There are many children affected with attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. Now-a-days this case is becoming very common in clinical practice. Parents are sometimes unable to control their children and lose their self-control and feel much embarrassed. The problem results from restlessness, impulsiveness, hyperactivity and inattentiveness. It is the hyper-kinetic disorder that often prevents children from learning and socializing.

What are the symptoms?

Attention difficulties:
                    A child must have exhibited at least six of the following symptoms for about six months which is unusual for his or her age and level of intelligence.

 Often fails to pay close attention to details or makes errors during work or play.
 Often fails to finish assigned works or maintain attention in play activities.
 Often does not seem to listen to what is being said to him or her.
 Often fails to follow instructions or to finish homework. It is not because of oppositional behaviour or failure to understand instructions.
 Often disorganized about works and activities.
 Often avoids works like homework that require sustained mental effort.
 Often loses things necessary for certain tasks or activities such as pencils, books or toys.
 Often easily gets distracted.
 Often be forgetful in the course of daily activities.

Hyperactivity:
              A child must have exhibited at least three of the following symptoms for at least six months to an extent that is unusual for his or her age and level of intelligence.

 Often runs around or excessively climb up.
 Often unduly noisy in playing or has difficultly in engaging in quiet leisure activities.
 Leaves out of seat in classroom or in other situations where remaining seated is expected.
 Often restless with hands or feet or turns in seating.
 At least one of the following symptoms must have persisted at least for six months to an extent that is unusual for his or her age and level of intelligence.
 Often blurts out answers before the question is completed.
 Often fails to wait in lines or for turn in games or group activities.
 Often interrupts or intrudes on others, e.g. butts into others conversations or games.

What causes it?

               There is rarely any single cause. A combination of psychological, biological and environmental factors contributes to the development of ADHD.

Biological factors
 The child's temperament, as this contributes to the attitude and personality.
 Recent research also suggests there is a greater chance of inheriting the condition from male relatives such as grandfathers and uncles.
 Brain injuries due to birth trauma or premature-birth problems. The brain structures believed to be linked to the development of ADHD are vulnerable to hypoxic damage during birth. The damage is caused by inadequate oxygen to brain when blood flow is reduced.

Environmental factors
 Family stress.
 Educational difficulties.

How to manage?

 Create a daily routine for the child, e.g. homework schedules, bedtime and mealtime routines.
 Be specific in your instructions to the child and make clear and reasonable requests, e.g. instead of telling the child to "behave" suggest "play quietly with your Lego for the next 10 minutes".
 Set clear and easily perceivable boundaries, e.g. how long they can watch TV and that rudeness is unacceptable.
 Be consistent in handling and managing the child.
Remove disturbing or disruptive elements from their daily routine. For example, remove brothers or sisters from the room when they are doing homework or switch off the TV.
Plan structured programmes aimed at gradual lengthening of the child's concentration period and ability to focus on tasks.
 Communicate with the child on a one-to-one basis and avoid addressing other children at the same time.
Use rewards such as stickers, tokens or even money consistently and frequently to reinforce appropriate behaviour such as listening to adults and concentrating.
 Discuss with the concerned school and see if you can work together to help the child to attain normalcy.

What is the ideal treatment?

              Usually the hyperactive children make every parent more anxious. They feel embarrassed in social gatherings. Sometimes they lose their temper and would show aggressive behaviour like beating and punishing the child. Even though punishments and rewards are helpful in controlling the child, the social binding breaks down later. It is better to analyze the child completely to put him with a suitable similimum. The dynamic homoeopathic remedy brings harmonious behaviour in the child. I had envied the inner truth of homoeopathy in dealing with some children who had been treated for some other acute problems.

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