ADHD Tips

A testimonial about ADD-care of ADHD disorders (attention deficit / hyperactivity disorder attention deficit). ADD-care is a natural supplement that helps to significantly reduce symptoms of ADD and ADHD. For more information or to obtain treatment of ADD, you can go to www. Add to care. com.

Technorati Tags: About, ADDlike, natural, symptoms, testimonial, treatment

Attention deficit disorder is a condition that’s characterized by behavioral & learning disorders. This disease is generally diagnosed in children & mostly affects boys than the girls. This disease tends to linger on in adulthood in some cases.

Hyperactivity, distractibility & impulsivity are some of the most common characteristics found in children with ADD. This makes children difficult to perform a task assigned to them or concentrated on some of the important aspects of conversations.

ADD is a neurobiologically-based developmental disability that usually affects children.

The actual cause of this disease is not known. However, many researches have proved that the disease is caused due to the genetic transmission of the condition from parents to the children. This can be also a result of a type of chemical imbalance or deficiency of some important neurotransmitters.

Neurotransmitters are actually chemicals that help the brain regulate the behavior of an individual. According to a recent study, it has been proved that the rate at which the brain uses glucose, the main energy source is lower in people suffering from ADD as compared to individuals not suffering without ADD.

Some of the symptoms of inattention in this disease include inattention, hyperactivity & impulsivity. Some of these symptoms due to in attention include conditions such as facing difficulty in sustaining attention in certain tasks & activities, not able to listen when spoken to directly, indulging in careless mistakes in school activities & forgetting certain tasks in daily activities.

Some of the symptoms faced by patients with ADD due to hyperactivity include fidgets with hands, squirms in seat, fidgeting with feet, running about or climbing excessively in situation where it is not required.

Other symptoms include facing trouble in playing or engaging in leisure activities & excessive talking. Patients with ADD may also suffer from impulsivity that include blurting out answers way before the question are completed in tempting in a conversation & facing difficulty in waiting for their turn.

Some people even face difficulty in remaining seated for a long time. Here are some other symptoms of ADD:

a) Facing excessive difficulty in following instructions.

b) Shifting from one uncompleted task to another.

c) Facing difficulty in playing quickly.

d) Talking excessively.

e) Forgetting things that are important for tasks or activities

f) Eagerness in participating in dangerous activities without knowing consequences.

g) Easy distraction by extraneous stimuli.

h) Unable to follow daily tasks.

i) Difficulty in organizing activities.

j) Avoiding important tasks & assignments.

k) Feeling & acting restless.

Once it is confirmed that an individual is suffering from ADD & all the symptoms confirm this, it is important to take immediate medical attention.

Meet an expert medical practitioner & follow all the instructions provided by him or her. You also need to go for medication as prescribed by your health care practitioner. This will help you cure this disease promptly & effectively. It is also important to provide adequate social support to the patient to help him come out of this situation. Remember that it is a joint effort of the health care practitioner, the individual, people around him & medication that work towards the cure of this condition.

Technorati Tags: symptoms

Attention deficit disorder (ADD) also referred as Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurological disorder usually found in children of elementary school age. This condition begins in childhood and is mostly detected between an ages of four to seven. This situation is typically characterized by learning and behavioral disorders. A child having this disorder needs to be brought up with extra attention and care.

Causes

There is no particular reason resulting in Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD). Researchers have however pointed to several factors which may cause this condition. They include genetics, physical and social environment and diet. Studies also indicate that as much as 75% of Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder is heritable to the genetics factor.

Environmental causes include tobacco, alcohol or exposure to smoke during pregnancy. Other important cause which plays a role is complications faced during pregnancy and child birth.

Other important cause is delay or early development of brain structure. For example frontal cortex and lobe are the ones responsible for focused thinking and an ability to control. If there is a delay in there development it can result in ADD.

Symptoms

Common symptoms observed in a child with Attention deficit disorder (ADD) is distractibility, hyperactivity and impulsivity. A child in this condition finds it difficult to perform an assigned task and lacks the ability to focus on important aspects. They may even be not able to complete the task as they move quickly from one given activity to another due to distractions caused by external environment.

