What is ADHD?
Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder is a
developmental & behavioral disorder, usually suffered by
children (mostly boys), sometimes adults as well. It can be
characterized by poor concentration, distractibility, hyperactivity
and impulsiveness which are unusual for a child's age.
Know some more about ADHD (ADD) -
Two terms are used in this context - ADD (Attention Deficit
Disorder) and ADHD (Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder).
Earlier, the term ADD was used, then renamed ADHD, though ADD is
still used to refer to a type of ADHD with no
Hyperactivity.
Differences in the parts of the brain controlling attention and
activity cause lack of concentration, and slowness in doing jobs.
ADHD patients day dream, act impulsively, get hyperactive and
restless and are easily distracted by sounds and sights.
What Causes ADHD?
Chemicals called 'Neurotransmitters' help send messages between
different nerves cells in a human brain to co-ordinate different
activities. Example, Dopamine, a neurotransmitter stimulates
attention centers in the brain. Lower amounts of this chemical
causes an imbalance, causing improper coordination of different
brain activities. Doctors, not sure of the exact cause, believe it
to be genetic. Based on the tips that ADHD is more common in boys
& seen mostly in kids born premature, research continues.
Symptoms -
Usually seen in childhood, ADHD cannot sometimes be diagnosed till
teenage or even adulthood. ADHD patients -
1. Cannot stay focused on a task, are less attentive.
2. Keep changing activities, cannot finish tasks.
3. Become forgetful, lose track of things, cannot follow
instructions.
4. Are easily distracted by things in the environment, become
restless.
5. Cannot organize activities on their own, become careless.
6. Make restless movements of hands / feet cannot be seated quietly
or engage in activities patiently, interrupt others.
Estimates - facts & figures
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimate that
about 4.4 million people of age 4-17 have ADHD as of 2003, 2.5
million people of the same age group undergoing treatment
currently. Reportedly, 7.8% of school aged children suffered in
2003.
Treatment -
ADHD doesn't have exact cure. Different patients need to be treated
differently depending on whether the trouble is more on the
attention side or activity side. Doctors usually treat with
medication, counseling with the family & the patient, changes
at schools to adopt particular learning styles.
What can parents do?
Handling kids with ADHD can be quite challenging but making a few
changes at home can help. Setting a simple schedule and home rules
for the child, helping him understand and follow them, rewarding
good behavior and constant supervision, focusing on efforts and not
grades and talking to his teachers all help in the longer
run.
ADHD
Checklist- Checking Out!!
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD or ADHD) as a disease is rapidly
gaining ground. The number of people suffering from this disease,
especially, children and youngsters is rising increasingly. Thus
even the measures to cure this disease are gaining...
Causes of ADHD-
Why is ADHD caused?
Neurological diseases and diseases related to the brain are
difficult to treat and comprehend. Neurologists, psychologists,
psychiatrists and medical researchers, despite great studies, know
very little about the human brain. Thus a great deal of...
Alternative
Medicine and ADHD- In Search of New Ways
Many a times it happens that when a treatment for any disease is
administered for a disease, the treatment itself can have negative
effects on the victim. Thus the case is no different in case of
neurological diseases like Attention Deficit...
Adipex Adhd:
It is estimated that from 3 to 10 percent of the population suffers
from what is known as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention
Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). This disorder is found more
often in boys than girls. This disorder is...
ADHD stratera:
What are ADHD and the medications for the persons suffering from
such disorder: The ADHD or Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
is indeed a psychological disorder. It is psychological disease
which generally changes how a child behaves,...
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