-Mysara Juairia Chowdhury
Do you know a person who has the attention span of a literal goldfish? Or so hyperactive that they always seem to be in a sugar rush.
Maybe you have a friend who faces trouble reading and writing? They easily confuse similar letters and words together. Or maybe you have that friend who has an obsession with cleaning and organising so much that they can come off as a control freak to others (I am looking at you, Monica Geller)? Perhaps, you yourself are facing some of these similar struggles? These are very common (even surface level) symptoms of neurodevelopmental disorders found in kids and teens called ADHD, OCD and Dyslexia. These behavioural disorders often start in childhood and could be carried into adulthood if remain untreated.
The moment people (especially Parents) hear the word 'Neurodevelopmental Disorder', they freak out big time. Unfortunately, we live in a society where mental health is given no heed by parents, institutions or even ourselves. Just having a physically healthy body is not enough for a human to lead a happy life. We also need a robust and fit mental health. The first step to achieving a healthy mind is to identify our struggles and then take steps to understand it properly.
People from the age of 6-17 are most commonly affected by ADHD, OCD and Dyslexia around the world. Most parents ignore the clear symptoms thinking it will wear off with age but it's not true. These kinds of small disorders contribute to major psychological issues in adulthood like clinical depression and anxiety disorder. So, it is always best to get medically diagnosed as it would lead to the child having more control over the things they struggle with. But how to identify the most common symptoms of these disorders?
(Note- If you feel like you share some these symptoms mentioned below, please communicate to your parents about your situation and seek professional medical health if necessary.)
ADHD is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.It is the most common neurodevelopmental disorder among children. Children with ADHD has trouble paying attention and controlling their impulsive behaviours.
Symptoms---
*Gets distracted by almost everything and cannot focus on one thing at a time
*They tend to daydream and zone out a lot
*Has hard time remembering small things and make careless mistakes
*They tend to squirm or fidget
*Takes unnecessary risks
*Tends to lose patience easily
*Gets frustrated and restless
*Tends to multi-task
Types of ADHD
1.Predominantly Inattentive ADHD--- Children with this type of ADHD find it hard to organise and focus on a task. They do not pay attention to details and find it hard to keep up with schedule. They tend to forget small things and get distracted easily.
2. Predominantly Hyperactive ADHD--- Children suffering from this particular type tend to be very impulsive, hyperactive and fidget a lot and cannot stay in the same position for a long time. They have a hard time waiting for their turn and tend to interrupt others.
3.Combined ADHD- This is a combination of type 1 and type 2. The children with the combined type share mixed symptoms of type 1 and 2. This is also the most common type of ADHD.
Dyslexia is a learning disability that affects more than 10-15% of the world's total population. It is one of the most common mental disorder after ADHD that affects children. Children with dyslexia face trouble reading, writing, spelling and comprehending texts. There's a misconception that children with dyslexia are not as smart as others their age but it's not true. Dyslexia does not affect a child's intelligence, just the way they learn and process information is different from others. So, children with dyslexia are as smart as their peers. Dyslexia could be carried into adulthood but with correct educational intervention, a person can outgrow some dyslexia symptoms.
Symptoms---
*Has trouble with reading and writing
*Has problem decoding words
*Has trouble keeping up with peers in academics
*Affects social skills like social interaction, anxiety and stress dealing
*As a toddler might have late language development
Types of Dyslexia
1. Primary Dyslexia- It is the most common type. It is caused by dysfunction on the left side of the brain. It does not disappear with age but with proper education the symptoms could be outgrown. It is hereditary.
2. Secondary or Developmental Dyslexia - It is caused by delay in brain development during early stages. It is temporary and will
diminish with age.
3. Trauma IQ Dyslexia - It is caused after some sort of brain trauma or brain injury. It is rarely seen in children and is temporary
most of the time.
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is the full form of OCD. People with OCD have recurring unwanted thoughts and feelings. These repetitive thoughts cause that person to take repetitive actions. If they do not take these repetitive actions after having recurring thoughts, it increases that person's stress. Obsession- Obsessions are recurring thoughts and impulses that cause distress and anxiety.
Examples of Obsessions
*Fear of germs and unhygienic conditions
*Wanting everything to be in exact precision
*Fear of losing something
*Needing everything to be done their way
Compulsions -repetitive actions taken by a person in response to an obsession.
Examples of Compulsions
*Excessive cleanliness like brushing 5 times a day or washing hands way too much
*Cleaning repeatedly
*Repeatedly checking locks, switches and windows
*Constant need of approval or reassurance from others.
These are all the basic information everyone should know about the three most common mental disorders found among children and teens. To know more please check the websites.
There is no doubt that mental health topics are always avoided by society. We need to learn more about all the disorders that people in our communities and society suffer from. This will create a bond of unity and diminish the stigma around mental health.
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