[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]

Every time you hear more often that “my child is hyperactive.” Despite this, the truth is that it is rarely true. Hyperactivity is an important problem and it is not just a restless child or a nervous child.

[/vc_column_text][vc_custom_heading text=”What is hyperactivity?” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left”][vc_column_text]

Hyperactivity is one of the symptoms of different childhood disorders. The best known is ADHD (Attention Deficit Disorder and / or hyperactivity) but it can also appear in other situations such as autism or maturational delay, for example.

We sometimes call childhood hyperactivity to a high level of activity of a kid with respect to what is normal for his age. Obviously, there is no limit point where we can define this, but it is a continuum. It is a question that requires several points of view.

[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”5666″ img_size=”large”][vc_column_text]

The intensity: Hyperactivity is a quantitative variable. This means that it cannot be classified in any way that is not continuous. This is the same as saying that the difference between an overactive and a normal child can be very subtle.

The impact: The most important thing is not the level of hyperactivity, but the difficulties that this produces for each kid. Hyperactivity can cause problems at the learning level, at the social level and at the behavioral level. These consequences are what we must assess.

If a child is so restless that it is difficult for him to pay attention in school, he may suffer learning problems and therefore require help. There are cases in which this high concern causes constant movement that bothers classmates disrupts the class and makes it difficult to integrate with others.

[/vc_column_text][vc_single_image image=”5668″ img_size=”large”][vc_custom_heading text=”What is the cause of childhood hyperactivity?” font_container=”tag:h3|text_align:left”][vc_column_text]

The control mechanism that our brain uses to get us to have a functioning adjusted to our needs, is very complex. Although many parts of our nervous system are involved, the best way to explain it is to focus on the frontal region of it.

This mechanism changes progressively during development. In this way, it takes care of improving the self-control mechanisms of our organism as we grow and mature. The main factors it regulates are 3:

Attention: Young children have a hard time paying attention to a specific topic unless they like it very much. In addition, they are not able to maintain that attention for a long time. Anything distracts them.

The movement: In addition to the high level of energy and metabolism that young children have, the lack of regulation of movement does not stop jumping, running or playing. They are not able to sit still for a long time.

The impulses: At a younger age, the children have less impulse control capacity. They are capricious, impatient and “selfish.” When they want something, they don’t want to wait. They don’t tolerate frustrations and have tantrums when they don’t achieve their goals.

[/vc_column_text][vc_row_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5660″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column_inner][vc_column_inner width=”1/2″][vc_single_image image=”5661″ img_size=”medium”][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]

This is the explanation of why young children have problems with self-control. In this way:

• They are so active.
• They have trouble paying attention.
• They have easily tantrums.
• As their mechanism mature, this progresses positively. As they grow, their attention span increases, they better regulate their movement and control their impulses better.

[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]

If there is any problem that avoids this normal maturation process, it does not progress normally and any of these 3 problems may occur. It is also clear then, why a child with hyperactivity is seen by adults as an immature child. Basically, he continues to do things that are not usual for his age but for younger children. This makes defining normality very complicated. To do this, we must consider the usual levels in children according to their age and other circumstances.

[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]