Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a disorder that affects up to 11% of children between the ages of 4 – 17 years old and is more common than many people believe. Boys are three times more likely to be diagnosed for ADHD, and while some people may see this as a disorder affecting children, at least 4% of adults have been diagnosed with ADHD. It is believed that many more adults have simply not been diagnosed as diagnosis for ADHD was not as common in the past. ADHD is best diagnosed early, sometimes as young as 4 years old, so the child can receive the support they need to manage it.

A communication disorder is a disorder that negatively affects the person’s ability to speak or engage in discussions with other people. It can range from the inability to understand their own native language, or it can be an inability to make the proper sounds necessary for speech.

It may affect up to 17% of people and includes lisping and stuttering and children with autism spectrum disorder are likely to also have speech and communication disorders.

Every parent dreads having to receive a call from school about their child misbehaving. Whether it is getting into fights, inattentiveness during class or having bad grades, it can be frustrating for parents if they do not understand the reasons behind the child’s behaviour.

The parent’s reaction can even cause the situation to worsen.

It’s not always obvious what behaviours are normal or abnormal in children. Many times, adults and educators tend to think that the child may have behaviour issues when they might not. The biggest issue in identifying abnormal behaviour is that many of the symptoms look the same as normal behaviour.

Some of the most common signs can be:

• Inattentiveness
• Unwillingness or inability to follow instructions
• Throws tantrums in public
• Aggression