Another symptom that can be observed is Inattention and forgetful behavior. A child suffering from ADD will find it extremely difficult to sustain attention in performing any task and even display inattentiveness when spoken directly to. This condition makes a sufferer forgetful even about daily repetitive activities.

Other symptoms include- Frequent daydreaming, difficulty in understanding and following instructions, fidgeting hands and feet, squirming in seat, and difficulty in remaining at one position, talking excessively, behaving aggressively and being restless all the time. Short term memory loss is also one of the symptoms of ADHD.

Treatment

Attention Deficit Disorder can be treated with therapy, medication or a combination of both. Studies have however proved that treating this disorder with both is more effective. A treatment strongly recommended for curing Attention Deficit Disorder is Homeopathy. It is very effective in improving concentration and attention span. Homeopathy is free of side effects and improvement in most of the cases is noted in about two to three months of starting medication.

Therapy includes counseling with psychologist or a psychiatrist for the patients suffering from ADD disorder. Psychotherapy teaches the patients to cope with prevailing symptoms. Behavior therapy is imparted to the parents or teachers so that they can deal with the child’s behavior.

Alternatively psychostimulants are prescribed to the patients by professionals. They are given to balance neurotransmitters or in other words brain chemicals.

If diagnosed and treated early, a child can grow up and adapt to normal routine life.

To Your Health!

Technorati Tags: attention, causes, deficit, disorder, symptoms, treatments

Amphetamines rock! Well, that is the impression you get when you read that the production of amphetamines has risen by a mere 2,000 % in a ten year period. That is bad news but when you consider that about 50% of these prescriptions for ADHD drugs are written by pediatricians, you begin to despair. Amphetamines can lead to drug abuse so parents are seeking alternatives. ADHD herbs have hit the news recently as they have been shown to be effective in alleviating some ADHD symptoms.

We now know only too well that amphetamines and all their cousins with fancy names like methylphenidate are nothing else but ’speed’ which creates a high. It is when patients try to stop taking them that problems develop. Apart from the side effects of insomnia, high blood pressure, heart problems and impotence, there are problems in coping with the withdrawal such as depression, paranoia and hearing voices.

There are many ADHD herbs which are touted as having a beneficial effect on ADHD symptoms. You only have to be careful about where they are coming from and how they are manufactured. Let us look at a few of the most effective herbs for ADHD.

There is a Chinese herb called Radix Heraclei which has been used since ancient times and is great for soothing the nerves and helping to reduce stress. It has been found to be useful in helping hyperactive children to stay quiet. Another Chinese herb which is perhaps much more famous is Gingko Biloba which helps to develop the nervous system and can be effective in getting more blood to the brain cells. It can help in delivering more oxygen to the tissues and is a great antioxidant. The Ayurvedic herb known as Brahmi has long been recognised as a great aid to cognitive function and brain enhancer generally. These are just three in an impressive list of ADHD herbs now available. In both Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine, which are systems which have functioned for millennia, there is a great emphasis on restoring a lost or disturbed balance.

It is precisely this function that can be so useful in alleviating ADHD symptoms and ADHD herbs are being used much more now in ADHD treatment. You can find out more about the company which manufactures herbal/homeopathic remedies from the link below. There are certain guarantees which are important before selecting any herbal or homeopathic remedy and herbs for ADHD are no exception. You will be surprised to learn that the facility is supervised by the FDA.

Technorati Tags: ADHD, alleviate, Herbs, Really, symptoms

“Hyperactive” has almost become a buzzword in our culture, but when we talk about ADHD, hyperactivity and impulsivity, we’re talking about some very specific behaviors.

These include feeling restless, fidgeting, and squirming. ADHD kids (and adults, for that matter) can hardly stand to be still. ADHD makes it almost impossible not to move in some way.

ADHD kids don’t sit when they can run, climb or otherwise leave their seats, even if everyone else is sitting quietly.

