How to identify ADHD in children

The incidence of ADHD in children is relatively high in recent years. There are many causes of ADHD. If parents find that their children have some abnormal behaviors, they should check them in time. First, they can do this at home, such as the finger-pointing test, the finger-nose test, or the hand-flipping test, etc., and then go to the hospital for further confirmation and examination.

How to identify ADHD in children

1. Pointing test inspection

The finger-pointing test is a common method for diagnosing ADHD. The specific method is: ask the child to make a fist with one hand, and use the thumb of the other hand to touch the tips of other fingers in turn (index finger → middle finger → ring finger → little finger), and then repeat the above actions with the other hand. You can also touch other fingers in the opposite direction (little finger → ring finger → middle finger → index finger), or repeat the above actions with both hands at the same time.

2. Finger-to-nose test

Common diagnostic criteria for ADHD also include the finger-to-nose test. Generally speaking, first, ask the child to point to the tip of his or her nose with the index finger of his or her left hand and then with the index finger of his or her right hand, five times each with his or her eyes open and closed, and observe the child's coordination, speed, and number of errors during the test. Children with ADHD often move too heavily, appear clumsy, and make more mistakes, especially when their eyes are closed.

3. Hand flip test

The hand-flipping test is the most common diagnostic criterion for ADHD in children. Experts point out: Let the children sit at the table and place their hands flat on the table, and then ask them to do the hand-flipping movement. If the elbow swings beyond the width of the elbow and the hand-over gesture is awkward and uncoordinated, it is positive.

What are the causes of ADHD in children?

1. Experts say that there are genetic factors in the onset of ADHD in children, and heredity is an important cause of ADHD. Children with ADHD whose mothers smoked and drank alcohol during pregnancy also have multiple complications. The father and biological brothers of children with ADHD may have ADHD, so the incidence of ADHD in newborns is very high. If there are family members suffering from alcoholism, hysteria or antisocial personality, the chances of the newborn developing ADHD are also higher.

2. What are the other causes of ADHD in children? Experts say that some children have lower concentrations of norepinephrine and dopamine neurotransmitters in their brains, which may be insufficient, causing the child's central nervous system's ability to inhibit activity to decline, making the child more prone to hyperactivity.

3. ADHD in children is also related to some external environmental factors. Experts say that some lead poisoning can cause ADHD. Lead poisoning causes serious damage to the patient's nervous system, leading to diseases such as dementia and toxic encephalopathy, and triggering attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

4. Some family factors in daily life can also cause the occurrence of ADHD in children, such as an inharmonious family atmosphere and unreasonable diet. A disharmonious family atmosphere makes children very depressed, and if the children are not educated in an appropriate way, it will be even more detrimental to their physical and mental health development. Children may often eat foods that are rich in additives, pigments and are prone to allergies, while the lack of proper nutritional supplements and vitamin deficiency are important factors causing ADHD.