Does your child have difficulties focusing? Learn about the possible reasons why, along with how seeking professional counseling can help below.
As a parent, you are naturally keenly invested in the growth and development of your child. We all want to see our offspring thrive, which is why it can be so concerning when there are signs of struggle. If your child has difficulties focusing, you are not alone. Virtually all children will have difficulties concentrating from time-to-time.
Most of the time, this is nothing to worry about and is just a normal part of a child’s development, as they begin to find things interesting outside of the classroom. However, if your child is having sustained difficulty focusing, something else could be amiss such as ADHD. Before booking a psychological assessment or ADHD evaluation for your child, make sure to read on to find out the main reasons your child may be having difficulties focusing.
Table of Contents
1. ADHD
As you may already know, Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common causes of focus problems for children. In the US alone, more than 6 million children have been diagnosed with ADHD, making this one of the most widely occurring mental health conditions in the world.
Today, ADHD is effectively treated with psychotherapy and/or prescription medications. Always consult a trained psychologist to get a verified diagnosis before considering ADHD treatment for your child.
2. Sleep Deprivation
If you’ve sat there wondering “why can’t my child focus”, take a look at their sleeping pattern. A rising number of children are suffering from low-quality sleep, often due to an abundance of screens in the home.
Make sure that your child is sticking to a regular bedtime and that they are going to bed at a reasonable hour. Try to discourage your child from lying in bed too long after waking up, sitting on their bed during the daytime hours, or using electronic devices too close to bedtime.
3. Sensory Overload
If your child has difficulties concentrating, it is possible that the culprit is sensory overload. Children today are more exposed to sensory overload than any other generation in history. A constant stream of information and connectivity, provided to them by their smartphones, social media, tablets, laptops, and consoles, can all lead to a concentration deficit.
It is for this reason that many parents do not allow or limit the use of these devices at home to support child self-control.
4. Anxiety or Depression
If you’ve Googled “my child can’t focus”, the last thing you probably want to read is that your child could be suffering from depression or a specific type of anxiety. However, depression and anxiety among young children in the US have reached record highs, which means you should be looking out for these symptoms as well.
A child’s anxiety can be directly related to problems in the classroom, such as anxiety over grades or bullying. Anxiety may also be the result of a more serious mental health affliction. If you are worried that your child has anxiety or depression issues, consider arranging a psychological evaluation as soon as possible.
Contact Us to Evaluate Your Child’s Focus Difficulties
If your child has difficulties focusing, a professional evaluation might be the right course of action. Detection and diagnosis is the first step towards getting the effective treatment your child might need to help him or her thrive.
For more information about a comprehensive evaluation, send us a contact form message or give us a call at 408-404-5867.