When my ADHD son was six he was in a Quiz Bowl competition at school, and kept blurting out the answers before he even heard the question. Needless to say, this is an ADHD trait, and needless to say, his team didn’t win the competition.

Another ADHD hyperactivity/impulsivity symptom is having trouble waiting in line or taking turns. I admit I still have trouble with this today, and I’m 37 but still ADHD.

Not every child who has trouble sitting still and waiting in line has ADHD, of course. ADHD is diagnosed when a group of symptoms are present and cause a significant problem in a child’s functioning.

But be aware, if your child has ADHD or you think he might, that some of these “impulsive” and “hyper” behaviors are things he can’t control without help. It is possible for ADHD kids to learn coping skills to help with some of these problems, and ADHD medications are generally very effective once the right medication is found.

Just remember that ADHD can be the cause of these symptoms, and try to be as patient as you can.

Technorati Tags: ADHD, Hyperactivity/Impulsivity, symptoms

The symptoms of attention deficit disorder are set out in the DSM Vol IV. Depending on the type of ADHD, symptoms will range from inattentiveness, hyperactivity, distractability to forgetting things, inability to focus and failure to concentrate. The method of diagnosis is not exactly rocket science and has been criticised as not being objective enough and neither is it a diagnostic test.

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

ADHD is defined as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder which is a condition that is caused in the behavior pattern of an individual because of inattention, hyperactivity or too much impulsiveness. Generally 3-5% of children of pre-schools and also adults suffer from ADHD.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder or ADHD is a mental condition found in some children all over the world. A child with ADHD can be hyperactive, totally inattentive and impulsive at times. However, to label every child who demonstrates the above traits as with ADHD is highly inaccurate.

Sometimes they may appear as a normal behavior in many other teens, Diagnosis of ADHD is not compulsory. It depends on the natural behavior pattern of an individual and some extreme changes detected that define ADHD.

Symptoms of ADHD in teenagers:

1. In children the basic symptom that is observed is not being attentive.

2. They may lack in academics.

3. They get bored very fast and may feel irritable all the time.

4. They may become too hyperactive and aggressive in behavior.

5. Might feel lose out all the time.

6. Show laziness in daily activities.

7. Always get a complex that may lead to attitude problems.

Depression, marital problems, loneliness, inattention and disturbed life pattern. All these lead to change the behavior pattern of an adult. They start reacting strongly towards all these which lead to change their nature.

Symptoms of ADHD in adults :

1. Tend to forget things very often and the task they are supposed to do.

2. Fail to recollect what just happened. Memory weakens.

3. Become hot tempered and impulsive in behavior.

4. Tend to pay less attention to what others are saying.

5. Cannot work in office comfortably and stay lonely.

6. Daydreaming.

Study of behavior pattern:

Qualities differ from person to person. Although these may be observed as natural qualities in some of the adults, they may appear as a disorder in many. It is very difficult to realize that these are the only symptoms that define that you are suffering from ADHD. They do help in determining ADHD but make sure you deal this with a health care professional.

Only a specialist will be able to determine the patient of ADHD after a detailed study of history of the patients’ behavior pattern. Sometimes the qualities might be a situational change in temporary behavior pattern, which can make you think it as a symptom of ADHD. To avoid misdiagnosis know your child or yourself better.

Technorati Tags: ADHD, adults, symptoms, Teenagers

An ADHD diagnosis is not formal until formal tests have been given by a licensed psychologist or other mental health professional. Unfortunately, these days school teachers are the ones making the diagnosis when they usually have no qualifications to be able to do so. I think it is good to be cautious in diagnosing disorders and loosely labeling children with ADHD when that may not truly be the case. Often times symptoms of ADHD look like a lot of other things, and it is extremely important to a child’s well-being to be careful in the process of evaluating them. It is important and essential, though, that school teachers are keeping their eyes and ears open while teaching. If they notice that a child is having more difficulties than other kids, first tell the parents. Then make sure that something is done about getting the child tested for ADHD and other learning disabilities. Some children do not get tested, and they struggle in school and life when they don’t have to. Education and counseling early can really prevent children with ADHD in having as many struggles that tend to hold them back in various ways.

