What is Hyperactivity in Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?
Most of the ADHD kids that are seen in a private practice setting are hyperactive kids simply because they get into the most trouble. Their parents are usually pulling their hair out and saying, "We've got to get this child some help." The sad truth is that if a parent is going to spend money to get treatment for his kid, that kid's usually got to get into trouble first. So that's why hyperactive kids are seen the most in treatment.
Remember, though, not all of the kids with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder are hyperactive. Perhaps as many as two out of three are, but perhaps as few as only 50%. So, that means that as many as 35% to 50% of kids with ADHD are not hyperactive.
So, what is hyperactivity? If you have a child who is hyperactive, you need no explanation. He's the one running across the ceiling. But for the rest of you, this is what hyperactivity in children and teens looks like. These are kids that act as if they are driven by a motor. They "go." You wind them up in the morning and they "go" until they're finally exhausted, and then they go to sleep, maybe. Some of these sleep pretty well during the night, and some of them hardly need sleep at all. Three hours of sleep and they're up and ready to go.
One definition of hyperactivity is "high levels of non-goal directed motor activity." A child with high levels of motor activity that is always directed at a goal may not be clinically hyperactive. He may be a future professional athlete or rocket scientist. It's the kid who bounces from one activity to another, in a manner inappropriate for their age, which is our concern.
Hyperactivity is often thought of as the child being "over aroused." There is a part of your brain that is constantly scanning the environment to see if there are any changes in that environment. If anything has changed, then that part of the brain asks the question, "Is this new thing in the environment good or bad? Is it something good to eat, or is it going to eat me? How should I feel about this new thing? Should I like it, or be afraid or it?" In many ADHD kids who are hyperactive this part of the brain is overly sensitive, and the kids are seen as being easily startled or scared, overreacting to things, touching everything around them, and being very edgy.
They never seem to be able to just relax. Some of these kids also have a very quick temper, a short fuse. They are sometimes explosive. They often lose friends because of their intensity and temper, and they often seem to run over people like a tornado.
But as we have said, a lot of ADHD kids are not hyperactive. And the kids who are not hyperactive tend to be girls, and they tend to sit in the back of the classroom and just quietly get C's and D's when everyone knows they should be getting A's and B's. These kids with ADHD without hyperactivity are the one's being labeled as "lazy" and at the parent conferences the parents are told, "He or she could do better if they'd just try harder."
You can learn more about the different types of ADHD. There are at least five different types of ADHD, and there are specific treatment strategies that should be used for each type. Impulsive children need a different strategy than children who are not impulsive, and hyperactive children need a different strategy than children who are not hyperactive. So be sure to visit the ADHD Information Library's section on the Different Types of ADHD.
Douglas Cowan, Psy.D., is a family therapist who has been working with ADHD children and their families since 1986. He is the clinical director of the ADHD Information Library's family of seven web sites, including http://www.newideas.net, helping over 350,000 parents and teachers learn more about ADHD each year. Dr. Cowan also serves on the Medical Advisory Board of VAXA International of Tampa, FL., is President of the Board of Directors for KAXL 88.3 FM in central California, and is President of NewIdeas.net Incorporated.
 Google News Updated : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:45:43 GMT Yahoo proxy may come down to battle of big funds - MarketWatch
MarketWatch - By MarketWatch SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) - It looks like the bar room tete-a-tete in Sun Valley, Idaho last week may have helped one of Yahoo Inc.'s biggest institutional shareholders make up his mind. Yahoo takes on Icahn on its web page Major investor sides with Yahoo board Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:02:11 GMT Norman ties Choi on blustery day at British Open - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - SOUTHPORT, England (AP) - Tiger Woods and Kenny Perry couldn't have picked a better place to be on Saturday. Anywhere but Royal Birkdale. Video: Greg Norman Surprises at British Open Norman and Duval turn back the clock Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:41:24 GMT Music, co-op games the dominant trends at E3 - CNET News
CNET News - Among the dominant trends at E3 in Los Angeles this week was music games. Everywhere you looked, publishers were announcing new ones and players were rocking out to them. GameSpot News Blog Postal 3 Heading to PlayStation 3, Slightly Delayed Publ.Date : Fri, 18 Jul 2008 19:51:54 GMT Economy Down, PC Sales Up - New York Times
New York Times - By Eric A. Taub The worldwide economy may be faltering, but PC sales are in growth mode, according to numbers released Tuesday by Gartner and IDC, two information technology research firms. Apple Now Third In US PC Market As HP, Dell Lead Sales Increase PCs Show Double Digit Growth in Q2 Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 00:55:43 GMT McCain paying down primary funds in advance of cap - The Associated Press
The Associated Press - WASHINGTON (AP) - Faced with a spending cap for his fall campaign, Republican presidential candidate John McCain is aggressively spending more money than he is raising during summer months and methodically reducing his cash reserves. A Deputy Dilemma For McCain McCain paying down primary funds in advance of cap Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:51:07 GMT What Should Uncle Sam Do? - Newsweek
Newsweek - NEWSWEEK's Business Roundtable takes stock of the real damage—and offer solutions to the economic crisis. Please fill in the following information and we'll email this link. Freddie Mac Paves Way For Major Stock Sale Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:06:17 GMT Live Press Tour Diary: CW Day One (Shannen's Officially Returning!) - Entertainment Weekly
