2023-04-24 18:00:45
- It is estimated that around 16 million children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 in Latin America and the Caribbean live with a mental disorder.
- The most common are depression, anxiety, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- It is advisable to identify these types of conditions as soon as possible.
Child care is essential to prevent and identify diseases as early as possible. The objective is to offer alternatives and treatments to patients to avoid a decrease in their quality of life. In fact, from the age of 6 it is common to begin to identify features of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). But now the important thing is to know the symptoms and warning signs.
How common is it?
26% of children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 19 who present a mental disorder are due to ADHD. In turn, it is related to difficulty concentrating, being constantly distracted, being very active, constantly changing activities, forgetting homework, difficulty organizing, among others.
“ADHD can present even from an early age, but it is not until children enter school that certain behaviors stand out. In boys it is more common to identify it, since it is usually hyperactivity problems, while in girls the behaviors are more subtle since they tend to be more ‘dreamy’ and distracted. Depending on how severe the symptoms are, a diagnosis can be made and treatment suggested,” adds Dr. Byron Garcia, Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist at Massachusetts General Hospital Children’s Division.
At what point does ADHD compromise children’s development?
The first step is to identify how much it is affecting the child’s behavior, his activities at school or at home. Children can often be distracted; however, if the distraction is constant, it represents a barrier to their normal functioning.
Depending on whether it is mild episodes, ADHD treatments can range from behavioral therapy; guidance and support for monitoring and compliance with activities; constant reminders about tasks or activities; up to educational plans that allow to be with less number of students and more than one teacher, extension in the term of delivery of projects, tasks and exams, among others.
For the most severe cases of ADHD, it is necessary to use pharmacological treatments that are up to 70% effective, which helps children control these behaviors and improve their ability to concentrate and organize. However, most of the options are about 2 or 3 doses a day, which can make it difficult to consume.
Awareness and research, keys to new alternatives
Researchers at Massachusetts General Hospital continue to focus their efforts on developing alternative treatments for people with ADHD, such as once-daily medications to make it easier for children to take, as well as studies to understand how the disorder affects children’s functioning in the day to day
Also read:
Mexican researchers identify the genetic mutation that would cause ADHD
Doctors identify the gene responsible for the inheritance of ADHD
FDA authorizes first video game as treatment for children with ADHD
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