The Centers for Disease Control conducted a range of studies in the early 2000’s and the results show the growing number of cases of ADHD among children. Specifically, ADHD stats indicate that 4.5 million children in the U.S. have been diagnosed with ADHD and boys are almost twice as likely to be diagnosed as girls.

The increase in diagnosis reflected in statistics about ADHD highlights the need for alternative forms of treatment, especially given the fact that ADHD is significantly more prevalent among poor children. Lack of access to prescription drugs and their lack of effectiveness at treating the condition leave many parents seeking other forms of treatment. The potentially serious side effects of Ritalin and other stimulant based meds prescribed for ADHD only add to the uncertainty about their use.

Fortunately, concerned parents now have several avenues which they can consider for treatment. As ADHD stats reflect the growing number of diagnosis, finding ways to control symptoms and bring relief to affected children becomes more urgent. Among the alternatives to traditional treatment are behavioral therapy, dietary adjustments and natural remedies.

Natural remedies represent a particularly hopeful advance as they target not just surface symptoms but their underlying cause as well. With statistics about ADHD showing cases cropping up across various regions and income levels, anything that can be used to achieve positive results without exposing children to side effects or costing an exorbitant amount of money is encouraging.

Made from herbs including Hyoscyamus, Tuberculinum and Arsen iod, natural remedies help to soothe agitation and balance neurotransmitter levels, improving brain function. Unlike traditional medications, this provides long term results which can help kids and adults to live life normally and counteract the growing statistics about ADHD by opening the door to healing and change.

Using behavioral therapy to recognize and change automatic responses to various situations can also be extremely helpful to children and adults with ADHD. The ability to take some control over their own behavior can be empowering to ADHD patients. Dietary adjustments can also help as statistics about ADHD also indicate that the condition can be directly tied to improper nutrition. By getting a balanced diet, patients can see a marked improvement in symptoms as their brain function improves.

The numbers are pretty clear when it comes to ADHD stats, but with the increase in diagnosis comes an increased awareness of the symptoms and their cause. This has led to improvements in treatment, including the use of natural remedies. So if ADHD is a part of your life, don’t let the numbers get you down. You can stop being a statistic and get back into living your life by making the natural choice for ADHD treatment.

Technorati Tags: About, ADHD, Comes, disorder, Don't, Numbers, Statistics, This

Parents will have to decide early on what kind of medication is going to suit their child best. Whatever the medication, it will not cure ADHD. But any medication should be safe in the long term, not lead to any type of addiction or substance abuse and above all, should not have nasty side effects like disturbing the child’s sleep. Most of the ADHD psychostimulants used in controlling the symptoms of attention deficit disorder fall short of those criteria and there is much controversy about how damaging they are. Parents should be able to find out about alternative treatments for ADHD such as homeopathy ADHD which has no side effects.

When ADHD is diagnosed, parents can do so much to help the child come to terms with attention deficit disorder symptoms and can do it so successfully that it can be seen as a gift rather than a curse. Giving positive feedback is one way. Never concentrate on the negative things but try to give praise every day. Spending time with an ADHD child is very important too.

Hyperactivity, another one of the symptoms of attention deficit disorder can play havoc with family life. A great coping mechanism is to get ‘green time’ and sports activities into the daily routine. You will be richly rewarded as the ‘feel good’ endorphins do wonders for the child’s mood, as indeed it does for any adult who practices any physical activity. Choosing the right type of sport is very important though. It seems that where concentration is demanded (for example in football, basketball and baseball), ADHD children definitely do less well. They tend to excel in swimming (look at Michael Phelps), martial arts, gymnastics and wrestling.

Even if some of the ADHD medications may help the child to stay alert and focus much better, again the parents can do so much to help. First they should check out what is going on in the school and actively seek out the teacher to find out exactly what strategies and behaviour plans she has implemented. They also need to resist any attempt by teachers who may recommend some ADHD medication such as psychostimulants. The parents have to make an informed choice. To help you do that, look at the link below for a safe and effective ADHD treatment which is excellent at controlling symptoms of attention deficit disorder.

Technorati Tags: attention, Coping, deficit, disorder, Kids, Mechanisms, parents, symptoms

In the category of hyperactivity/impulsivity, an individual must have six or more of the following symptoms: often fidgets while sitting, often leaves seat in structure setting, often runs around inappropriately (restlessness), often has trouble playing quietly, often talks excessively, often blurts out answers before question completed, often has difficulty waiting turn and often interrupts or intrudes on others. Some of these symptoms must have present before the age of seven, and they must have lasted for at least six months. The DSM-IV Psychiatric disorders defines these criteria. You should have your child tested if you believe that he or she has these symptoms as described above.

In the category of inattention, an individual must have six or more of the following symptoms: often makes careless mistakes in schoolwork, work and other activities, often has difficulty keeping attention sustained in task or play activities, often does not seem to listen when spoken to directly, often has difficulty organizing tasks and activities, often avoids and dislikes tasks that require sustained mental effort, often loses things that are necessary for everyday life, often is easily distracted by extraneous stimuli and often is forgetful in daily activities. Some of these symptoms must have been present before the age of seven, and they must have lasted at least six months. This is also defined in the DSM-IV manual for Psychiatric disorders.

The combined type of ADHD is actually the most common among ADHD sufferers. They are also the individuals most at risk for other negative problems in their lives due to the nature of the disorder. First of all, children with Combined Type ADHD have higher rates of conduct disorder (Conduct Disorder and Oppositional Defiant Disorder). Also, they have higher rates of bipolar disorder, another Psychiatric disorder.. As a while, children and adults with combined type area at a higher risk for other psychiatric disorders. Parents who have a child with this type must be extremely vigilant in the care of their children. They really must constantly be on the lookout for problems in other arenas of their lives besides specific symptoms of ADHD. As a side note, speaking to a medical professional from the outset can minimize any chance that your child will experience difficulties in their lives. Just keep in mind that problems in the emotional, psychological and social domains are a result of a response to having ADHD, and not the disorder itself.

As your child with Combined Type ADHD reaches their teenage years and into young adulthood, they will be at a higher risk for many things such as illegal drug use, general illegal activities, overdrinking and other activities of concern. Raising your child will involve more dedication and vigilance in all areas. You must spend the time to help your child or children with this disorder.

Technorati Tags: ADHD, Combined, disorder, Type

Technorati Tags: ADHD, attention, Classroom, deficit, disorder, Management

As I got older and grew into an adult, terms like “Adult ADD or ADHD” became buzzwords on television and magazine advertising. I had certainly convinced myself that that must be EXACTLY what I had!!!

How many times have I been in meetings for work, and a superior will say, “So, what do you think about this?” And I would jump out of my own little world and be like, “Huh? Could you repeat the question please?” This would of course embarrass the hell out of me and would shock me into giving extra effort into paying attention, which only lasted until I once again became distracted.

It wasn’t until later on when I really started putting two and two together. I began to notice that the days that I felt incredibly anxious or panicky, everything people would try to explain to me would go in one ear and out the other. Anxiety seems to give a person extremely selective hearing. It seems that with anxiety, the only thing I seemed to be able to focus on were things that I was naturally very interested in. Such things did NOT include school lectures and office politics!!

Then I found the program that cures panic and anxiety. It made me realize that anxiety will completely cloud your logical thinking with emotion. Fear is a very potent emotion. When one is consumed by it, all logic and common sense is thrown out the window. It is extremely difficult to focus on anything of importance when your minds is clouded by anxiety or panic.

So as my anxiety died down more and more every week, my sense of focus returned. What I had been calling, “brain fog”, slowly dissipated. (I had orginally thought that perhaps this “brain fog” had been the result of smoking and anxiety.  But the effects of smoking on my attention span were short lived.)   I started to experience a sense of clarity that I hadn’t felt since I was a teenage, when I was focused on my favorite video games. It was then I understood the relationship between the symptoms of ADD and ADHD and anxiety.

Technorati Tags: ADHD, Anxiety, Believe, Caused, disorder

Overcome all of your inattentiveness. When you are unable to pay attention or focus, it can be a very annoying trait; however it is not really all that difficult to deal with. You have to train yourself to follow a certain schedule each and every day based on everything that you need to get accomplished. By doing this, you will have something concrete that you can focus on and follow; because you have already acknowledged all of the tasks that you are held responsible for. Now this will not always help. There will be days when you just cannot concentrate on what you know you should be doing that day. Despite this you do not need to lose the entire day to non-productivity. Consider treating yourself to a project that you would love to be working on rather than what you know you should be working on. This will redirect your thinking into a positive mode, you will become motivated and you will redirect that hyper energy into something positive and probably get the entire project done that day. This will make the next day seem brighter since you will feel that you have accomplished something and your focus will come back to what you know you need to do as well and your productivity will continue.

Face the actual problem. There is not anything that can be more comforting than facing up and admitting that you have a problem, and that does not mean you are not normal. By taking the time to admit that you really have a problem, you are going to find that it is a lot easier for you to take all of the active steps needed in order to treat your problem.

Kick the restlessness. Your body and mind are completely restless because they find that certain tasks on hand are too boring or that they lack the overall challenge. You should engage in frequent exercise sessions, like playing soccer four times a week or going to the gym.

When necessary, you need to distance yourself. Once you have talked with your family and friends, you should have the ability to identify certain situations and quiet possibly the warning signs that you are becoming agitated or that you are beginning to lose your focus. Once you feel that the symptoms are coming on, you should take a few deep breathes and start calming yourself down.

Get rid of the boredom. In the event that you are aware that your job is a little too boring for you, you need to try to find ways that you can make it challenging and interesting. There are different ways to challenge yourself in a job. If the job is boring, challenge yourself by trying to finish certain projects quicker. You need to find ways to motivate yourself during boring types of projects.

Overall, you can overcome your adult attention deficit disorder by following these methods and visiting your doctor on a regular basis.

Technorati Tags: adult, attention, Control, deficit, Direction, disorder, into, POSITIVE, Redirect, Ways

ADD is essentially the same condition as the one children have. If you are an adult and you are having trouble focusing at work, difficulty listening to people in everyday conversations, find yourself interrupting people a lot, losing things frequently, are easily distracted from tasks, are easily frustrated or find yourself feeling over stimulated often, you may have adult attention deficit disorder.

Treatment for the disorder mirrors the treatments used for children with the condition. The first step you need to take if you suspect you may have an adult attention deficit condition is to of course see a doctor. There are a bunch of other disorders that can mimic an adult attention deficit condition, such as anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, depression, or bipolar disorder, and its important that these be ruled out before trying treatments.

Typically, most doctors today will begin your adult attention deficit disorder treatment by prescribing a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, or SSRI, such as Prozac, Zoloft, or Lexapro. SSRIs have been helpful for many in treating their adult attention deficit disorders. If you aren’t getting any relief in your symptoms with an SSRI, you may be prescribed a stimulant, such as Ritalin, Adderall or Concerta. These should be taken with caution as they are addictive drugs, and should be avoided entirely if you have a history of substance abuse.

Most health professionals will agree that there are also a number of non-medication based steps you can take to alleviate some of your symptoms. Getting regular vigorous exercise has been shown to help a lot of people with ADD. Also a diet high in lean protein is recommended. Keeping lists, writing notes, breaking large tasks down into smaller parts and taking other similar steps to counter your disorder will certainly help as well.

This information is not presented by a medical practitioner and is for educational and informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read.
Since natural and/or dietary supplements are not FDA approved they must be accompanied by a two-part disclaimer on the product label: that the statement has not been evaluated by FDA and that the product is not intended to “diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease”.

Technorati Tags: adult, attention, deficit, disorder, treatment

Symptoms in children

A child affected with ADD will have difficulty in concentrating or focusing on something. He will also find it difficult to organize things or follow instructions and directions. They have difficulty in controlling their natural spontaneous responses such as speech, movements, and attentiveness. They are unable to finish tasks, make plans, participate in activities around them or even sit still. They have a tendency to get distracted by the smallest of things and consistently make small careless mistakes in their activities that require patience and following instructions.

These children have lots of things simultaneously going on in their mind and are unable to concentrate on anything specific. Multiple activities like the teacher talking, two students whispering, and people walking on the corridor outside the classroom, all affect the ADD affected child’s concentration. While most children are able to block the other noises and concentrate on the teacher’s voice, the ADD affected child is unable to do so. They also have a tendency of losing their belongings and even very intelligent and bright children with this disorder may be getting low grades.

Symptoms in adults

ADD is also quite common among adults though in most cases it goes undiagnosed as the symptoms overlap with other adult disorders such as stress. Adults suffering from ADD are mostly restless and are unable to concentrate on their work. They also have difficulty staying organized and may even have difficulties in maintaining their relationships due to their compulsive behavior. However adults are much more equipped to deal with their problem and are mostly recommended to control their symptoms with proper diet, exercise and other lifestyle changes.

The other symptoms which are reflected both in children and adults affected with ADD are short attention spans, poor listening skills, tendency to be bored and being impulsive in speech and action. These symptoms are however noticed in various degrees in the patient and only a trained medical professional can diagnose how serious the problem is and treat it accordingly.

Technorati Tags: adults, attention, Children, deficit, disorder, symptoms

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, ADHD, is a common mental health disorder in children. The three cardinal symptoms of ADHD are impulsiveness, hyperactivity and inattention. Nearly everyone shows some of these behaviors at times, but the symptoms lasts more than 6 months in ADHD. Impulsiveness means that the child acts too quickly without first thinking. Hyperactivity means the child cannot sit still. He or she walks, runs, or climbs around when others are seated and talks when others are talking. Inattention means the child’s mind wanders frequently from the task at hand. The child may start a line of thought or a task without completing it because the concentration does not last long enough.  

Sometimes the symptoms of ADHD may at first look like normal behaviors. The symptoms usually start before the age of six. Children with ADHD may get distracted easily and forget things often. They may switch quickly from one activity to another, refuse to follow directions, daydream frequently, fail to finishing tasks such as house chores and homework, frequently lose toys, books, and school supplies, fidget and squirm, talk nonstop and interrupt others, run around a lot, touch and play with everything they see, blurt out inappropriate comments, and have trouble controlling their emotions.

There is no single test that can tell if a child has ADHD and so, it may take months for a doctor or other clinicians to know if the child has ADHD. Clinicians need time to observe the child for specific symptoms. Sometimes it can be difficult to diagnose a child with ADHD because symptoms may look like other problems. A child may seem quiet and well-behaved, but in fact he or she is having trouble paying attention. A child may act badly in school, but teachers don’t realize that the child has ADHD. So, if a child is frequently having trouble at school, the parent should let the child’s doctor know. Otherwise the symptoms will begin to affect the child’s functioning at home, school, and other social situations. And if untreated, ADHD can linger far into adolescence and adulthood. Any adults that think they may have ADHD should consult a doctor or clinician to be sure.

ADHD is more common in boys than girls, and affects 3 to 5 percent of children in the United States. If any parents or guardians suspect ADHD, they should have the child evaluated by a clinician such as a psychiatrist, nurse practitioner, psychologist, pediatrician, neurologist, or a clinical social worker. The clinician will try to rule out other possible reasons for the child’s behavior, check the child’s school and medical records, talk to the teachers, have the teacher and parents fill out a behavior rating scale for the child, and finally, come up with a diagnosis.

No one knows for sure what causes ADHD. However, since it runs in families, genetics may be a factor. Also, it is believed that there may be a combination of factors. Possible factors include lead from toys, old paint and plumbing; smoking and alcohol during pregnancy; brain injury; and food additives such as artificial coloring. Although some people think refined sugar may cause ADHD, not many research studies support that opinion.

ADHD can be treated. Treatment usually is a combination of medications and therapy. The medications usually help to control the symptoms. In addition, ADHD parenting classes and the use of behavior structure by parents at home and teachers at school can be quite helpful.

For other psychiatric mental health related articles, visit Dr. Omotosho’s website at www.futurefocusbiz.com

Technorati Tags: ADHD, attention, deficit, disorder, hyperactivity

What are some recognizable features of someone with ADD? Well, patience for waiting in lines, or waiting for responses in conversation will often be lacking. The inability to finish through with projects before beginning new ones is also a symptom. In addition, sufferers display impulsive behavior, sometimes putting themselves in danger. It is important to take all this information under consideration in the treatment of ADD(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Attention-Deficit-Disorder.html).

Long-term treatment of ADD can be a challenge, as sufferers get bored easily and may have a difficult time sticking to a treatment plan. The fact that the treatment is greatly needed may still not make it less difficult for patients to follow through. Stimulation from external sources can be distracting for ADD sufferers due to less than ideal neural coordination. These distractions can come in the sound, visual, or emotional form. Blocking out distractions and focusing can result in frustration. All of these factors should be taken into account when planning ADD treatment(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Attention-Deficit-Disorder.html).

What causes ADD/ADHD? One theory is that brain coordination is impaired by eating too much sugar, as sugar inhibits the brain’s response to norepinephrine. Allergies can also be a cause, particularly allergies to food coloring, cow’s milk, certain nuts, citrus fruits, and tomatoes. Other causes of ADD are said to be metal toxicity in the body, nutritional deficiency, and consumption of artificial flavors and preservatives. Another possible complicating factor to keep in mind in the diagnosis and treatment of ADD is soft drink consumption, as sodas contain phosphates which can upset calcium-phosphorous levels, exaggerating muscle activity. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or “SAD”, can be mistaken for ADD. SAD is a depression, or prolonged feeling of sadness, due to lack of sunlight. In the treatment of ADD, it is important that other conditions which might have similar symptoms, such as SAD, are eliminated.

Are there any natural treatments of ADD(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Attention-Deficit-Disorder.html)? Such substances as fish oil, primrose oil, and flaxseed oil can be very beneficial. Supplements that contain a full, balanced, compliment of nutrients, antioxidants and vitamins are also recommended. Foods cooked in trans-fats, as well as foods containing additives, colors, or artificial ingredients such as aspartame should be avoided. These substances could exacerbate or set off ADD behaviors. Treating ADD naturally is a balancing act of eliminating harmful substances, while supplementing with beneficial nutrients and minerals.

Most sufferers of ADD are children, thought the disorder definitely occurs among adults as well. Adults with ADD may display such characteristics as poor management of time and money, which of course can lead to disastrous effects at home and at work. These adults are likely to have a poor self-image and can be easily frustrated or bored. In the treatment of ADD, age of the sufferer should b paid attention to, and it will likely be helpful to try and boost the patient’s self-esteem.

Technorati Tags: attention, deficit, disorder, Recognition, treatment