Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is characterized by behavioral and learning disorders and particularly by a persistent pattern of inattention or hyperactivity, as well as forgetfulness, poor impulse control or impulsivity, and distractibility. It is a condition in which it is hard for children to control their behavior and/or pay attention and was first described by Dr. Heinrich Hoffman in the year 1845. While a section of scientific society is contentious about its existence and prefers to call it a "fictitious disease"; some recent research suggests that ADHD does exist.
This condition becomes apparent in some children in the preschool and early school years. It is one of the most common behavioral disorders in childhood and its prevalence is estimated to be between 5-7 percent and approximately 2 million children in the United States are suspected to have ADHD. About 60% of children diagnosed with ADHD retain the symptoms and as a result, over the past decade, ADHD has been increasingly diagnosed in adults.
Over the last few decades, various theories have been hypothesized about the causes and effects of ADHD some of which have been highlighted below:
Genetics: ADHD has been often found to run in families and various studies indicate that around 25 percent of the close relatives in the families of ADHD children also have ADHD; so there are likely to be genetic influences. By studying the genetic isolates of Paisas of Colombia, researchers have been able to describe specific genetic aspects of ADHD.
Brain Damage: While the majority of ADHD is believed to be genetic in nature, around one-fifth of all ADHD cases were considered to be acquired after conception due to brain injury caused by either toxins or physical trauma prenatally or postnatally. Some children who have suffered accidents leading to brain injury may show some signs of behavior similar to that of ADHD.
Alcohol and Tobacco: Various studies have shown a possible correlation between the use of cigarettes and alcohol during pregnancy and risk for ADHD in the offspring of that pregnancy. This could be related to the fact that nicotine is known to cause lack of oxygen - hypoxia, in the uterus.
The principal characteristics of ADHD are inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. These symptoms appear early in a child's life. Everyone wants his/her kids to graduate from Harvard. But kids are kids after all and many normal children may show these symptoms at one or the other time. Parents shouldn't just hastily assume that as ADHD and force their kids to pop in ADHD drugs impulsively!
So, it is important that the child receive a thorough examination and appropriate diagnosis by a well-qualified professional. Even if a child has ADHD, he/she can achieve his/her full potential by receiving help, guidance, and understanding from parents, friends, counselors, and the public education system!
Listed below are more articles related to the above article from the "Attention Deficit Disorder" article category.
People interested in the above article "All You Need to Know About Attention Deficit or Hyperactivity Disorder" are also interested in the related articles listed below:
So many youngsters today have been diagnosed with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder. When that occurs many kids are put on drugs that can do more harm than good. What is a parent to do besides suffer together with their kids? Look into alternative answers ; natural answers. Many of the children I grew up with who were prescribed these medications either sold them or took them in a way the tablets were not intended to be taken.
ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) or ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) is a disorder that is characterized by hyperactivity, inattention and hyperactivity and impulsiveness of children. Kids with this disorder need more help than normal children and must be given proper attention and ADHD treatment as early as possible.
Simple Steps in Diagnosing ADHD: Do you have children who frequently forget their homework, act without thinking, get fidgety all the time, impulsive, hyperactive, inattentive, lazy and undisciplined? Watch out! Your child might show symptoms of Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) or Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
ADHD refers to attention-deficit-hyperactivity-disorder. Most children who suffer from this disorder suffer from attention problems as well as hyperactivity. Parents of such children are well aware that inattention and hyperactivity continue throughout the day. Keeping such children busy after school hours can be as difficult as keeping them safe during the school day.
Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD) is usually identifiable in early stages of childhood. There are instances when the disorder continues until adulthood if treatment is not prompt or effective. This is known as Adult Attention Deficit Disorder (AADD). The impact of AADD is severe compared to ADD because as an adult, coping strategies are required to a greater extent with regard to disorganization and other symptoms of the syndrome.
ADD is often accompanied by a coexisting condition. On the other hand, often ADD and these other conditions have similar symptoms and, therefore, are easily misdiagnosed. Of course, this creates a plethora of problems as these disorders, when separate, must be treated differently. A misdiagnosis will lead to ineffective treatment. As coexisting conditions, these are especially of concern, because they increase the severity of many of the symptoms of ADD, as well as the negative impact on those that suffer them.
Both adult ADD and adult ADHD has drawbacks, though we know there are great benefits in creativity, intelligence, and the ability to hyperfocus. Yet, some of the mundane tasks in the world can be helped by following these 10 easy steps...
