SHARES
Amy was a very restless child. She couldn’t sit still and was always fidgeting with her things. Her parents overlooked these signs and thought that she was being naughty, and will improve with time. After few months, Amy’s teachers started complaining about her misbehaviour and restlessness. Amy’s parents began to worry and tried everything to improve her behaviour but to no avail.
One day, they received a call from the school counsellor, advising them to take Amy to the nearby Child Counselling Clinic. After multiple sessions with the psychologist, Amy was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and needed behavioural therapy to manage or improve her condition. Amy’s parents supported her and also participated in the therapy sessions. As these symptoms were detected early, Amy responded very well to the therapy and showed positive results.
While all parents care about their children, it’s easy to overlook signs of developmental disorders among them. Hence, it is crucial to be able to identify and treat these disorders at an early stage. Once these disorders become part of the child’s routine, they can be difficult to treat. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Dyslexia and Autism, are some examples of developmental disorders in children. Signs of developmental disorders vary, but there are some common signs which can help in early identification.
Four Common Signs of Developmental Disorders:
Inattention– Your child gets distracted very easily in more than one setting (at school, at home, with friends), and display signs of forgetting to do daily activities, do not follow instructions, or cannot organize things.
Impulsivity– Your child has a tendency to act on a whim and gives no or very little thought before doing something. For example, fidgeting all the time, excessive talking, or always answering before listening to the questions asked.
Hyperactivity– Your child is unable to sit quietly or stay still, and is impatient.
Social Withdrawal– Your child often avoids eye contact while talking, have trouble sharing personal feelings, or prefer solitude over social interaction.
Nevertheless, these four common signs are not exhaustive. If parents suspect that their child has developmental disorders, they should consult a medical professional immediately.
Source– Institute of Mental Health, Singapore
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by Aditi Upadhyay
View all articles by Aditi Upadhyay.
