Attention deficit affects school success
Experts recommend that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, which leads children to failure in school, should be treated before the school term.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), one of the most common disorders in children, affects the lives of both children and their families if left untreated. In school age, ADHD, which also affects the child's schoolmates, teachers and people in his/her social environment, is often unrecognized with the definition of "active child" and reduces success in school as well as other negativities.
HOW TO RECOGNIZE A HYPERACTIVE CHILD?
Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist from NPISTANBUL Hospital NP Etiler Polyclinic Specialist. Dr. Algun Tüfekçi explains the symptoms of ADHD as follows: "Although it is natural for children to be much more active than adults, it is a sign of hyperactivity disorder when the child is so active that it affects the life of the child and his family and may cause problems at school. The hands and feet of these children are fidgety. In addition, these children are observed to get up, move around, run around at inappropriate times, be in constant motion and talk a lot in environments such as classrooms."
THEY MAKE CARELESS MISTAKES IN EXAMS
Pointing out that hyperactivity makes the lives of school-age children more difficult, Dr. Algun Tüfekçi explained these difficulties experienced by both the child and those around them as follows:
"At school age, children with ADHD cannot sit at their desks, they get up and walk around during class. They want to leave the classroom with excuses such as 'I have to go to the toilet', they prevent their friends from following the lesson by talking or making physical contact. Their handwriting and notebook organization are disorganized. They are forgetful and often lose school supplies. Due to their impatience, they try to answer questions quickly and incorrectly or without reading the whole question. Therefore, they make careless mistakes in exams."
HYPERACTIVE CHILDREN OFTEN HAVE ACCIDENTS
Stating that hyperactive children react to events more than necessary due to their impulsivity and consequently become unfair when they are right, Dr. Algun Tüfekçi explained other consequences of impulsivity as follows:
"Impulsivity manifests itself with physically risky behaviors, interrupting others, acting without thinking, not waiting in line, interrupting conversations or games, tendency to danger, adventure seeking and sudden and unexpected responses to external stimuli, and children are often exposed to accidents due to these symptoms."
CHILDREN SHOULD BE TAKEN TO THE DOCTOR BEFORE SCHOOL AGE
Prof. Dr. Algun Tüfekçi suggested that parents should carefully observe their children and if the child has reactive behaviors such as not being able to continue a game for a long time, excessive mobility, inability to postpone their requests and wanting their requests to be done instantly, they should definitely be interviewed with a Child and Adolescent Psychiatry Specialist before reaching school age.