My baby is hyperactive
What is hyperactivity?
Behind the hyperactivity there are often other symptoms, such as distraction and impulsiveness. This behavioral disorder is a neuro-behavioral syndrome. Its numerous and impressive manifestations result in problems of attention, concentration, perception, conceptualization and coordination, but also of language and memory. This is why hyperactive children are often behind in school.
How to recognize a hyperactive child?
It is not easy to distinguish a restless child from a truly hyperactive one, since there are no neurological or psychological tests that allow the disease to be identified without margin for error. Symptoms may be present at times from birth (the child cries constantly, fidgets, sleeps badly, winces easily ...) but it is often at the beginning of school that the problems become more evident. If he never stands still, often shakes his hands and feet, squirms in his chair, often gets up, climbs and jumps all over the place, has difficulty concentrating, is unable to pay attention for more than a few seconds, does not accept any rejection or frustration without touch the nervous breakdown, it is very emotional ... it is likely that he suffers from hyperactivity.
Are there any treatments?
There is no cure for hyperactivity, but it is possible to give relief to the child by mitigating the consequences of disorders related to hyperactivity. Medicines used are often stimulant drugs, or even amphetamines. The best known drug is Ritalin® which, paradoxically, calms the child and increases the ability to concentrate. Nonetheless, a comprehensive and long-term cure must be found. Therefore, even psychological treatment can be useful for the child and the family. Therapies (psychotherapies and behavioral therapies) give good results because they allow the hyperactive child to channel energy, learning to control their emotions.
Is it possible to prevent hyperactivity?
Hyperactivity is a complex disease, the cause of which is difficult to identify. Some studies have shown, however, that in 50% of cases, the sick child has another person in the family with the same symptoms. Inheritance can therefore be a factor to be taken into consideration. Other factors, such as exposure to certain toxic substances during intrauterine life (alcohol, lead, some polluting drugs and chemicals ...) or a lack of oxygen at birth, have been identified.
Helping your child in everyday life
Although the care prescribed by the doctor is invaluable to the child, the role of the parents in managing everyday life is equally essential.
- Create an environment suited to his needs: the hyperactive child is particularly sensitive to any form of external stimulus. It is therefore advisable to give him only one task at a time, and to arrange for him a calm environment, which favors concentration. This is essential when he has to do his homework, for example.
- Avoid the surprise effect: the hyperactive child struggles to manage unexpected events, to which he often responds with aggression. It therefore needs safe points of reference, such as a well-defined organization of the day, with regular times (time to get up, go to bed, play ...).
- Encourage and make responsible: a hyperactive child often does one stupid thing after another and could lose confidence in himself if his mistakes are underlined too often. It is important to convey to him limits not to be exceeded, but it is also necessary that he receive some encouragement. Giving him some basic tasks could allow him to channel his energy and make him autonomous at the same time.
Parents: the traps to avoid
Raising a child takes a lot of energy, especially if they're hyperactive. This is easier said than done: however, it is important to always maintain self-control.
- Risky situations: a hyperactive child struggles to keep the situation under control in a noisy environment. He starts running everywhere, screaming, and soon becomes uncontrollable. To avoid this type of situation, it is better to exclude going to the supermarket or the cinema.
- Do not shout louder: when the child disobeys or rebels, entering into a perspective of bargaining with him is useless. The prohibition or refusal must be categorical and expressed in a clear but calm way, to avoid an escalation of the nervous breakdown.
- Don't lose control of your emotions: you often feel helpless in front of a hyperactive child. The temptation to give up, give in to stress and feel guilty is strong ... However, it is essential to save face in front of the child, who needs solid points to stick to and lean on.
- Do not forget about yourself: knowing how to be selfish and think only of yourself, every now and then, is essential. This allows you to decrease the pressure on your shoulders, relax and rest ... In short, setting aside some time for yourself is a safety valve that should not be overlooked.