After is has been decided that a child should be tested for ADHD, it needed to be decided which ADHD test should be taken to evaluate for the disorder. There are a few different tests that will effectively diagnosis the presence of ADHD. The first step that should be taken, though, should be to rule out a physical disorder that has similar symptoms to ADHD. A general physician will be able to rule out that your child has some sort of physical problem, such as a thyroid problem.

After the child has seen a medical doctor, the next step will be to meet with a psychologist or other licensed mental health professional. They will be able to give your child the necessary tests to diagnose ADHD. You will be able to find specialists through CHADD, which is national organization that educates and helps people with ADHD.

When you find a qualified mental health professional, your first initial meetings will involve your child and a family member that has known the child since they were young. The mental health professional will get a detailed personal history from your child’s point of view as well as the family member’s point of view.

After this, tests such as TOVA (Tests of Variable Attention) will be given to see if there is the presence of ADHD. This test is a 23 minute test, and is accurate in distinguishing is a test subject has ADHD or not. I believe it is important to get formal testing to know for sure whether the child is struggling with ADHD or possibly something else such as a learning disorder.

Other disorders that could look like ADHD are depression and anxiety disorders, Tourette’s Syndrome, early onset bi-polar disorder, conduct disorder and possibly other emotional problems or disorders. It is very important to keep this in mind during the process of evaluation.

Technorati Tags: ADHD, Recognize, symptoms

ADD is short for Attention Deficit Disorder which is a behavioral developmental disorder. This disorder affects both children and adults, but is more commonly diagnosed in children. It is important to treat the condition, while still at a nascent stage in childhood, since it can cause problems if it is undiagnosed and left untreated in the long run. While adults are able to cope better with the disorder, coping with ADD in children can be very difficult for both parents and the child.

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

The general idea out there is that ADD and ADHD are caused by social problems. Very often, people hear their family members or neighbors telling them that Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder is caused by: video games, TV, music videos, single parent families, parents who work too much, computers, inexperienced teachers, etc. While many people talk about ADHD being due to many problems in society, they are not only wrong, they are actually doing a real disservice to people with ADHD. Research has proven that these factors do NOT cause Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. In fact, it is a real medical condition, and as such, it is found in the body.

The first place to start when talking about what causes ADHD symptoms is the fact that ADHD is a brain disorder. All of the research going into ADHD shows clearly that differences in the ADHD brain are what account for the symptoms.

This means that we can throw out the causes of ADHD which are ’social’. There is no credibility to these explanations.

Brain research in ADHD is continually improving and progressing. Brain imaging shows that the main area of the brain involved in ADHD symptoms in the prefrontal cortex. This is in the frontal lobe – the part of the brain just behind the forehead. The frontal lobe is the command center of the brain. This is the part that does the planning that we need to do. The frontal lobe tells you to pay attention to one thing and disregard another because it’s a distraction that’s not important. It tells you to plan, it tells you how to adapt your plan when something comes up that’s difficult. It tells you to inhibit your response which helps you to stop yourself from doing something that could get you into trouble (i.e. so you don’t swear at someone, even if you’re angry, if it would get you into serious hot water).

Brain imaging studies that look at the brain chemicals – called neurotransmitters – show that there is a decrease in the brain chemical dopamine in that area. Another brain chemical impacted in ADHD is norepinephrine (or noradrenaline). ADHD medications work on these brain chemicals to improve concentration, hyperactivity and impulsivity. They have this effect by increasing the dopamine and/or noradrenaline in different parts of the brain.

Other brain areas being researched include: The Cerebellum, the basal ganglia, the anterior cingulate gyrus, etc. In other words, the next time someone tries to tell you that ADD or ADHD are due to some problem in society, you let them know that they are wrong – it is a real medical condition which resides in the brain.

Technorati Tags: ADHD, causes, symptoms