ADHD in Boys

Hi there!

Welcome back to our playground!

This week we are continuing our segment on ADHD, but this time we are going to be focusing on the boys!

Need a recap?

ADHD stands for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. It is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder of childhood, and symptoms of ADHD differ between the sexes. Boys are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD than girls, with 12.9% of boys aged 2-17 diagnosed compared to 5.6% of girls in the same age range in 2016, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) (CDC, 2021).

Now that that is out of the way, let's start off with the symptoms of ADHD in boys.

Symptoms

Commons symptoms of ADHD in boys include:

Inattention: Does your boy frequently lose his belongings? Does he struggle to follow instructions? Does he constantly forget important details?

Hyperactivity: Does he struggle to sit still? Are you constantly screaming for him to "put that down!" or "Don't touch that!" and "get off the table!"

Impulsivity: Does he interrupt? Does he struggle to control himself?

Some of you may be thinking, "well, some of these are just normal boy traits. What's the big deal?" And you are right! It's not that much of a big deal outside of the classroom. Boys with ADHD have very creative minds, are very good with hands-on activities, and are brilliant when it comes to thinking up new ideas.

But that's not always the case for your little Einstein. For one thing, they may really struggle with focusing on boring tasks such as homework and chores. In some cases, their ADHD may get them into trouble because they tend to make impulsive decisions.

Boys with ADHD may also have trouble with social skills, organization, and time management. These challenges tend to interfere with success in school, their social interactions, and how they function generally.

Quick shout out to the parents:

ADHD is not a result of bad parenting or lack of discipline, and it's not something that can be solved overnight. It is a neurological condition that requires medical attention and treatment just like a headache or a broken bone. So you can relax a bit and tell that your neighbour to mind their business.

Now, before you carry your child for deliverance and try to bind and cast all your village people, let's consider a more sane option of treatment, shall we?

Treatment

If you suspect that your son has ADHD, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider who can diagnose and recommend the appropriate treatment. It is only with the appropriate support and guidance that boys with ADHD can thrive in all aspects of life.

Side Note: In correspondence with Autism Awareness Month, this April we are taking a break from ADHD to focus on Autism, so stay tuned!

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Sayonaraaaaaaa!

Play Therapy Nigeria