Entertainment Weekly - MIA: Jennie Garth, Tori Spelling, Shannen Doherty, David Silver, Steve Sanders, Brandon Walsh, Dylan McKay, Andrea Zuckerman and Valerie Malone. Shannen Doherty Returns to 90210 Shannen Doherty back in '90210' 'hood this fall Publ.Date : Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:11:43 GMT Increase Traffic |
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... This article on parenting is by a practicing relationship counsellor/therapist,... Read More Children bombard parents with many challenging behaviours. We are delighted... Read More Vacations are fun ! Weekends with the family are nice.... Read More It is human nature to feel competitive and envious toward... Read More Parental example, whether for good or for bad, is undoubtedly... Read More Sitterphobe "I never have a second to myself," this mother... Read More Bi-Polar Disorder, or Manic Depression, is characterized by mood swings,... Read More Every children in the world whishes to have toys and... Read More Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is the phrase that is... Read More We begin forming healthy habits at a young age. With... Read More In a single dose of children's television, I was bombarded... Read More There are many parenting styles. Yours may be very different... Read More With the beginning of the new school year coming VERY... Read More Maryann is so focused she's blind. She's slipped over the... Read More It's that time again! Parent-teacher conferences are coming. Are you... Read More Single parenting has seemingly become an acceptable norm which is... Read More "The best blush to use is laughter: It put roses... Read More In seminars I am often asked about pocket-money and whether... Read More How often do you think of family life as an... Read More Many children who suffer from the psychological effects of child... Read More Travel is a common theme in my life -- probably... Read More Just a couple of years ago Annie helped her parents... Read More Today's dads are more hands-on than ever before and their... Read More The cost of being a parent and raising a child... Read More MYTH: All teens have to rebel, and the teen years... Read More
Adsense
websites
Parenting
How to Deal with Your Child?s Inappropriate Behaviour
Late Night Adventures with Your Children
Managing Sibling Rivalry
When Everybody Does It Comes Back to Haunt You
Every Mom Worries
Is it ADHD or Bi-Polar Disorder?
5 Great Tips For Choosing Safe Toys For Your Children
Identifying Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in the Classroom: Eight Things Teachers Should
Raising a Tobacco-Free Kid
Mutants or Clones?
Parenting - Give Your Child The Tools To Build Strong Character And Values
Achieve Success At School - Parents, Help Your Kids Easily Be Top, Honor-Roll Students!
You Make Me Sick And Other Things Parents Say in Anger
Twelve Tips To Connect With Teachers At Conference Time
Single Parenting: How The Challenge Of Single Parenting Affects Your Decision To Divorce
Defrazzle with a Hearty Guffaw
Using Pocket-money To Promote Independence In Kids
Motherhood is a Perfect Adventure
Psychological Effects of Child Abuse
Nothing Like a Mothers Love
Home For The Holidays: Is it Time for That Talk?
Diaper Bags for Dads - Papas Got a Brand New Bag
Words of Wisdom for Single Parents
Parenting Your Teenager: 4 Dangerous Myths
Affordable and Reliable Web Hosting Starting at $4.49/Month
What To Do When You Think Your Child Might Have AD/HD
AD/HD (attention deficit disorder) is one of the most common... Read More
Honey I Can?t Afford The Kids
Sex has a lot to answer for ? babies usually... Read More
Homes for Troubled Teens: Therapeutic and Residential
For troubled teens who are struggling with drug abuse, depression... Read More
Top Ten Ways to Raise Emotionally Intelligent Kids
Having a high level of emotional intelligence in your children... Read More
Is Your Teen Swamped with Homework and Tests?
I hear from many parents that their child is stressed... Read More
Anti Scooter Media Frenzy
An estimated five million scooters will be sold this year... Read More
Guerilla Parenting Techniques: What Are They?
When you hear the phrase, 'guerrilla parenting techniques', what images... Read More
The 411 on Natural Colic Remedies
Any parent whose baby has suffered from colic can tell... Read More
Going Out to a Restaurant with Kids
Dining in a restaurant with kids can be very enervating... Read More
How to Silence Your Childs Inner Critic
Children do what feels good to them and follow their... Read More
The Disadvantages of Home Schooling
"Home Schooling ? Look Before You Leap"Are you considering home... Read More
Top 10 Things To Never Believe From Your Teenager
1) It's not my (pot, beer, cigarettes, etc.), I'm just... Read More
Teach Your Kids to Cook Well, Eliminating Excessive Health Care Needs in the Future
We are all aware of the child obesity epidemic that... Read More
How Children Learn
Nurture and TeachThe single most important thing caregivers can do... Read More
Unilateral Disarmament - The First Step to Improving Communications with Your Teenagers
Many times, we are so conditioned in how we speak... Read More
Parenting - Give Your Child The Tools To Build Strong Character And Values
There are many parenting styles. Yours may be very different... Read More
How Two Quarelling Kids Helped Invent the Better Behavior Wheel
When David was nine and Laura was twelve, the battles... Read More
Effective Troubled Teen Programs
Not all parents subscribe to the notion of "tough love,"... Read More
A Guide To Help You Teach Your Children Positve Self-Image Through Fitness
Raising a pre-teen or teenage daughter (or son) is not... Read More
Working Moms vs. Stay-at-Home Moms, Lets Stop Debating Each Other and Debate the System Instead!
I could nearly fund my children's future education if I... Read More
How Can I Teach My Child Respect?
A common theme over the past 20 years has been... Read More
A Mothers Way
Dear MomOn this day set aside to honour "Mother's" let... Read More
Calming Tips for Hyperactive Children
Parents of hyperactive children know the "Would you please just... Read More
Want To Further Your Childrens Studies?
Being in a competitive world, the lowest qualification to secure... Read More
Nights by a Pinocchio Lamp
Sitting by her Pinocchio lamp, she smiled at me as... Read More
Parenting |