但非兴奋剂类药物如血清素和去甲肾上腺素再摄取抑制剂以及α-2激动剂也可能被使用。除了药物外，学习执行功能技巧、组织能力、时间管理、目标设定、专注力形成良好习惯等也被证明能有效地管理ADHD症状。
##区分高能量儿童与多动症（ADHD）对于家长和孩子来说都非常重要。如果发现孩子在多个环境中表现出上述症状，最好咨询医生。准确的诊断将为孩子开启一个全新的治疗希望之旅，并有望显著改善其生活质量。
