Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Overview -

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) may be a chronic condition that affects many children and sometimes continues into adulthood. ADHD includes a mixture of persistent problems, like difficulty sustaining attention, hyperactivity and impulsive behavior.

Children with ADHD can also struggle with low self-esteem, troubled relationships and poor performance in class . Symptoms sometimes lessen with age. However people never completely develop their ADHD symptoms. But they can learn strategies to be successful. While treatment won't cure ADHD, it can help an excellent affect symptoms. Treatment typically involves medications and behavioral interventions. Early diagnosis and treatment can make an enormous difference in outcome.

Symptoms -

The first features of ADHD include inattention and hyperactive-impulsive behavior. ADHD symptoms start before age 12, and in some children, they're noticeable as early as 3 years aged . ADHD symptoms are often mild, moderate or severe, and that they may continue into adulthood. ADHD occurs more often in males than in females, and behaviors can be different in boys and girls. For example, boys could also be more hyperactive and girls may tend to be quietly inattentive.

There are three subtypes of ADHD:

Predominantly inattentive. The majority of symptoms fall under inattention.

Predominantly hyperactive/impulsive. The majority of symptoms are hyperactive and impulsive.

Combined. This is a mixture of inattentive symptoms and hyperactive/impulsive symptoms.

Inattention -

A toddler who shows a pattern of inattention may often:

Fail to pay close attention to details or make careless mistakes in schoolwork, Have trouble staying focused in tasks or play Appear not to listen, Even when spoken to directly, Have difficulty following through on instructions and fail to finish school work or chores, Have trouble organizing tasks and activities, Avoid or dislike tasks that require focused mental effort, Such as homework Lose items needed for tasks or activities, for example game, school assignments, pencils Be easily distracted Forget to do some daily activities, Such as forgetting to do chores.

Hyperactivity and impulsivity -

A children who shows a pattern of hyperactive and impulsive symptoms may often: Fidget with or tap his or her hands or feet, or squirm in the seat Have difficulty staying seated in the classroom or in other situations, Be on the go in constant motion Run around or climb in situations when it's not appropriate Have trouble playing or doing an activity quietly Talk too much Blurt out answers, interrupting the questioner Have difficulty waiting for his or her turn Interrupt or intrude on others' conversations, games or activities.

Typical developmental behavior vs. ADHD -

Most healthy children are inattentive, hyperactive or impulsive at just one occasion or another. It's typical for preschoolers to have short attention spans and be unable to stick with one activity for long. Even in older children and teenagers, span often depends on the extent of interest.The same is true of hyperactivity. Young children are naturally energetic — they often are still filled with energy long after they've worn their parents out. In addition, some children just naturally have a better activity level than others do. Children should never be classified as having ADHD simply because they're different from their friends or siblings. Children who have problems in class but get along well reception or with friends are likely battling something aside from ADHD. The same is true of children who are hyperactive or inattentive at home, but whose schoolwork and friendships remain unaffected.

What causes attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)?

The exact explanation for ADHD is unknown, but the condition has been shown to run in families. Research has also identified variety of possible differences within the brains of individuals with ADHD in comparison with those without the condition.Other factors suggested as potentially having a task in ADHD include: being born prematurely (before the 37th week of pregnancy) having a coffee birth weight smoking or alcohol or drug abuse during pregnancy ADHD can occur in people of any intellectual ability, although it's more common in people with learning difficulties.How attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is treated Although there's no cure for ADHD, it can be managed with appropriate educational support, advice and support for parents and affected children, alongside medication, if necessary. Medicine is often the first treatment offered to adults with ADHD, although psychological therapies like cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) can also help.

The Center for Counseling and Mental Health

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