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When my niece Hannah was a toddler she was always on the go, she seemed a lot more hyperactive than other children her age. Initially Claire, my sister thought it was just the terrible twos' but as she got older, Claire realized that it wasn't just a phase.

Once Hannah started school, her behavior was more noticeable. She had a short attention span, was disorganized and hyperactive, sometimes causing disruption and getting into trouble. She also had no awareness or sense of danger, consequently she was quite accident prone.

At the age of seven, Hannah was taken to see the doctor who referred her to a psychiatrist. Through the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS), Hannah was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). It is a condition that affects a child's ability to sit still, concentrate and focus on tasks and activities.

There are many symptoms of ADHD such as:

Restlessness or fidgeting with hands or feet
Inability to focus on, organize or finish a task
Talks excessively and is easily distracted
Loses belongings and forgets things
Interrupts or intrudes on other people
Has difficulty listening to or following through instructions
Makes careless mistakes

Not all ADHD sufferers will display all the symptoms associated with the condition, but if a parent feels that their child is displaying behavior disproportionate to that of an apparently normal' child, then maybe it would be worth taking their child to the doctor. For my sister, the diagnosis was a relief; at least there was a reason for Hannah's behavior and a way to control it.

After the diagnosis Hannah was prescribed a drug called Ritalin, a stimulant used to suppress the behavior associated with ADHD and increase levels of concentration. She was also prescribed a sleeping tablet to help her get the sleep she needed.

Hannah goes to the hospital twice a year for a review of her condition and the medication she is prescribed. Recently the medication Hannah was on was changed to a slow release form called Concerta and she was taken off the sleeping pills.

As a child with ADHD progresses into adulthood they become more able to manage their condition, they may even grow out of it. In the mean time, it is important to be supportive even when they are being increasingly difficult. Although it is hard as a parent to deal with it, it is much harder being the child having to deal with knowing that some people don't understand them, especially when they don't always understand what is going on themselves.

As the behavior of a child with ADHD is not always understood, they often need more support than other children. Ways to do this include:

Parents informing teachers of their child's condition and the effect this may have on
their ability to learn
Teachers giving additional support to aid the child's learning
Parents getting support for themselves to help them cope
Consider counseling for the child and the family

Counseling is sometimes part of the treatment of ADHD when a child has been diagnosed, either individually or as a family, but the most common treatment is a prescribed suppressant, usually Ritalin.

It is important that children with ADHD and their families and friends are well informed about the condition in order to offer better support. Childhood can be a tough enough time without the added pressure of having a condition that affects the way a child behaves, so try and understand what a child with ADHD is going through, it may be surprising how effective that can be.

Learn more about this author, Amy Goodyear.
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