ADHD, has in the past decade, been intensely researched and reported in the media, which has generated a fair amount of awareness about the disorder. The disadvantage of this, however could be the misreporting that happens since over hype has created undue concern and fear among parents about whether their child has ADHD.
Dr Madhu Ghosh, consulting psychologist with St. Mary’ School, Mumbai says, “With so much information available on ADHD today, I see a lot of parents misinterpreting the term ADHD.”
‘Inattentive’ and ‘overactive’ are two words associated with almost every child. So unfortunately some parents may confuse a normally active child who has a short attention span as having ADHD.
Understanding ADHDAs a nine-year-old, Michael Phelps was always pulled up for his immature behavior in class. His teachers often reported that he could neither stay quiet nor sit in one place for too long.
As Michael grew older, his inability to concentrate became a big problem. Although he loved swimming he hated getting water in his face and almost gave up on the sport. His mother Debbie, a teacher herself, then consulted their family physician, and nine-year-old Michael was diagnosed with ADHD.
Michael Phelps, the champion swimmer and Olympic record breaker, diagnosed with ADHD at a young age, displayed all the classic symptoms of a child with the disorder.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV), there are three patterns of behavior that indicate ADHD:
