What is ADHD?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is a disease which affects people, mainly children, with respect to aspects like impulsivity, hyperactivity, inattentivity and boredom. However there is a controversy surrounding ADHD which states that ADHD cannot be diagnosed and that there are no proper and well defined medical tests to diagnose ADHD.

ADHD can also be defined as neurological imbalance caused mainly due to genetic factors.

The main characteristics of ADHD are as follows:

1) Lack of attention

2) Hyperactivity

3) Lack of control on impulsiveness

4) Inability to complete given tasks

5) Frustration

6) A child suffering from ADHD can be easily distracted.

7) Lacks organizational skills.
Can act without thinking too much about the action and its consequences.

Many of the children suffering from ADHD also show anti- social characteristics and rebel against the laws of the society.

Is ADHD really that big a problem?

According to a new report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 1.6 million elementary school-aged children have been diagnosed with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Estimates reveal that about 6% of school going kids has ADHD problems. This figure is only partially representative as less than 50% of cases might be reported, less than that, diagnosed.

Approximately 35% to 40% of the children suffer from ADHD. It is one of the most common psychological defects faced by children today. As per researches conducted in the United States, almost 5% of the children suffer from the problem of ADHD.

ADHD is actually a problem which was very much prevalent in the past too. However it seems as though it is a new kind of disease because of the increasing awareness about the disease courtesy, well defined and authentic media documents and increasing medical research on it.

Causes and Diagnosis of ADHD:

The exact causes of ADHD are not yet known. However experts believe that the main causes of this disease are mainly genetical causes. There are also other factors like environmental causes responsible for ADHD.

ADHD can be diagnosed through various psychological tests. However it is not necessary that these tests are always conclusive. A professional psychiatrist or a psychologist can help a lot in ascertaining the degree and nature of the disease and help in treating the disease.

Conclusion:

A child suffering from ADHD requires the support of his parents, teachers and of all the people surrounding the child. Counseling, various tests and therapies can help the child in overcoming his difficulties and transform him into a truly gifted child.

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Product DescriptionThis book provides the latest information on what to eat, what to avoid, problems with chemicals, supplements that help, non-dietary approaches, the reasons for ADD and more! It takes you through some easy steps to eliminate the triggers of ADHD that you should consider before you give your child medication to see if symptoms disappear. It is a simple book that touches on many topics and gives the reader a revelation about the potential causes of ADD / ADHD. . . . More>>

The A.D.D. and A.D.H.D. Diet! A Comprehensive Look at Contributing Factors and Natural Treatments for Symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder and Hyperactivity

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Assessing whether a certain individual is suffering from Attention Deficit with HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER or not is far harder than it appears to laymen like ourselves. This is because, not only does it’s symptoms largely overlap those of hyperthyroidism etc. they are also largely exhibited by ‘normal’ human beings some time or the other every single day. Therefore the first important step towards diagnosing the disease is to consult a trained health care provider regarding it. Things only seem scary when we are treading over ‘new ground’, so to speak. Take small but deliberate steps and a positive end will begin to appear on the horizion.

Given that the defining factors of ATTENTION DEFICIT HYPERACTIVITY DISORDER is still quite musty and vague diagnosing the problem is difficult since nothing is strictly within or outside the peripheries of the disease. And although various organizations like The American Pediatrics Clinical Practice for instance, have tried to provide certain guidelines in order to recognize the disease most are still quite unsure regarding the reliability of such methods. Of course doctors have in the past tried MRI (or magnetic resonance imagery) to analyze their patient’s brains in order to detect any possible signs of ADD/ADHD, but most medical practitioners do not recommend this any more. Thus diagnosis is now primarily based on the reports of those close to the patient, who see, talk, work or live with him/her everyday and have thereby come to know the patients habits closely. A number of people suffering from ADHD also realize their problem with time, especially as they grow older and consult doctors regarding it.

The guideline provided by the American Academy of pediatrics requires medical personnel to look into the child’s behavior in more than one place before reaching a conclusion regarding whether or not the child is suffering from ADD. Thus the doctor is expected to consult various ‘witnesses’ regarding the behavior of his patient in say his school, his home, at the playground, at his Grandma’s place etc. and thereby ensure that his diagnosis is not based on the child’s behavior at a certain specific place. This is to know for sure that the problem in hand is intrinsic and is consistent everywhere and not specifically due to some factors at a particular place. The guideline also requires the physician to use an “explicit criteria for the diagnosis using the DS-IV-TR”.

When approaching a doctor for cure therefore make sure that he/she follows these directions set by the Academy closely before diagnosing the problem. Remember a problem such as ADD/ADHD might not be as difficult to cure as is to diagnose, in fact proper diagnosis might be the first step towards a satisfactory cure. One doesn’t need a black cloud of doom and gloom over their or their families head. Start slow and with the professionals that you feel comfortable with. Doing something, even something small, it is still SOMETHING!

ADHD is an underestimated disease which is seen in varying degrees amongst many youngsters around us and while we may choose to ignore it and deny it’s presence it’s a plague which will follow your little one right till he shuts his eyes for good. Therefore recognize your child’s disease today and take him to a doctor for the right diagnosis and a proper cure. For more general information and a good place to start visit OLIN’S e-bookstore.

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Technorati Tags: attention, deficit, disorder, hyperactivity

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.

Facts And 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.

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While not all children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder are overly hyperactive, the ones that are can be a handful. Just ask any parent with a hyperactivity ADHD child to describe their experience and they would like say something along the lines of “I love my child but he/she has endless energy and seems to be driven by an internal motor that never stops”. Shortly after the explanation they normally collapse in a state of exhaustion.

Hyperactivity ADHD can be broadly described as someone who is frequently moving in some way. Even when individuals are seated they are likely to be tapping their feet or hands. Hyperactivity ADHD is most often seen in children rather than adults. This is because as time goes by hyperactivity has a way of morphing itself into more of an internal symptom with less outwardly noticeable symptoms. But make not mistake just because the symptoms are not as outwardly apparent, they are still there and should not be underestimated.

One of the tricky things about unusually active behavior is that most young children exhibit it on occasion. This isn’t necessary a sign that your child has hyperactivity ADHD. Most children outgrow this stage by the time they are 5. And even before then, most children have periods of time where they are able to sit quietly, such as during the reading of a bedtime story.

Overactive behaviors are so unpredictable in people that in one instance the symptoms may be obvious, and in another they may be almost totally camouflaged.  Nevertheless there are a few obvious signs to look for when trying to determine whether you or your child has hyperactivity ADHD. They are the inability to sit still for any length of time, the never ending energy levels described above, poor temperament, constant or almost continual fidgeting, inability to stay seated, excessive climbing, struggles with playing quietly, nap time is talk time, and conversations that are random and seemingly never ending.

This condition makes it difficult to achieve one’s potential especially in structures environments such as classrooms or corporate settings. This may account to some degree for the stunning and worrisome statistic stating that 80% of children with attention deficit disorder underachieve academically.

When ADHD hyperactivity is paired with hostile and negative behavior it can create even bigger challenges. Statistics show that one in two ADHD children are hostile and negative and a smaller number engage in aggressive behavior towards people and have a propensity to violate important rules.

Despite the difficult challenges often times connected with hyperactivity ADHD it is important to realize that these actions are not voluntary. They aren’t the result of rebellious or bad behavior but a biological imbalance in the brain likely caused by the brain chemicals norepinephrine and/or dopamine.

What Next? When the symptoms of ADHD hyperactivity are identified finding help should be the number one goal. In this pursuit many parents of ADHD children and adults alike have found answers in the form of natural ADHD remedies. Whether you are worried about the side effects posed by prescription drugs for ADHD or you want to get to the root of the problem rather than just suppress symptoms, ADHD alternative treatment methods will deliver powerful, lasting results.

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