Ammon – Disorders in listening and concentration are neurobehavioral disorders that usually affect children in the kindergarten stage, and may continue into adolescence and are characterized by difficulty in paying attention and concentration, and sometimes significant levels of hyperactivity or impulsivity. Disorders of listening and concentration can be detected when the child reaches about 7 years of age. .
According to the Bold Sky website, listening and concentration disorders cause brain dysfunction. The child may not be able to control his behavior and maintain attention span for continuous periods of time. This can lead to problems in learning, behavior and social difficulties.
Listening and concentration disorders are not a stand-alone disorder, and can often accompany many problems in a child, such as dyslexia, dysgraphia, and defiant disorder.
Types of listening and concentration disorders in children
Listening and concentration disorders can be divided into three subtypes:
The first type is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and often in this type the child can be very inattentive and suffer from a severe lack of attention and concentration.
The second type is hyperactivity disorder, in which the child is hyperactive and very impulsive.
The third type is combined attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, in which case the child may suffer from both attention deficit and hyperactivity.
It should be noted that children who primarily show symptoms of disturbance in listening and concentration, without symptoms of hyperactivity, are characterized by their calmness and lethargy.
Causes of listening and concentration disorders in children
Although there is no concrete evidence about the cause of listening and concentration disorders, there are some possible factors for the spread of listening and concentration disorders, which include:
Genes are the most common factor causing disorders of listening and concentration, and this has been observed in cases of identical twins who share the same genes.
Some research shows that the brain function of children with listening and concentration disorders differs from other children, as it has been noted that the neurotransmitters that carry messages within the brain do not work properly in them.
It has been noted that smoking during pregnancy increases the risk of giving birth to children with listening and concentration disorders, especially in the very early stages. It also increases the risk of mental illness in children due to early exposure to nicotine, which leads to slow growth of nerve cells and increases the risk of death of nerve cells or brain cells. .
Boys are twice as likely to suffer from listening and concentration disorders than girls, as the percentage of listening and concentration disorders in boys is 13.2%, while it is only 5.6% in girls.
Symptoms of listening and concentration disorders in children
The child fails to pay attention to details, and makes careless mistakes in school activities, homework, and chores.
Most young children have short attention spans, but those with listening and attention disorders do not seem to listen even when spoken to directly, and the child finds it very difficult to focus their attention for long periods of time, often on a single activity, task or event.
The child finds it difficult to listen or receive instructions, even when you speak to him directly.
The child cannot keep up with all the instructions given to him and fails to finish homework, chores, and other work assigned to him.
The child may also have difficulty organizing tasks and activities and is often delayed in time management.
The child may avoid tasks that require a lot of thinking or mental work.
Severe bouts of crying and anger, for no apparent reason.
Difficulty integrating and inability to make friends.
Easily distracted by environmental or external stimuli.
The child may often forget some or many daily activities.
If you notice any of these symptoms in your child, take the child to the doctor. It is important that he conduct a medical examination to rule out other causes of their behavior before diagnosing the child with listening and concentration disorders.
Treatments for listening and concentration disorders in children
Just like normal diseases that affect the body, listening and concentration disorders can be treated with stimulant medications, which work for a short period of time in 70% of children who suffer from this disorder. An improvement in behavior and mental abilities can be observed when taking these medications. However, the situation varies from One child to another, so the medications can be completely different as well.
Treatments may also include the help of specialists such as counselors, psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and teachers who have worked with children with listening and attention disorders.
Behavioral therapy can be resorted to, and for this treatment to be successful, it needs support from parents as well as teachers.
Regular exercise is also recommended for children who suffer from listening and concentration disorders, because it has been noted that exercise increases brain activity, so it is recommended each week to do more than 75 minutes of moderate exercise.
Ask your child to participate in a task or play a game that requires a great deal of patience, which helps enhance attention and focus while reducing activity levels at the same time.
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