ADHD: Does My Child Lack Self Control?

One facet of behaviour that children with ADHD wrestle with is the issue of self control. Experts describe this symptom as one of the toughest to modify, taking years of patience and persistence to turn around. The importance of self control cannot be understated. In daily life, self control functions as part of a group of skills allowing children and adults to moderate their thoughts and actions in order to get things done. These skills, termed Executive Functions by experts, are key for acculturating and developing socialised behaviours.

Self control in executive functions can be seen in three particular aspects: movement, impulse, and emotional control. Movement control has to do with the ‘hyperactivity’ portion of ADHD, where a child is able to restrict his or her needs to constantly move around in inappropriate settings. Impulse control serves as a system of judgement, so that the child takes a moment to consider and assess the outcomes before doing or saying anything. Emotional control pertains to the regulation of emotions, which facilitates the ability to continue operating despite being upset or feeling affected negatively.